Newspaper Page Text
6
tteftßmwHl
CLARK HOWELL Editor
W. A. HEMPHILL -Buxinoftfi Dhnacer
Entered at the Atlanta postoffice as second-class
mall matter November 11,1873
The Weekly Constitution SI.OO Per Annum.
Clubs of fl ve, <I.OO each; clubs of ten <I.OO each and
a copy to getter-up of club
W E WANT YOU.
Th a Constitution wants an agent at every
postoffice In America. Agent’s outfit free and good
terms. If you are not In a club we want you to
act as agent at your office. Write ue.
f 'bangc of Address.
When ordering address of your paper changed
a.Tvays give th* old as well as the new address.
Always give postoffice, county and state, xf your
paper is not received regularly, notify ue.
If you send us an order for new subscribers please
allow us a week to gf*t the names on the list and paper
started before you write a complaint, as we are very
much crowded now.
Do not forget to make your renewals in time. Watch
your direction tag and see when your subscription
expires. The next six months will be full of interest,
and you should not miss a single copy of The < on
•titutlon. Send your orders at least a week in ad
vance to make sure. It may not take a week in evary
instance; will get them on as soon ns possible.
WARNING.
AU persons are warned against paying
any money over to one F. M. .Mangleburg,
who Is traveling around in North t arolina
and in South Carolina claiming to repre
eent The Weekly Constitution. He was a
local agent at Anderson, S. <’., but has
had no authority to travel for this paper.
We have repeatedly advertised that wo
have no traveling agents for The Consti
tution and have warned everybody against
paying out money to men they do not
know, and then writing to us that they
paid “your traveling agent, Mr. Mangl”-
Inirg," or anybody else. The mere laet
that a man is traveling beyond the limits
where he is well known and can be easily
identified proves that he is an impostor,
when lie claims to r. pres nt '1 he Weekly
Constitution. Do not be deceived by bogus
gjpents. There are plenty of good agents
right around you to attend to our stlb
ecriptions. It you do not find one, just
send us the dollar direct to Atlanta.
If any one will furnish information oi
the whereabouts of F. M. Mangleburg we
will very soon stop his operations.
THE ATLANTA CONST'IT ITH >N.
Better Times Ahead.
The bayonet is sometimes the ad
vance agent of prosperity!
When a victorious nation emerges
from n justifiable war, with the . pedis
of conquest and increased prestige it
always enjoys a period of good times.
Germany is a notable modern in
stance. After her triumph over France
she was more prosperous than ever be
fore. During the first quarter of a
century, following that epoch-making
conflict, the progress of Germany was
phenomenal. Farmers, artisans and
traders reap* I their share of the bene
fits. Industry and commerce revived
and leaped forward, as if impelled by
some magical power.
Only a few months ago that experi
enced statistician, Mr. \V. E. Curtis, of
The Chicago Record, called attention
to the fact that the growth of many
German towns ami cities during the
past twenty-five years has equaled or
surpassed that of our western cities dur
ing their boom periods.
The. close of the Spanish-American
war is now in sight. With peace will
come prosperity, and these twin .sisters
will go hand in hand .itroiigh our broad
domains, and the blessings brought up
on Germany by her victorious bayonets,
will follow our flag from the snow line
to the ’ropics.
It reqni.a.s nerve, as well as an opti
mistic spirit, to make this prediction.
Five or six years of hard times have
plunged most people into the slough of
pessimism. Tiny have got into the
habit of looking on the dark side of
everything. Prosperity has so long
been an utter stranger that, she re
quires credentials. Suspicious people
want to arrest her on sight and make
her give bond for her appearance.
The close observer of affairs, who has
road the commercial reports .and the
trade papers, has had the conviction
forced upon him that ew- are just
about to cross Ih<> threshold of a new
and a brighter era. In an editorial on
the subject, that conservative paper, The
Chicago Times-Hera Id, says:
T ho improved business condition through
out th« r iuntr\ is lint du.- wholly to th”
fact that t ■ rnt:. . 1)t is spending large
sums of tu in--, In th” pi-.is. cut ion of the
v.'ar. Th-. prosp.;-rci-.< slate of affairs is alto
gether too general to be attributed to this
single ■ ct I < -r causes an too
apparent to I>e ov< rlook. d.
The buov.inev of the stock m: rio t. for
instance, not due to an\ gov< rnment 11
action. During the two months' drought
the country was flood'd with exaggerated
predictions of crop failures, and this had
a particularly .1 pressing • IL ”t upon we t
ern railway stock . Tb h- ivy and g< neral
rains of last w- ■ k < in: d a reaction in this
class of securities.
Notwit 'i; t Hiding the assurance of abun
dant harvists in this country, the price of
cereals rem i ind s accounted
for by th- fact i.t.-ii European crops are
not. i.s an good condition as has 1.-en repre-
S< nt cd.
