Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-18
ITOIn III6 NtW IOIA " UIa'
The Southern Curse.


Too little because the theme is sadly re-
pulsive) has been said i'll the Journals OF
tie North concerning the one supreme So
cial danger which arose IN the Southern
States at the close of the war, and which
the action of the reconstruction laws has
since increased.
It is not alone because the block popula
ton of the South has been elevated from
slavery into u nominal manhood, recog-
niZed by the leaders OF reconstruction and
the Radical party as being more eminent
than the manhood Of the late rebellious
whites, that the latter are stung deeply,
and complain. There is something nearer
to the hearts of a people than civil rights
and political position. even when these are
usurped by race beneath them III lntelh-
gence, experience, 10 .naunerS The
common safety OF their homes the security
from harm or insult OF those whom they
most love and respect-These ale the Iirst
| considerations of civilized, honorable men.
When these are ieopardized, the co dItion
of any community is loG indeed.
| The terror Of the Southern hit IS the
immortality # the emancipa5ed Slaves. In
order that lIl-s may De the mJro --,- Oly
understood, our re.-> :. are invited 10 y
anime carefully the ietGar5 from CT" He
pondents in Georgia and elsewhere. g"
the IISG OF L % OtbEd$5 CtAiASu III ID
day from our Southern exchanges, TV-Ltil
we're printcI Saturday morning. lis to
he observed that in these as L almo.1 al
the accounts Of such doings which appear
IN Southern newspapers, mere naked facts
are set down, few comments. lnlignan5 o.
Othern ise appearing. Sucn reference Is
perfectly expiicable. j prudent aprrehen-
sion OF the consequences OF arouslng toe
hot and widespread public resentment re
strains the pen OF every thoughtful South
ern Journalist. Nor fear of all the United
States soIdiery in all the Southern military
departments, nor thought of any future
consequences to themselves alone, Woult
perhaps have kept the white male popula
, ton of the South from preclp1tatlng wa
of races founded upon constantly recurring
euormities like these. Military jurisdlc
, ton has been needed there, if at all, 10 re
= tress, instead of encouraging as it has. tn
; disposition only of The blacks. The white
o have q more than sufficient motive tor re
straining their passions within bounds.
g The negro race has ever been noted TO
: its debaucheries when it has had opportu
a mites of license San Domingo and tn
: Tsthmus of Panama were the scenes OF tW
, of the most fearful manifestations OF tn
: hellish passions of tropical peasantry, l
l., modern times. Is 1t any wonder tllaI III
inhabitants Oh Tie COulllSlA NAS
II ;ncur the risk of what would be SO muc
% % worse than the mere massacre Of their wive
q and children A battle with the negroe
, would be battle with fends. The latte
"a who when domesticated on plantation
before the war with their families, wei
n rarely impelled to commit violence eve
II in the households of those of their oW
is color, have been forced, i'll thousands
Il instances. to an irksome continuance Z
4 inability to support family, and by I'll
a. nnwillingness of their new employers
q. hire married men. Hence. and encourage
+ in the attitude which they are permitted
. assume toward ''the poor white trash, MAJ
g. of them have indulged and are perslsui
in. the outrages reclted. Even the Wome
Who we're never too strictly chaste, ha'
become more grossly unehaste IMAM eve
rs A hold. brazen concubinage has increased
ID the towns as well as in the country, with
10 inevitable consequences OF disease ana 5.
n ferinc. And the same horrible dew
Id which in New England is employed py Ell
he nant physicians to lessen the domestic car
ad of fashionable women, would seem TO na
- heen simultaneously employed to fedu
IT. their burdens by the swarthy female war
or in Alabama and Georgia OF the Kadlt
missionaries from the New England STATE
be Such condition of society can be ilken
tie to nothing else than volcano. lt Is Ga
all growing worse and will grow worse
IS. Iono as the cold. cruel, selfish Radlt
ed policy of crushing the Southern whites
u low the respect OF their Ignorant rece
9w slaves for the double purpose of destroy
- the influence of the former over the lat'
ed and manipulating the latter into points
is partisans, is pursued. The time was WI
up a negro, even if he conceived deed so Y
no as the nameless ones that are r1fe IN I
ng South to-day. knew that it would be eert9 T.
RI death to attempt it, and refrained.
ne time must come, too, when, if the hldee
ler dread upon which the forbearance OF Sou
&C. ern citizens is founded becomes realized
ed a much greater than the present RATIO
Die bearance will cease 10 be possible