We consider the class of quantum spin chains with arbitrary
$U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$-invariant nearest neighbor interactions, sometimes called
$\textrm{SU}_q(2)$ for the quantum deformation of $\textrm{SU}(2)$, for $q>0$. We derive
sufficient conditions for the Hamiltonian to satisfy the property we call {\em
Ferromagnetic Ordering of Energy Levels}. This is the property that the ground state energy
restricted to a fixed total spin subspace is a decreasing function of the total spin. Using
the Perron-Frobenius theorem, we show sufficient conditions are positivity of all
interactions in the dual canonical basis of Lusztig. We characterize the cone of positive
interactions, showing that it is a simplicial cone consisting of all non-positive linear
combinations of "cascade operators," a special new basis of $U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$
intertwiners we define. We also state applications to interacting particle processes.