The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-09
MARATHON 70 THE so UTH-T THE POLICY
Or OUR PEOPLE, -.

+. AS might have been expected, the conduct OF
our people is very common subject OF remark
to those in other sections Of the country. Sue
cess is the criterion Of merit. Thosc-who have
lost the ability to enforce respect have no
natural right to complain that their actions
are not justly estimated; and the kid that
muddied the stream below the wolf, in fabulous
| antiquity, still comes in principle to muddy it
again, wherever, even in human experience,
there is irresponsible brute power to be mad
dencd by the act. =
Of this we have an illustration in the con-
stant feeling of dissatisfaction existing at the
North by whatever may be done, or attempted
to be done, amongst us; and the New York
Tines, a few days since, takes us seriously to
task-frst, for not encouraging immigration
to our section 8; and next, for our unamiable,
not to say dinbolical, conthlct to the Northern
men who come to settle at the South.
Now, that there are no well concerted meo-
sures to encourage immigration to the South
is, perhaps, true, and it is To be regretted We
want population; and that it does not come to
us, while it rolls in living billowB upon the
Northwest, is fact of which we are as dis
tinctly conscious as is the writer in the Tines
! himself. and one from which we have suffered
infinitely more than he has done. We have
suffered in the want of that stimulant to our
material interests, and in that accumulation of
political power thus resulting to that section,
which has crushed u.s. But is it in our power
to prevent it? Can we make them come if
they do not want to? or make them want to
come when they are repelled by the conditions
the negro for labor and subsistence. They
shrink from the fortunes Of q country in
dustriously subjugated. They shun place
where they must be depressed below their
natural level, that another people may be olo-
vated upon theirs; and can we obviate these
conditions? Can we cxterminato the negroes,
that white foreigners may have place? Can
we subycrt oppression, and give to them the
assurance that coming here they may govern
themselves? or if this be not possible, is there
any other measure which may be SO well con-
Quoted as to crafty the tastes of critical
spectators? Can we disguise the facts, and
create illusions to attract them? Practically,
we may bring laborers here by giving them
greater inducements to come than they have
to go elsewhere; and these we have not the
power to offer. The citizens Of our country
are too completely without the capital, TO start
enterprises in which foreigners can find EN-
ployment; and unless they Gun offer them en-
ployment, the people of our country, of them
selves, can offer them no other induoement
adequate to bring them. A pleasant and seduc-
tive manner can have little effect upon peo-
pie who come abroad to better their condition.
The only other Inducements are to be offered
by our lands. They are attractive; they pre-
sent many advantages; and, in all conscience,
they are cheap enough. Tho worry article we
speak Of mentions that they are selling all over
the South for prices hardly nominal but if
they will not draw, can we make them do SO :?
tits possible that, with very large capital in
the hands Of an extensive and enterprising
company, we might be able to import, in
spite Of their repugnanoe, q body Of emi-
grants, but there is no dsposable capital at tho
South to be expended upon that or any otner
object. Without the ability to make further
investments than are necessary To purchase
provision for the laborers upon our plaoeg, we
arc without The power to invest in IL foreign
population, and we are constrained to ac-
quiesce therefore, with what complacancy VIC
may, in the criticism of those comfortable and
complaeant spectators to whose pipings if wo
would, we cannot dance #-z=z#
1t is said, however, thatwe do not treat with
propriety tho men of onpital and enterprise
who come amongst us. We are not prosper
Gus or joyous people. We have little to make
US go. We have little in tho way of enter
tainments or hospitalities to ofFer and it is
possible that Northern men find little in our
4 society to attract them. But we believe that
all who have come to this section Of the South
will do US the justice to confess that they have
been met fairly and frankly; that in their buei-
ness relations, tho only ones those i'll prosccu-
ton of legitimate enterprise have sought to
festablish, they have been at no disadvantage !;
that they have been as seoure, in person and
property-as free from insult or interference