The great volume of capital not recently
employed, but now seeking investment. Is
another imptrlant factor In present
business I ind will also help to offset
the reactionary effects following the close
of tho V ar. In fact. a.s the certainty of an
early peace becomes more apparent it
seems to add to the confidence of inv-stors,
which is one of the best assurances of
good times.
it is significant, too, that from no section
has th.-re come complaint of war taxation,
showing that the people do not find it bur
densome, which would not be the case jn
less prosperous seasons.
The financial, <• mim.-rela) and industrial
conditions of tile country may be said to
be satisfactory, while the outlook for the
future i.s more encouraging than it has
been for years."
This is encouraging ami not extrava
gant. Now let us hear from the east.
Tho New York Times says that peace
will stop our war expenditure of some
thing like a million dollars a day. It
puts it this way:
Then tho national domain and tho na
tional wealth are about to l>e augmented
by the acquisition of Porto Rico, a highly
productive island 50,000 square milts in ex
tent, with two and one-half millions of pop
ulation, yielding coffee, sugar, fruits, nuts
mnl tobacco. It has an export and import
trade aggregating $36,i o‘i.ooo annually, and is
capable under American management of
Increasing immensely in population, produc
tiveness and wealth.
Wo have a credit balance of $1100,000.000 in
our trade wltii foreign nations for the fiscal
year just closed. We owe far less abroad
than we have owed at any other time in
the last fifteen years, because we have been
buying back our securities, and buying
them cheap. Accordingly we have less in
terest money to pay to foreigners. Already
gold imports have begun, a most unusual
tiling for this season of the year. Hut Eu
rope has no other way of paying its debts
to us. The offsets that used to eat up our
trade balance are not equal to the task of
disposing of $600,000,000.
Another great crop is nearing the harvest
time, and another year of large exports
Is before us.
Wo produce $60,000,000 of gold last year
and $33,000,000 worth of silver. The Klon
dike region has begun to semi in its second
year’s yield, which must be considerably
larger than the output last year.
Our money circulation has been very
largely increased during the last two years,
and the use of the new 3 per cents by tlio
banks will result in another important in
crease in the volume of money. Cheap
facilitates business.
The business of the country Is in an un
usually sound atid health.'’ condition. There
Is ample confidence, a buoyant belief in the
future, and courage and enterprise equal to
the opportunities that invite them.
No wonder The Timos concludes that
“There are years of wonderful prosper
ity coming!”
The Orange Judd syndicate of agricul
tural weeklies has just finished an in
vestigation of existing industrial and
commercial conditions, and the gratify
ing result leads, The Now A ork Sun to
predict for ns “several years of good
tfanes based upon (he bedrock of ag
ricultural prosperity.”
'The south, having held her own bet
ter than any other section during the
depression, will be in good condition to
take advantage of the coming improve
ment.
Our ownership of Porto Rico and con
trol of Cuba will inevitably cause the
speedy construction of the Nicaragua
canal, and then southern products will
find their way through southern ports
to hundreds of millions of new custo
mers, and our merchants, manufactur
ers, farmers, miners and wage-workers
will be kept busy for a. long time to
come filling orders from new markets.
Tho outlook is wonderfully bright.
It. is time to clear the decks for busi
ness. Remember that this coming boom
will be general. The south will be in
It. Georgia will be al the front. At
lanta will be near the head of the pro
cession.
Got ready for tho best Thanksgiving
Day and the brightest Christmas that
have been seen in some years.
There will b“ a jubilee winter ahead
of us. Hats off to our welcome visitor.
Prosperity!
A Victory To Be Proud Os.
The victory of the Alabama democra
cy is not only one to be proud of in a
party sense, but Governor Johnston
must feel especially gratified with the
result.
Several years ago when many white
men of Alabama, Irke those in o.hei
southern states, felt that they could not
find a place for needed reforms within
the democracy, and went out after
strange gods to accomplish their pur
pose, The Constitution took tho lead in
urging them to reconsider their step,
and to reallign themselves with the de
mocracy of the union. Our readers may
well remember the criticism with wh,eh
this “interference,” as it was called,
with Alabama democracy was look'd
upon by certain elements in that state.
There seemed to be those in Alabama
who were willing for democracy to lie
prostrate rather than to take that for
ward step which would re-estlabl'ish it
In all of its pristine glory. The Con
stitution urged lion. Joseph I‘. Johnston
as the man fitted more than any other
to take tho leadership in that state,
and to rescue his party, not so much
from the hands into which it had fall
en as from the lethargy into which it
had passed. Mr. Johnston was a man
of businc.-s, a true democrat, faithful
to the common people, one who could
not bo cajoled or influenced, and was
just the man to speak plainly to plain
people.
Jn the bitter campaign which followed,
Mr. Johnston won and became the gov
ernor of the stalo, Under his leader
ship. 'thousand of populists returned to
the patty and it was confidently prom
ised that once the wlrte men of Ala
bama felt assured that the p-inciples
represented by Mr. Johnston were those
which would be indorsed by the party,
they would come back <ui masse. This
prophecy has proven true, for on Mon
day the polls showed an utter abandon
ment of populism by people who
had previously alligmd themselves witii
it. and tho la"goly increased democratic
vote showed that they had returned to
the house of their fa.tlirs to stand ami
fall by Hie old party of Jefferson and
Jackson.
