The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-30

os Ni'i-TU, NCWDerry.
Samuci DrOuthitt, Greenvillc c.. H.
VIM. Moore, Abbeville G. H.
Julius Poppe, Anderson c. H.
Industrial Condition OF the South.
The remarkable business activity
which sprung up all over the South
immediately after the conclusion of
the war, was regarded as the sure in
dication of the speedy prosperity of
that desolated section. The noise of
battle had hardly died away before
the hum of reviving business was
heard. Not only were the old places
OF trade re-opened throughout the
South, but every town found its Ca
pacity for business accommodation
entirely too small, and the rapid con-
struction of new houses and enor-
NOUS advances in the value of proper
ty were the result Newspapers
which are always sure business ba-
rometer-suddenly started up by
hundreds. Not only was there re-
vlval OF old Journals that had lain
dormant during the war, but new
ones appeared on every hand, and all
showed, by overfowing advertise
ments, that unbounded conf tlence
was felt In the Immediate prosperity
of the South. But, unfortunately.
time has proven that the wonderful
business activity of the South was
spasmodlc, unnatural and transient.
Many OF the newspapers which start
ed up under such favorable auspices
have withered and died Others are
languishing for support, and all of
them bear witness to the reaction
that has occurred in the industrial
condition of their section. Trade is
dull, money is scarce, times are hard,
and despondent feeling generally
prevails.
There Is ground for considerable
difference of opinion about the cause
of this back-set to Southern pros
perlty, but we incline to think that it
Is the result OF combination of cir
cumstances. In the first place, a
great deal of the apparent prosperity
which followed the war was not real
The exhaustion of supplies in the
South during the pendency of the
rebellion, naturally caused heavy
importation of goods as soon as the
military lines were broken, and great
activity In business was the conse-
quence. That activity was necessa-
rlly only temporary, but it had a de-
ceptive tendency, and induced the
belief that it would be permanent. A
partial reaction, therefore, was to be
expected. But other and unnatural
causes have helped to check the pros
perlty of the South. The radical
measures of Congress, the continued
exclusion of the Southern States from
representation, and the fear of their
people that Congress will 'sPolandize"
them, has doubtless done much to-
ward checking the advance of busi-
ness.
The doubt and uncertainty which
now exist restrain men from embark
ing IN new enterprises, and induce
them to wait until the affairs of their
section shall have been settled. The
Southern people, however, NAV
blame class Of their own men for
the present unfavorable condition of
their industrial affairs. That class
are the persons who continually
OAA SpiIc iiutl llaUTeu toward
the North, and who are held by the
radicals r as the true representatives of
southern feeling. They are account
apie 1or the non-emigration of North
ern men to the South, and for the
consequent loss of the capital and
energy that might otherwise be in
fused into Southern business. There
are other points that might be men
toned IN this connection, but we will |
not alludc to them now. It is enouob
to know that material and unfayor-
able cA SO has occurred in the bust
ness prospects of the South, and that
the chlange IS partly attributable to
radicalism in the No, sh and rebellion
III the South, which we hope the loyal
people of both sections will be pa-
trlotic enough to rebuke.
Ne,o York Sun.