The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-31
DAILY NEWS
CHARLESTON,
THURSDAY MORNING. AUGUST 3l,;1sG5.

FoR SOME TIME past we have treated of tho siu-
alton; and rs our attention has been chiefly ad-
dressed to tho cmbarrassmcnts experienced and
indicated by the radical change in our social con-
dition, it is to be confessed that prescntmonts
of the subject have boon somewhat sombrc. Ger
tainly they have been less attractive than We
would have been pleased to make them-for opt-
mism if not always the most practical is certainly
the most pleasant, philosophy either to preach or
practice; and there are, in fact, aspects OF our
subject which arc susceptible of more favorable
presentation.
To mako money, improve our circumstances,
purchase comforts, grasp the hand of friendship
at our hcarths and close tho door upon the blus-
terings OF the outside world, is now, we believe,
the very common desire of everybody and the op-
portunitics OF doing this really greater than
they have over been, perhaps, Mt other periods OF
our history. Hitherto VIC have had few roads to
fortune, and those, only who got The track, could
mako mach proSrcss but now there lis the oppor-
tunty, at least, for greater variety of enterprise
In fact it were hard to say what enterprise could
be started now, without tho reasonable prospect of
success. Our country is in want of everything.
Labor, withdrawn from planting, will necessarily
DO abundant; living, i'll short time at least, will
be cheap; tho business OF farming will, doubtless,
constitute almost only form of agricultural
The arts and handicrafts will, doubtless, take a
portion of our negro population the articles for
common use will be made here, without the costs
OF importation; and thus, with abundant labor,
and cheap living, and market for everything to
be made, at the doors of the factory or workshop,
1T were difficult to say what business there is i'll
which, if capital wcro invested, it would not be
profitable.
1t is true we are not more encumbcred with capi-
tai than with other goods, and directly, therefore,
the suggestion will not bo of great interest to
people. But the opportunity existing, capital will
como to it, There is an abundance of it in other
sections Of the Union; like other fluids it will cx-
pand, and we have every confidence that in a very
short timo will SEQ it in vigorous and successful
operation here. The men arc here upon the spot
who arc competent to determine when these op-
portunties occur. They are, so far, engaged only
in commercial and mercantile pursuits, but they
are discriminating and alert They know the con-
ditions of success elsewhere, and when they see
them here they will seize tho occasion, and give us
not only the capital but the energy and enterprise
that will afford assurance of success
We have been so recently in contest with the
people Of the North that there is, perhaps, some
soreness left, and dsincnaton to the thought
that we are to rely OH them for the means to ma
tcrial advancement. But there is no doubt that
the present tendency upon their part to bury the
hatchet, to come among us, bring capital and en-
terprise, look out for opportunity and give stmu-
liant generally to the parayzed powers of the
try, will be ofvery great advantage. And We regard
tho occurrence here as ono of the most fortunate
circumstances of our condition. By-gones must be
by-Sones. We have no longer distinct social
system, and peculiar policy to be preserved We
must enter the race upon the great democratic
,21a
to have other active mon from other sections of
tho world to help us. It is in this way only that
we can get start. It is only from the competi-
ton Of foreign capital that we find value in our
vested interests; that lands and other proper
ty will find market; and it is greatly important
to- the business and to tho comfort and eubsist-
encc even, of some of people that this proper
ty shall como to market soon as possible Rich
mond il for ahead of us. A large amount of for
eign enterprise and capital has already poured in
upon that place. and already their stores are filled
to the utmost capacity, their streets are crowded,
the burnt district-almost as large as ours-is be-
ing rapidly built up, and real estate commands
higher price, at rent OF sale, than it did before
the war.
To this result there is at least tendency among
ourselves. There is already capital and enter
prise. If our property were out Of tho hands of
the Government there would be Investments
Alrendy companies arc being formed for manufac-
turing purposes. We hear OF mn india-rubber
company, OF companies for the manufacture of
shoes, clothes, and implements of husbandry; and
it is believed that paper manufactory for the
construction OF that tissue from rice straw would
be abundantly successful. Rye straw Mt the
North-the article most extensively used for that
purposo-commants price of twenty dollars per
ton. Our rice straw has hitherto been used sim
ply for manure. 1t is thought to be better even
than the rye. We have wood in abundance for
tho machinery; bark for the ashes necessary for
the process; aud it is scarcely possible, therefore
that the enterprise, if properly undertaken, would
fail OF tho most complete success
h1ischievons Representations of Southern
Sentiment,