Tho Constitution takes this occasion
to felicitate itself upon the good work
which it has performed in Alabama pol
itics. The Constitution took the stand
it did in the politics of that state
through the commission of more sub
scribers than are to be found upon the
lists of tiny newspaper published in Ala
bama. That commission was of the
highest character. Tho people of Ala
bama are now to be congratulated that
they have become again as one man,
ready to uphold the prosperity and good
name of their state.
The Last of the Great Trio.
< if tho great trio of intellectual giants
who, at the commencement of tho pres
ent year figured in the unimpaired pos
session of their mental faculties, de*
spite the fact that all of them were oc
togenarians, there now remains behind
upon the world’s stage but one, viz,
Popo lx?o Kill.
Scarcely two months have elapsed
since Mr. Gladstone, with the burden
of nearly four-score years and ten upon
his shoulders fell peacefully asleep in
Hawarden castle, mourned by saddened
multitude of admirers throughout the
entire globe. When the announcement
was made that death had at last affixed
its seal to the life of England’s great
commoner, the mind of Christendom
turned instantly toward Prince Bismarck
and Pope Leo XIII, with the supersti
tious fear that they would not be long
in following the lead of Mr Gladstone
into the realm of shadows. So it has
partially turned out. Prince Bismarck
today lies cold in death at Friedrichs
ruhe; while such is the enfeebled con
dition of Popo Leo XIII that he cannot
possibly last many more months. In
tho judgment of his physicians lie is not
apt. to survive the present year.
Sim e I iie death of Mr. Gladstone, it
is stated that Pope Leo XIII has ex-
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA. GA.. MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1898.
pected momentarily to resign his priest
ly office* and to receive his summons to
higher duties. For years he has enter
tained the idea that the death of
either Mr. Gladstone or of Prince Bis
marck would prove the immediate pre
cursor of his own; mid now that both
of these illustrious contemporaries have
closed their earthly careers, it is not
surprising that Pope Leo XIII should
feel that his time is at hand, and that
ere the present year ends he will have
finished his course. If such proves to
be true, it will invest the present year
with one of the most extraordinary con
junctures in the world’s history; but In
spite of appearances, it. is earnestly to
be hoped that many additional years
may yet be meted out to the surviving
member of the great trio.
Democracy and the New Questions.
The action of the state democratic
convention of Texas, reported in to
day’s Constitution, was in some respects
very significant. The report of the
platform committee, after indorsing the
Chicago platform, and congratulating
tho country on the prowess of American
sailors and soldiers, declared that the
war must not obscure the money ques
tion; that the Nicaragua canal should
be constructed and controlled by the
United States government; that the let
ter and spirit of the Cuban intervention
resolutions should be carried out; that
the Cubans should be permitted to es
tablish an independent government of
their own; but that the island should bo
annexed if tho terms can lie arranged
between tho two governments, ami that
Porto Rico and all other Spanish pos
sessions in the western hemisphere
should be acquired and made a part of
the territory of the United States.
In reference to the Philippines, the
Texas democrats “opjHiscd annexation
or continued retention of the Philippine
islands or any other territory upon the
eastern hemisphere.”
Whatever doubt may exist in the
minds of the people of this country as
to the annexation of the Philippine
group, we believe that the sentiment of
the people is overwhelmingly in favor
of the acquisition of every Spanish
island in the West Indies, and of the
annexation of Cuba just as soon as it is
possible for us to get it mid, at. the
same time, keep the national faith in
the pledge to first establish an indepen
dent republic. It. looks as if tile Philip
pine question will settle itself in Spain’s
acceptance of the demand for nothing
more than a treaty port or a coaling
station in those islands. With the
Spanish possessions in the West Indies
as part of our own territory, we can
afford to dismiss the Philippine ques
tion, and the country may fell it.tie it
self upon the fact that what gave prom
ise of being the most serious question
as the result of the war has practically
settled itself.
Not so, however, with Cuba, Porto
Rico and the other Spanish islands in
the West Indies. Porto Rico and the
smaller islands are pr ictie. illy oti.-i now,
and Cuba will be in due time, and by
its own consent. The declaration of
the democrats of Texas, adopt' d by a
vote of 697 to 331, expresses the senti
ments of the democratic masses through
out the country, who look with lit
tle patience up-on the argument that the
democratic party is traditionally opposed
to the policy of territorial expansion
when, in truth, every mile of newly ac
quired territory beyond the confines of
the original t hirteen states, except Ala
ka, was given to the -Stars and Stripes
under democratic auspices.
This action of the most powerful and
progressive democratic body to be found
in any state of the union is sure to
have a tremendous effect in shaping
party action on the new questions that
have arisen out of the results of the war.
