Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-10
Apathy of the south.

State entitled thereto.
Apathy of the south.
Between the leisure afforded by the holi
days and the deadlock placed upon the
mails by the inclemency of the weather,
most of the Northern papers, which now be-
gin to reach us, seem to have occupied the
time discussing the temper of the Southern
people, vibrating in opinion, even among
the Radical organs, from extreme and dan
gerous defiancy to utter and hopeless de-
spondency. The latter character, however,
being q new role given to the Southern PEG
pie, we publish entire an article Of the
New York Times, based upon the authority
of the personal observations of a distin-
cuished Federal officer in the course of an
extended trip through the Southern States,
in which, we confess, much accuracy Of
observation is mixed with great error in
conclusions. This most probably resulted
from an ignorance of Southern character,
rather than any desire to misrepresent the
feelings of our people
Previous to the war, politics being as it
were almost part of the education OF
Southern youths, and Southern politicians
occupying deservedly such Il controlling
position in the General Government, made
the impression, and not without foundation,
that our section of the United States fur
nished a greater number and ADLER public
men than the North. In all public assem-
blages, i'll gatherings in the tap rooms Of
the hotels, party politics were discussed
the political orator followed the tax-gath
erer to the crossroads meetings, and the
people were made familiar with the great
political questions from the lips Of the best
speakers and ablest mon of the country
In this way almost every man, however
limited might be his attainments i'll other
matters, WAS pretty generally well informed
on all political questions The very great
contrast which is presented by our people
at the present time in this respect, is calcu-
lated to deceive the Northern sojourner,
however close may have been his obserya-
tons.
Possibly the politicians, the press and
the Legislatures of the South do not ex-
press fully the desire for relief from politi
cal turmoil and excitement felt by the
masses of our people. Exhausted, i'm
poverished and helpless, their first political
desire, next to preservation of their honor,
is repose. But that they care but little
about the terms of reconstruction that may
be offered them, or the political form that
1o,r
upon them, is total misconception of the
feelings of our people, which even the
apathy they evince will not Justify. We
honestly believe neither the politicians, the
press nor the Legislatures express the strong
determination of the people of the South
not voluntarily, for any political rights now,
or which may hereafter be denied, to ac-
cept the degrading terms already offered
or proposed to be offered them. That we
are unable to resist any outrage attempted
to be perpetrated upon US is true, but that
we will give it our sanction, never.
It may be true, indeed, that the South
ern people would passively recognize the
authority of an Emperor should Congress
decree an entire change of government, and
if this regal officer should pay respect to
the laws of the country he would command
as much confidence as the three hundred
Emperors who now govern us with an iron
rod without regard to law. If the absolute
will of the ma ority are to govern, if q vio-
lent, resentful mob are to mould the politi-
cal destinies of the South, it were possibly
better that this authority was vested in one
man.
This distinguished officer, we think,
mistook the aversion of the Southern peo-
pie to further political activity on account
of profound conviction of its inutility.
from desire to turn the best talents from
public life to private business, and from
the natural lassitude that follows over-e1-
ertion and utter exhaust on, for leaden
apathy to their future destiny. If he
were in active service during the four years
of war, he well knows the efforts made by
the South, and can appreciate the necessi-
ty for repose. Says that sterling paper, the
New York World, in speaking of the attempt
made by the South in the war, and the de-
sire OF some to reflect upon our failure, GA
more resolute putting forth of moral and
physical energy has never been witness
"ed. The Greek contemporaries of Mil
tiades, the Roman contemporaries of
"Scipio, the English contemporaries of
Cromwell, did not exhibit higher intre-
"pidity or more heroic ardor We of the
North discredit our own valor when we
"disparage or belittle that of the South