Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-11
"Waut Of Energy"

'DreVlOuS I'd JIle WdTs says JllC A WhUttt6
IS. C.) InquireT, 1.-THE grand defect of the
Southern character was want OF energy"
Well, then, we suppose "the late war" re-
generated the Southern race at once in this
particular. and that it was done, too, like
flash of lightning-ior there's no man,
friend or foe, inclined to dispute the energy
displayed by the Southern race so soon as
the tOcsin of war sounded. No people,
since the world began, ever showed more
untiring energy or greater tenaclty or
purpose, or, on the whole, made better use
of scanty resources
How, then, do you explain? Was this
alleged swami of energy" really "a grand
defect of Southern character" or was the
''energy" there like ore in the mine, ready
to be developed at the call of circumstan-
ces?
The truth is, so much nonsense has been
spoken and written about the "want OF
energy" in Southern character, and the
restless energy of Northern races. that all
history, in these modern times, is practl-
cally belied. We forget that Christianity,
civilization, arts, sciences, arms, social I'M
provement-everything in short, beyond
barbarlsm, is of Southern birth; and that
the achievements of Southern energy, in
literature, oratory, sculpture, painting,
architecture and engineering stand alto
gether unrivalled and unapproachable by
the yaunted attainments of modern times,
and of Northern genius and energy. Ihe
,aodeLs of the day are the achievements OF
Southern skill and genius-the very poetry
of the passions-Of -patriotism-of
heroic enthusiasm and daring-Of lmmOr-
tai and untiring ardor in the pursuit OF
worthy objects, is still lighted at the altar
of Southern inspiration. Parnassus ana
Helicon are not in northern latitudes, nor
were Athens, Rome, or any of the illustrl.
GUS cities of ancient civilization, which still
give the law and the example on all the
higher achievements of human genius and
culture, the abOdes of any Northern race.
In America, where there is, in fact, so
little difference in the general origin and
character OF the people, we must account
for any real or apparent displays of supe-
rior energy and progress, by eXtrlnsic IN
huences. Necessity is the spur to eXertion.
The East found barren soil and rugged
climate, and, like the people OF ancient
Tyre, were driven to the seas-to COM
merce and to manufactures for livelihood.
The whole North and West have been built
M by enormous tributes of men and money
from the old worldly the trade of whole
continent concentrated by natural, as well
as by arbitrary laws under the Federal sys-
TEN. The South, marked by nature lor
an agricultural region-without external
tributes of population, money or trade, mas
made but comparatively slow progress,
while the very nature OF her pursuits has
disqualified her for great achievements In
mechanics, architecture, or the fine arts.
These are growth needing the stimulus OF
crowded populations.
But in craftsmanship, in letters, in ora
tory, the Southern race has never taken a
second rank in this country. Her genius,
i'm fact elaborated the grand idea of the
American Confederation of free aud indie
pendent States-that great political struc-
! ture, whose decay and ruin, when itcOmes
will date from the day when the plan was
altered and perverted into grand demo-
cratic consolidation.
Poverty and ruin have. no doubt stimu-
lated Southern energies beyond the ordina-
ry manifestation in the days of the oldpa-
| triarchal system. That admitted ofleisurely
application and fair amount OF prosperi-
| ty, Now subsistence must be the price ol
! ingenuity and steady toll. We must put oil
our thinking caps, as well as put our shoul'
ders to the wheel. We shall be greatly
mistaken, if, in the end, the spur of neces'
| sity does not call forth manifestation o.
energy in the Southern people, quite equa
to that ever displayed in any section.ot the
country. We shall be mistaken, ii the sun
of the South is not in a very short time
discovered to be as sharp-as shifty, and a
practical as the man of the East or of Tho
West. The days when southern trade
showed magnificent figures and heavy prof.
its are numbered and finished. The time
when the Southern trader will count hi;
picayunes as closely as the Eastern OF
Western shOp-keeper, is fast coming. Our
circumstances will soon develop sharp
ness of application and economy of which
no section will be likely to complain as in-
ferior or inadequate-MacOn (GG) Journal
i