These questions must be decided on the
line and in the light of democratic pol
icy, democratic traditions, and demo
cratic principles; and this policy, these
traditions and these principles must bo
Interpreted and applied to the (new
questions in no narrow, congested or
provincial way. This is what, the Tex
as convention has done, and we have no
hesitation in saying that democrats all
over the country will hail the fact that
tho “colonial” question has not been
lightly or coldly disposed of.
The name of Jefferson figured in the
convention. It is a great name, and
democrats cannot revere it too highly or
appeal to it too often. We know that
Jefferson, was in favor of territorial
expansion. We know also that he
looked forward to the acquisition of
Cuba Moro than that, we know that
his democratic vision carried his hopes
ov- :• deserts and plains ami far over
sea, embracing all possibilities of the
future of democracy. It is true that, the
bash- idea of this republic is local self
government; and that, till governments
should derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed.
But do these basic doctrines of de
mocracy make it either necessary or de
sirable that we should turn our backs on
an opportunity to give tho ignorant and
the oppressed, the alien and the stranger
at otir doors, the benefits at least of goo<l
government, and so prepare him and set
him on his feet that he may come to
appreciate and realize the inestimable
blessings of self-government?
In the. light of these reflections let
us not. put too narrow an interpretation
on those maxims find principles which
stand for American democracy. Let us
not make of democracy a matter so ab
solute, ami exclusive, and selective, as
to deny even its smallest beginnings
to those people who would enjoy its
blessings. Let us remember, and let
our readers remember, that tho smallest
crumbs ami fragments ot democracy
have a power of nourishment and im
provement beyond that of every other
political scheme, experiment or insti
tution. And such is the marvelous
character of these doctrines that, even
the ignorant and the unlettered may
seize and assimilate them. They come
to the oppressed as food after a famine.
No man can afford to say to democ
racy. “Your bounds and limits must be
here.” No man, however great he is
in fact or imagination, can afford to be
supercilious, or provincial, or narrow
minded in the bestowal of tho blessings
of good government. Democracy is a
form of benevolence. If we find crouch
ing at our feet those who are hungry
and naked, do we say to them, “You are
ignorant; go your way?” If we cannot
give them all we have, may we not give
them a little? So with the aliens and
strangers of tho West Indies who have
for centuries lived under the rod of op
pression; shall we say to them, “You
are unfit to govern yourselves; go back
to your oppressors?” Shall we not,
rather, by giving them the benefits and
blessings which may be made to flow
out to them from the fountain of this
republic’s freedom, gradually win and
move them to a just apprehension of
what is noble and excellent in our in
stitutions, and stir in their hearts a
desire and an ambitton to become ac
tive participants in the great democratic
scheme?
Now, the moment has arrived when
these reflections cannot be said to be
a dream or a vision; they represent no
Utopian scheme. Opportunity, coldly
and careless enough, has cast at our
feet the wrecks and hulks of oppression.
They are full of people, human berngs
like ourselves, though they are aliens
and strangers. Shall we set them
adrift, or shall wo summon our boasted
democracy to a test? That is the es
sence of the new questions. We are
very stir* indeed, that the great party
of Jefferson will not shirk or postpone
the issue. It must be met and disposed
of now to the end that, other important
issues may not be obscured.
The Decline in Wheat.
Some one is calling attention to the
fact that Leiter’s wheat deals gave a
great, and desirable boost, to our bal
ance. The young man picked’up wheat
at 66 cents, sent it. up to $2, and hold
it above, the dollar mark for some
months. In this ho was aided very
materially by foreign eond'ii ions, such
as the failure of the wheat, crops in all
o,her parks of tho world. The I/nter
deal, therefore, seems to have been a
very good thing for everybody except
Leiter and the consumers. The young
man came d,own from a very high pin
nacle in trade, and he and his esteemed
father have been very busy for many
weeks in picking up tho wrecks of
things.
The gold organs owe a good deal to
young Leiter and it rcrms to us that
they could do no less than open a sub
scription sheet so ■ his benefit. He en
abled them, by his Napoleonic methods
to cry “ha-ha!” to the argument which
linked the value of silv.-r wi:h the price
of wheat. The Constitution pointed out
tho humor of the sl-luation at the time,
ami the fall of wheat, since Loiter fell,
points very clearly to long faces and
short purses in the West, and to the
necessity of reorganizing tile billbynum
party.
Leiter is now enjoying the moral of
his commercial junket. 11 is said to
be both modest ami abstenious, but his
dissipation in wheat cost If’s family
$20,000,000. and wrecked -i very deserv
ing charity which th ' " Ts-Mer had
established in Cliicago. He boomed
our balance of trade, ami he enabled
a few farmers to get a little more for
their crops. But the bulk of tho wheat,
in which ho doal-t had already passed
out of tho hands of producers and was
stored in the country elevators. Ho
caused a great many piople to go hun
gry. perhaps, but it a remarkable
fact that, for the m st part, the specula
tive rise t-n wheat did rot extend to the
retail trade in flour ami broad.
