The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-13
THE CIVILIZATION of THE NORTH

The superior civilization OF. the North, and
especially the New England portion of it, over
all other people, nations, kindreds and tongues
has been, anG is now, the popular theme of their
orators, book makers and periodical publishers
Preachers have hammered out this text to a
fre, thin point upon their pulpit anvils; ora
tors have made it the capital stock of their clap
trap orations; and speakers and writer's together
have never tired of or exhausted that, to them,
exhaustless theme-the superior civilization of
the North over all other people. Of late this
comparison on the question of civilization has
been directed mainly against the South and its
barbarlsm, contrasted with the Northern ad-
kvancement in science and morals. .z.,a
We take the Northern press to be the true
exponent and exemplifer of Northern civilza-
| ton, and the sentiments of the masses are, in 0
measure, reflected throug the pages Of the me-
tropoitan journals. ...... ..r.. ts.-
/ Is it an evidence of civilization that their
pages are daily made dark by murders the most
shocking ever cEroniclcd; Of midnight assassi-
nations the most deliberate and devilish ever
conceived; of murder sipgly and wholesaler? Ls
it an evidence Of civilization that the crimes Of
rape, bigamy, incest, fornication, concubinage,
and all manner Of lewdness and corruption of
holy vows and prostitution of virtue, are made
common as petite larceny and ordinance vio-
lations in our coartsy
Is it an evidence of civilization that fnose
great financial dcaouensents Of stupendous fraud
and great rascality that have no parallel are
daily taking place. shaking the commercial and
business centres of the cities like earthquakes
upbcaving the fragments Of shattered wealth, to
settle in the dust aud ashes of rain and bank
ruptcy upon the heads OF thousands? n +, =
Is it an evidence Of civilization that virtue 10
at such an awful discount as it is shown to be in
that great Sodom and Gomorrah of sin-that
city Of the harlot, the beast Of the seven heads
and ten horns, whose tail drew the third part of
the stars Of heaven-the city of New York?
Is it civilization for matrons and daughters
of Fifth Avenue palaces 10 become the govern
esses and attractions of gorgeous downtown
brothels? For ministers Of Christ to repd their
sacred robes; and become zealots and furies in
the service Of the deviR Where Virtue 10 o
pearl, with its Thousand base limitations, and
Religion myth aud mirage in the SouR
If all these be ciyilizatiou--the superior ciyi.
lization Of the North-then better that the peo-
pie of the South be considered barbariaus.
The Chicago Post (Repubiican) of October
! 10, says: =. .-...l...-,- -. -, . -,
tIf any living rational, reasoning creature is
,disbelever 10 the total deprayity of man, o.
! six months residence in Chicago will cure him
| Of the infatuation. Few eities on this coninsos
! Of America are Infested By race OF more IN
] nIifgated villains. Murder, rapine, outrage and
every other ofense in the catalogue OF crime are
daily perpetratcd, The swift vengeance of the
law, which is almost sure to follow, seems not to
deter the wretches from pursnins the objects Of
1 their malice, eupidity or passion. Virtue ia
made the sport Of every Designing Lothario, and,
boldly entering the precincts Of the domestic
circle, they saatch their. victims from homes of
] happiness and virtue aud consign Them TO dis.
grace and iafamy." - saz =. ~. : y .f-ya
| This is specimen of pretty strong writing,
but we know no one that is familiar with Ghiea-
60 who will dispute the accuracy of what is aI-
legged of it.