The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-21
The Poverty of the south--Its Effects.

with courage and desperation rarely dis
PLAYED in any cause, and the downfall of
their hopes was not accomplished until most
of their representative men and myrlads OF
the youths who were to have maintained
the prestige of their class, had poured out
their life-blood. upon the field of battle. The
collapse of the rebellion did not come until
the strength of the southern aristocracy was
exhausted, its wealth sacrificed and It's per-
sonnet depleted almost u extinction. The
few Old men and boys remaining OF the once
defiant "ohivalry," are buE sad remnant OF
the haughtiest, most arrogant snd selt-conh-
dent territorial aristOcracy that the modern
world has ever seen.
The triumph of the nation over this body
of men has been complete. As power In
the country, almost as a class, they are ex
tict. With the vast estates and millions OF
slaves which gave them the strength as we'll
as the sentiments and class-union which
marked them, has persisted the prestige which
gave them influence over their poorer aud
less educated feliow-citizeus In their section
Of the country. The refusal of amnesty TO
the possessor Of large estates extinguished
the last hope which the old "Plantocracy"
cauld have had of a return of predominance
in the political and social affairs of the south.
A new sra Is begun In that portion OF our
country. With the return of peace is inau-
and principles which formed the institutions
of the north and west The people of the south
begin this era under many disadvantages. -
They have to remodel their institutions upon
a plan which does not embrace the element
existing in their population. The north and
west have organized their governments upon
the basis Of homogeneous population, 80
far as race is concerned, and have not needed
to leave place for or assign place to a body
OF people alien in blood to themselves. The
Indians they have exterminated. the negroes
they have ignored.
The south, in recognizing it's state govern
ments, has this POLLEN to solve, aud it will
be hard enough even if its people are left
uudsturbed by the unfriendly and mischiev-
Gus interference of northern fanatics. But
in addition, they have to meet and overcome
the evils incident to the termination Of the
war, which devasted large tracts of country,
destroyed immense capital invested in indus
trial business, and measurably depopulated
! the country Of its best and strongest citizens
the hope of every cOmnunity,its young men
! The south IS poor; poor IN accumulated
wealth poor IN population OF negroes who
can with difficulty, if at all, be made to earn
their own subsistence and poorer in defc-
! iencv of white men capable of developing
the only Immediate source OF wealth remain
| ing, the beautiful soil!
What can be done, then, by our southern
| fellow-citzens, TO inaugurate a healthy aud
| substantial return of prosperity among them?
! First, ii is evident that civil government and
| local administrations must be restored. This
| is the first step, and that thanks to the promp-
titude Of President johnson, is already be-
! gun. The next thing is TO develope aud or
| ganize labor the source and foundation Of all
| material progress. So far as the negro ele-
I do tlrLl - 10, Cd
! To this end the negroes must be instructed,
| cared for kindly treated and protected from
| those abuses and exactons which have so dis
! c1uraging an effect upon those who show a
! dis position to be industrious. Nothing will
! be more in furious to the south than any ne
! elect of proper Legislation which shalt leave
/ the freedmen subject to the caprice or injustice
! of their employers.
/ This must be provided against by
| sufficient action. reinforced by the guides of
| public sentiment in the press, the pulpit and
! in society, each in their sphere pressing up
on the people the necessity, the moral obliga-
| ton and the practical wisdom of dealing just
! IL with the freedmen.
! Ga the other hand proper regulations must
: be made under which unruly and idle labor
/ ers may bs restrained from the mischief
which they would otherwise cause, both di-
rectly ana by exciting the people, in conse
J qnenca of their msbehavior, against the
/ whole u0lored race. This is q matter to be
I attended to a. much in the interest of the
: black as the white
Thirdly, IL is important that the value of uni
versal popular education should be made permau-
cnt III the south ut an early day. The educated
f artist ocracv which has heretofore governed the
south being annuied, the people, who hence
Z forth to govern themselves must provide for
general EDUCATION, an important basis Of popu-
! lar government
Fourthly, immigration from the north and
! from Europe ought to be favored by the most
/ liberal legislation, and by cordial welcome to
! all new corners. immigrants bring capital both
! in money ard labor, the two essentials which are
requisite to restore southern prosperity. The
! south would be manfesting spirit of faulty
worse than that which led it into rebellion, if it
! should fail to do everything in its power to at
| tract inhabitants rapidly possibly TO its de-
! por ulated cities and rural districts.
| We have Indicated, briefly, what in our view
| is essential to the restoration OF southern pros
Eeritv. Doubtless MANY minds in the south are
awake to these points, and will press their i'm
portance upon the legislating bodies soon to be
! assembled But there are duties in this matter
| which belong to the north. The people of the
| south are our feow-citizens; we all one peo-
| pie and our interests nation are and in
dissoube. We must learn first of all to regard
the southerners as brethren, and not conquer
ed foes We must desire tncir welfare more than
our own supremacy over them. Indeed, we
must be willing to abdicate that supremacy, and
| to admit fully aud che eriully their equal rights
under the common government of the republic.
The war Is over, the rights OF war are fallen in
| allowance and the sentiments of a peaceful union
| must now be cultivated.
| We can help the south greatly if seek TO
give our help in this spirit, and We can influence
! har, g .ha.. thn th.,t h,ll