Anyhow, tho reac-lon c-ills for the re
organization of the billbynum narty.
The Nicaragua Canal.
We trust that there is something
more than idle rumor a the announce
ment. which comes from Washington to
the effect that I’fosid. t McKinley, af
ter conferring with ox Senator Warner
Miller, of Now York, president of the
Nicaragua canal commission, ami
Senator John T. Morgan, of Alabama,
one of the leading advocates of that
project, in congress, has decided to rec
ommend immediate legislation looking
toward the eomph'tion of the Nicaragua
canal by the Unit' d St > cs government.
Too much stress can hardly be laid
upon th<‘ importance to the world’s
commerce of this proposed waterway
connecting tho gulf of Mexico with the
Pacific ocean, and there is every reason
why it should he built ami operated by
the Un?‘ed States government.
In the first place the United States
government has more to gain from the
completion of the Nicaragua canal than
has tiny other government in cither
hemisphere; ami in the second place
the interference of any oilier govern
ment. in the matter is bound to entail
complications and embarrassments. So
also it is better forth” proposed wa
terway to be owned by the United States
government than it is for it to be owned
by syndicates or corporations.
For years past thoughtful minds have
been impressed with the fact that the
completion of the Nicaragua canal was
one of tho greatest needs of the world's
commerce, and more espccitilly of the
commerce of the United States. Recent
events, however, have served to empha
size and underscore the reasons for
prosecuting this work and to show that
the United States government must take
the initiative i-n the matter. If the Nic
aragua canal had been in operation at
the commencement of the present war
things would have been greatly simpli
fied and Capta.in Clark, of the Oregon,
instead of subjecting his vessel to the
perils and delays incident to rounding
the continent of South \meriea, would
have reached his destination without in
curring the least risk and without, con
suming more than one-third of the time
required in making the long trip. Hap
pily enough for us there were no dis
asters attendant upon the voyage of the
Oregon around the conti’iient of South
America, but while congratulating our
selves upon this fortunate result wo
must not close our eyes to the im
portance of guarding ourselves against
such possible mishaps in the future.
Thus the instinct of self-preservation
teaches us that, we mast bond our ener
gies toward the completion of the Nic
aragua canal. When this artificl'al
channel is opened we can station war
ships at. the entrance and shift them at
pleasure either to the Atlantic or to the
Pacific coasts as public safety may re
quire. On commercial as well as on
strategic grounds there are strong rea
sons why the Nicaragua canal should
be finished without delay. In the first
place, it will give us direct water com
munication with oriental markets, en-
abling us to cultivate trade relations
with the east to better advantage, ami
in the second place it will shorten by
more than 10,000 miles the voyages
which our vessels are now forced to
make. We must not allow ourselves to
lose sight of the fact that the rapidity
of our national development entails upon
us the necessity of seeking new mar
kets for our surplus products; other
wise we are bound to suffer from stag
nation. We must be on the alert and
we will find that with the assistance of
the Nicaragua canal we can accom
plish great strides toward cultivating
trade relations with the east.
On account of the proximity of this
Immediate section to the site of the pro
posed waterway there are peculiar ben
efits which the completion of the Nie
ragua canal holds out to the south.
AVhile its effect will be to stimulate the
trade of the whole country generally its
effect will also be to stimulate tho trade
of the south particularly. Indeed, there
is nothing which teems with greater
promise to the south than the comple
tion of tho Nicaragua canal, and the
prayer of this section is that no delay
will be encountered in prosecuting the
enterprise.
We trust that President McKinley
will not be satisfied with any ineie
formal or perfunctory recommendniio':
In the matter of bringing before con
gress the importance of the completion
of the Nicaragua canal by the United
States government. He should lend the
full weight of his administrative fnflu
ence toward securing such legislation as
is necessary to carry out the project up
on which so much depends.
a
Canada’s Trade with the United States.
In proportion to her population, Cana
da is one of the largest consumers of
American productis. Os course, the
term American in this connection is ap
plied strictly to those products which
are either grown or manufactured with
in the limits of the United States.
We make this observation upon tho
authority of Mr. Harlan W. Brush, tho
resident American consul at. Clifton. On
tario. Mr. Brush shows that exclusive
of iron, silver, gold ami steel products,
Canada’s purchases i'n this market for
the ten months ending April 1, IS'.iS, ag
gregated $38,801,4-10, against only $32.-
614.325, for the ten months ending ApSl
1. 1897. showing a. net gain for the
months compared of $6,187,085. With re
spect to the products of which excep
tion is made. Mr. Brush states that Can
ada is virtually compelled by reason of
commercial restraints to buy most of
her gold silver, t-ron and steel products
from Great Britain, but thalt notwith
standing this fact, her purchases In the
United States of these products for the
ten months ending April J. JB9B, aggre
gated not less than $11.8511,000.
