The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-10
Edltorial Notys.onsthe South. >

l 4
We give below another excellent
editorial from the pen of Mr., Prime,,
the chief editor of the New York
lJom1'Gl Of Commerce: I !,
L If IN election of any kind were to
be held in the South within the next
three months, there is no reasonable
doubt that three-fourths of the negro
vote would be cast with the Southern
white vote. There is perfect accord
between the larger portion of the
freedmen and the white population.
This is but natural. The negroes
were as ardent enemies of the North
as their masters during the war. They
had no theories to sustain, and no
special care as to what questions
were involved in the contest. They
sympathized with the people who
surrounded them; and if the oath of
allegiance were distinctly understood
by the freedmen when It is admins
tered to them, nine-tenths of them
would be unable to say that they had
not lent willing aid and comfort to
the rebellion. Having stood firmly
by their masters in the trials of the
war, they are still likely to stand by
them in oil public questions. It seems
to be from a knowledge and npprecia-
tion of these facts, that the men who
are seeking to use the negro vote for
partisan purposes find it necessary to
delude the poor fellows with promises
OF division of the lands among
them. The serious question for the
freedmen now ought to be how to
establish regular and permanent
system of paid labor, and how to fix
the rate OF payment so rs to approx
mate US nearly as may be to the old
rate-namely, support for the la
borer and his family, in sickness and
health, childhood and old age. But
the interference of politicians is ope
rating to prevent the determination
OF these questions, and postpone the
day of calm settling down. It is i'm
possible to regard the speech-making
missions of Northern politicians to
the Southern negroes as anything
but injurious to them. It is, in fact,
adding the final blow to their ruin ms
a people. Unless they settle down to
work, and take the position of labor
ers whose labor is necessary, and
must be cherished and cared for, they
vii! rapidly perish. The suffrage is
in danger of proving the destruction
OF the race. It would ordinarily take
n generation to ]carn the require
ments of the new order of things:
Where the interests of employers are
so deeply involved in the education
Of the employed, the process or ac-
commodation to the new system
might be much more rapid. But the
temptations to idleness which politi-
cal speakers are offering them, are
too strong to be resisted by their
feeble intellects, and they are easily
led to ruin. They would go much
faster If the promises were fulfilled.
If the lands were divided among
them, and they made to depend on
their own labor for the product of
their own farms, tho race would melt
away in two or three generations.
The Southern negro is very much
like hot-house plant. He needs
constant care and advice. Exposure
is dangerous. 1t is astonishing to
observe how many Of them seem to
be i'll. how few are free from coughs
and indications of disease. They
know nothing about taking care of
themselves. They require advice,
watching and constant help. These
are the general truths, while the ex-
ceptions serve by contrast to make
the common rule more visible.
The future, therefore, looks doubt
full to the Southern people. There is
reason to fear that the negro race
will disappear. Already it is plain
that it will not he able to supply the
demand for labor which is sure to be
made within few years. The indi-
cations are that they will diminish
from year to year, while the demand
will increase in more rapid ratio. If
these questions were left to the
management of Southern men, they
would be considered with great care,
and the utmost attention would be
paid TO the comfort and well-being of
the freedmen. The best friends they
have in the world are Southern en-
ployers, and their worst enemies are
those who, however honestly, are
seeking to divert their attention from
the primary question Of bread, and
clothing, and shelter, to the work of
governing q great nation. Unfit ut
present to govern themselves. thew |