New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-07
tHE SOUTH TO-DAY.

Inc year ending on the 5lst OF August last are
full of suggestion. They indicate rapid re-
sumption of industry throughout the South,
and inspire US with the hope that an early
future will, naeasurably, restore our prosperity
and reinstate New Orleans in her natural
position as one of the great emporiums of the
country. The ravages of desolating war are
not to be repaired in a day. The exhaustion
of four years of gigantic conflict requires
season of repose. 1t could not therefore, be
reasonably anticipated that we should recover
our strength at once or that we should i'm
mediately regain the status which we had
lost But the experience Of a year has de-
monstrated that the people of the South pos
sessed the viii and the energy to extricate
themselves from their embarrassments and,
in country like this, will and energy go a
long way toward supplying other deficiencies.
At the close of the war there was much des-
pondency as to our future. Industry had
been almost abandoned, commerce was par
alyzed The sudden and violent change in
the condition of our laboring population pre-
sented problems the solution of which could
not be accurately prefgured. A class of per-
sons educated for generations under the com
pulsory system We're released at once from
control, and placed in position which even
the superior race, IN other countries, had
reached only after centuries of painful effort.
Itwas notsunnatural that the consequences
of so thorough revolution should be viewed
with distrust, and even With alarm. The
| question which presented itself was of the
most serious character. It was not whether
| the negro would work in a state of freedom,
but whether he possessed sufficient adapta-
bility to fit him for the requirements of his
new position before total disloca-
ton of industry should ensue. The
period Of transition might be so long as to
entail great evils and suffering on the COM
nunity during its continuance This was the
/ problem to be solved. To solve it rightly and
proftably required all the prudence, the en-
ergy and the perseverance of the white people.
They possessed a capacity for adapting them
selves to new circumstances which could not
! be expected in the newly emancipated bond
men. They could, Eby untiring effort and
sagecious management, supply much that is
wanting in the blacks. They could set an ex-
/ ample Of industry and hope, which would not
/ be lost on their late slaves. And well have
they performed their part. The figures pub
/ Eshed in the CRESCENT of last Saturday, tell
tale which effectually refutes the ISLANDERS
| heapea upon the people o. the South by their
/ ehefnles' ana winch ought to relieve the ap-
i pfehens1ons OF those OF our own people who
cherished q not unreasoable doubt of our
capacity for speedy reorganization
Of our industry and commerce. And what
ever has been gained By us is due entirely to
our own efforts We owe nothing to ex-
! tr1nsle influences, except the indul-
gence which has generously been ex-
tended to us by our Northern credi-
tors, and the disposition which, in many
quarters. mas been exhibited, to afford few
needed facilities. But tbs would have been
unayail'ng without that resolute determine
tlon V make the best Of our condition, by
which our salvation must, at last, be worked
out. indeed, we may say that the South has
been commencing against obstacles such as
nave seldom eeen thrown IN the way Of an
impoverished and struggling community Ex-
GUIDED from legislative representation, she
has oeen taxed g the utmost limit OF
anettai4se dominant ana YlneicttlYe
'..t'y n1ye liea g array one class q
= poptiaeiUn taiiise tlle otlef, ana TO- SOW
~ sseus Y z atseontenb winch they ap-
5s''tso y nope @o0la prove 1atal 70 our N !
nave haFlllpefed ana annoyed =
= S4en IN incubus, 1n.the shape OF a freed
es1le''V' wnAen z q aeleteiloas sand
se''ll ~ l's aelee'S On rne olaeks as It's
lllIatihg 70 the Wh14sS' Ihey have devised