Mr. Brush states that since ISS3
there has been a steady dqscrease in the
value of Canada's purchases from Great
Britain. Tn the year named, which
records high water mark, Canada's
purchases from Greait Britain reached
$52,052,456; but fn 1597, they barely ag
gregated $33,157,234. On the other
hand. Canada’s purchases from thol nit
ed States have been .steadily increasing
since 18S3. Mr. Brush states that Can
ada's developmen' in all directions is
such tii'it the United States should not
be content with nature's conditions to aid
li ”• in securing the bull’ of Canad i’s
tra.de, but that she should bond every
energy to bring about this desired re
sult. In this connecition he observes
that mn<b depends upon the delibera
tions of the commission which is soon
to meet in Ottawa. Canada, and he ex
presses the hope that the spirrt of wis
dom will animate its deliberations.
Os -fight. Canada’s trade belongs to
the United States, and there ought to bo
nothing to prevent the Fuited S.ates
from obtaining her dues.
The Cotton Industry in tl.e South.
We are glad to note the friendly tone
in which The N“W York Tribune com
ments upon the possibiittics of the
south, especially with respect to_ the
manufacture of cotton fabrics. Me do
not mean to lie critical when we say
that this groat republtvan newspaper
has not always been quick to dt-’cern
tho resources of this section, and we
m< roly allude to the fact for Ihe pur
pose of showing tho significance of its
present attitude. With the changes
which time has brought, 'I he New hork
Tribune has biconie one of the most
ardent believers in the possibilities of
the south, and one of the most, eloquent
portrayers of the advantages which it
Offers 'to capital.
Recently tho attention of Tho Now
York T’ibure has been called to the
ranid d- veloimient of cotton mills in
North Carolina; but without restricting
its observations solely to that state,
it. speaks thus of tho entire south:
Some of the ot’e r cotton urowlUß states
are not l.it* behind, and with a liun*!.i ut
water vowr chean coal and cxii'imlv
,•. ... ~ the <l. velopmont of the tui < .'
tlirrc is cirt.ihi to continue anil to d splay
fits as surprising as th” lasi do-nd ■ i.is
shown Ry and bv the mills there will be
ahi” to de finer work, and sum • tim. -who
knows? the',- may com” t > take th” busi
ness away not only from Dowell and Fall
River, but from Mam . ■ ‘ll. con-
trolling th” markets ol th” wnld w.tli their
home-grown and home-woven fabrics.
’liius i't appears that l iie New York
Tribune forsees what every obs- vant
newspaper must forsee that the advan
tages which the south possesses ior the
manufacture of cotton fabrics are far
ahead of those to be found elsewhere
whether in this country or in toi«-ign
countries, anil that waile competition
may continue for some time to come to
deprive tho south of the full measure
of its brrt.hright, it will,, not bo long be
fore the manufacture of cotton tabrics
is carried on exclusively in this see
lion. Such is the doetee which nature
has written in the soil. Hero labor is
cheap, climate favorable, transportation
reduced to almost nothing, and such dis
advantages ns result from the wear and
tear of cotton en route to distant mar
kets saved to the manufacturer and
saved to the consumer. What better
inducements could be offered? If the
argument, is made that labor in the
south is not so skilled or so intelligent,
as it i.s in other sections, the answer
to this objection is found in the state
ment that textile schools are springing
up all over tho south, and that l*f la
bor in this section is not what it ought
to bo so far as the manufacture of fab
rics i.s concerned, it will not be long in
becoming so. With the combined ad
vantages which tho south possesses
over other sections for the manufacture
of fabrics, especially coton fabrics, H is
useh ss for other sections to cherish
the hope of being able to compete suc
cessfully with the south. What nature
has docro' d man cannot reverse.
One of the most vigilant champions of
the material interests of this section is
The Chattanooga Tradesman. This wide
awake publication never tires of demon
strating to the world the extraordinary
resources and adaptabilities of the
south; and with respect to the manu
facture of cobton fabrics Tho Chatta
nooga Tradesman thus argues:
Why the groat bulk of the trade should
not eventually be located beside the raw
material we cannot conceive. If there were
any climatic, social, political or ph.vs.e.u
obstacle to lhe transler of tie trade to
the cotton elates the e.i.-e would bi- 'lil”’ l '
ent, bin there are no .such objections. 1 lie
southern climate is both healthy and well
adapted to the manufacture. The labor and
social an,| governmental conditions are
highly favorable to the development of the
Industry. Transportation facilities are
good and l>-lii” st.< idiiy improved and ex
tended. Power .in lie produced In the
south mot” cheaply than anywhere else tu
this or any other country. In short, the
south has nriuy and gr -at adv intage.-i as a.
cotton tnanuf.ietin er, iH'i ri.i.is to raw ma
terial not being th” gr< itest of these, by
any means. And it would setn that a
country so situated with reference Io any
particular industry must, in time, absorb
at least a very large shat'” of that indus
try, If not a pra< '.l<-al monopoly thereof.
Without pr< ssiag the fn&tter furiher, it
suffices to say that the south cannot long
be withheld fttorn the enjoyment of
what rightfully belonns to her, and that
competition must eventually end in the
universal recogni'tion of the fact that
the south is the divinely appointed home
of the cotton industry.
Chickens and Eggs.
For several months our readers have
had a .surfeit of war talk. First, we
had the demand and counter-demand
passing between the two hostile gov
ernments; then the era in which the
contractor flourished in getting up slii'fls
and war material. Added to till this
wore a couple of naval battles and one
battle upon kind —all of which seems
to have surfeited the people and made
them fool anxious for a return of peace.
in .seeking an escape from lhe stories
of war and revolution. The Gainesville
News furnishes one of the best nu-ins
of tliversion in relating the wonderful
progress of the chicken and egg business
of iiort.ii Georgia. According to our
Gainesville contemporary, during a re
cent. week 10,000 chickens were expressed
from the Gainesville office. Although
this was a week in a very dull season
of the year, these figures prove that,
a la g? lot of fowls go out from that
point in a. single week. It took about
275 coops to bold them, and they were
sent in almost every direction and to
many different plac. s. These chickens
averaged 15 cents; ap’ece 10,000 at 15
cents amounts to $1,500 in one week,
and in a dull one at that. This would lie
$(1,000 a month and $72,000 <a year.
'This story of what may be done In
tho simple item of cbivkenft i.s one which
shows the value of small l-ndustries. It
has often been said that, the farmer's
wife riding to town with her basketful
of eggs is enabled to carry back’ more
money and to got more with it than does
her husband from the proceeds of his
cotton crop. There is money in chick
ens and eggs and butter. There Is
money in cabbage and lettuce ami on
ions. There is money in corn and po
tatoes and turnips. Here are enter
prises open to everyone, in tho p-oseeu
tion of whieh no man can fail to make
a Jiving, and Ibero i.s more to be ex
pected from these linos of trade than
from those with more pretentions sur
roundl'tigs. Ijol. the story of Ga’nos
villo ho duplicated from every railroad
station in Georgia; and soon, instead of
a cotton-ridden country, we will see a
prosperous agricultural community, ifi<'h
in the diver-'ity of Rs pursuits, free from
tho mortg'i”” fiends of tho < ast, tiU‘l
happy in the enjoyin'nt of the edvan
tnges which life in Georgia holds for
the thrifty and industrious.
——♦ —
How Americans Eight.
Ono inci'dent at the battle of Santiago
has attracted 'the attention of the for
eign military attaches with our army,
and is now under discussion by military
critics.
It is now well known that th” battle
whivh result'd in such tremendous loss
to the Americans was not. contemplated
by those who had ordered the for
ward movement. The iii;ention was to
carry the line of investment a little
faithcr toward th * city, taking such 'po
sitions as might, be deemed necessary,
and there a,wait events, at least for the
time being.
But when the troops had gone as far
as the intentions of the ci:in:iiand''T pur
posed, they found- the position unt< li
able. They must, either advance or
rctr. at. No gen-’r:;l ' fiber was near to
give the necessary command. I' was at
this moment that the incident which
has p:qm d foreign interest occurred.
Tho line waver'd a moment, and then
the mon moved forward a.s by a common
impulse, and stormed the Spanish in
tri nchments.
With what a fearful loss of life this
movement was accomplished, our read
ers know, but, after the first doubtful
moment, not a man wavered. Regulars
and volunteers moved together, earing
through the barbed wire fences, am!
driving the Spaniards out of their rifle
jiit.s and intrenchments. Tho victory was
dearly bought. Th” troops themselves,
acti'ng on a common impulse, bad made
a. successful assault which their con
manders would have shrunk from or
dering.
Following this citne a council of war.
It was decided that the troops had gone
too far. that, the position they had taken
w is too far advanced: and the general
oflkers agreed the original plan should
|>o <”i.rried out. This would involve
a. retreat, and it was at this point that
tho fire and vigor of General Joo Wheel
er shone out. lb' rose in that council,
and. in language more emphatic thin
polite, declared that Hie men shoo'd roi
be orde'od to retreat: and he followed
nit this declaration with a speech .so
full of common sense and patriotic ar
dor that, hi.s views prevailed.
Ho knew someti'.l'n.' of the fo'-lir.g
among tho men. When tho singular
movement of the troops began, Ger., ral
Wheeler had crawl<-d out o:’ an ambulance
mounted a horse and followed t ie men.
He know what their movement had cost.
He know, also, that an <rde:' to retire
would have a seriott Iy di .piriting <f
fect on the victorious \mericans, and
that is why he vigorously opposed it.
Ho know that the same battle would
have to bo fought over agahi, if the
town refused to surrender, and the te
sult. of a second assault might not be
.so successful.
So the men hold the ground they
had taken, and wo have no doubt that
tho event convinced the Spanish officers
th.it it would bo Idle to try to resist a
body of troops capable of carrying posi
tions all but impregnable.
If the foroeign military experts want
to know the secret of sucii a movem nt,
the explanation is simple. It Vs the
American way.
We learn from Admiral Sampson’s re
port that The New York put Iler nose
agauist a sinking (Spanish boat and
hunched her higher on the beach. This
deed was performed with only the as
sistance of the helmsman and engineer.
“Songs of the Soil”
By FRANK L. STANTON.
“Been in the Kain Before!”
(An Incident, of the Confederate Veterans
Parade in Atlanta.)
How the old brigades went marching that
reekless, rainy day,
When tho clouds let all their thunder down,
and lightnings fit the way!
But the old boys—as they met the waves of
rain that washed the shore,
Sent back this answer to the crowds: "Been
in th” rain before!”
You couldn’t drown those fellows out, for
with unbroken tread
They'd followed Lee and Jackson, where
all the skies rained lend!
No wonder that they answered o’er the
thunder's deafening roar.
While the bands were playing “Dixie”:
“Been in the rain before!”
They'd been there—never doubt it! they’d
forded crimson rills.
And heard far louder thunders where the
bullets hid the hills!
'Die torn flags of the old brigades right
gallantly th. y bore—
Those flags whose crimson bars and stars
had met the rain before!
And so, they all went marching, as on the
battle plain.
And bared their brows unheeding to the
lightning and the rain!
No wonder that like thunder of the sea
waves on lhe. shore
They answered all the cheering crowds;
"We’ve met the rain before!”
The Dear Old Tunes.
Wli.-n the i.'ear old tunes come ringing
I Tom the band.
From the band,
I can heir a far-off singing
From a dim and ghostly land,
Whei” th” pba.ntoni tents are shining
And stack d the rifles stand.
When th,' dear old tunes come ringing
I’rom the band,
From tho band,
There a-e spectral soldiers swinging
Into line on every band.
Grim veterans form in columns.
And shout the captains grand!
When the dear old tunes come ringing
From the band.
From tiie band,
Torn battle flags r' m flinging
Their glory o’er the land.
The de.id rise up and answer
To the roll call of the band!
•«• « •
Love’s Way.
When Love shall say: “This Is thy way,
Through lonely lands and hours,”
With weeping eyes, 'neath ruined skies.
Pass to tho thorns or flowers.
Love only leads thee to the night
That makes a morning . weet with light.
Far off tiie dawn appears
Resplendent In stl’d skle.s.
And Love shall kiss away thy teans
And silence all thy sighs.
Love only leads thee to the night
That makes a. morning sweet with light!
Where the Old Flag Flies.
What hee<] of stormy weather—
What care for peaceful skies?
The brightest stars are shining
Where tho old flag files!
There’s a glory ever gleaming
There’s a light that never dies
And rippled rainbows streaming
Where the old flag flicsl
A Hero in Rhyme.
Ono of the obituary poets tries his hand
on “The Death of a Patriot,” with the fol
lowing result:
“He fought a noble fight
In the midst of war’s red passions,
I’or sls in silver bright,
Likewise his monthly rations."
The Veteran’s Opinion.
Talkin’ 'bout. “Reunions"—warn't none llkt
that that’s gone.
An' I’m get t n' mighty anxious for the next
that's coinin’ on!
Can't have 'em, boys, too often! We're all
a-glttin gray,
An' ever' year come closer to the last Re
union day!
Talkin’ 'bout “Reunions”—l want ’em right
along!
I warn to hooray In tho rain when “Dixie”
is the song!
Can’t meet the boys too often! Wo’re glt
tln’ mighty gray,
An' ever' year comes closer to the last Re,
union day!
Comrades All.
In spite o’ th<' trouble
We'll march to It double—
Th” gray and the blue boys—we will!
For wthat are we hero for?
The country’s to care for.
Ami w”'re one with the old country still!
A Song’ for the Times.
Not any lime for sighing—
For moaning over life:
Men for their country dying—
Glad of the glorious strife!
Not .in; time for weeping—
The land with glory thrills!
Her si ntlnelts are keeping
Gu ird on her holy lulls!
Not any time to falter—
To cringe beside tho way!
Each clod is Freedom's altar,
Each sun makes Freedom's day I
, a
Problems.
De snakes don' have no taper,
Hut he sleek ez nnythinst
De alligator go ter sleep
En don’t wake up twell spring.
Oh. bell.vers,
Heah tie trumpet blow!
Fur away 'twell jedgment day
En lots er things ter know!
De bluebird give a picnic
En sot de pin te en i i.;:;
Di hawk ho come i-hawkin' roim*
Eu eat de bluebird up:
Oh, believers,
I.uts er things ter know!
Fur away "twell jedgment day—
So. heah de trumpet blow.
A Song.
Time's stops shall move to music—
-11 is river sing to set
If in one little garden
Love hath a rose for mi'!
The night with light shall blossom
And crowned and splendid be
If in life's stormy heaven
Love hath a rose for mo!
And sweet in task and trial
Shall Love's dear service be
If when the tasks are ended
Love hath a smile for me!