The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-13
CHI Es TON.
thursday MORNING, FEBRUARY 1s, 1868.
What shall We Do.


that the whole argument is founded Oh
keen analysis of human nature, and that
no one thing is advised that cannot BY pa
t;ent endeavor be carried out with success.
Earnestly do we commend the views OF our
friend to the consideration of our people:
"Our poor whites may be divided into
two classes. l. Those who have always
been poor and illiterate; and 2. Those who
have seen better days, and have had oppor-
tunities of acquiring character, breeding,
and cultivated intelligence. From my
standpoint 1 do not regard these people
with impatience. do not abuse and con-
denim them. do not charge scornfully,-
on the first class, ignorance, laziness and
brutishness, and, on the second class, fool
ish pride, luxurious habits, and efeminacy.
I regard them only with profound synpa-
thy. The charges against them are untrue
and unjust. Those who honestly prefer
them Judge of what was suited to one kind
of light by how it appears in another light.
So one, seeing in the sculptor's workshop
q colossal statue destined for some lofty
pinuaole, condemns it's want Of finish. Our
people seem slow in suitiag their lives and
labor to the changed condition of the coun-
try-to the new order of things, as it is
STYLED. But they only seem slow. They
are really moving with surprising speed
Such adaptation to such sudden and
complete change is necessarily slow and
nainful process, and hence, the suffering.
Our people under the tuition Of that most
efficient of school marnls-'Daughter of
Joye, relentless power'--adversity, have
seemed to me to learn rapidly. I doubt if
any other people would have done more IN
the same time. It is no very difficult mat
ter to change ones views--to adopt new
theory-to understand fully new plan;
but nothing is more difficult than to acquire
new habits, to change ones practices, to
learn to do differently from what we have
been accustomed to do. One comprehends
a theory in few minutes, but works suc-
cessfully in accordance with it only after
much time spent, many mistakes made, and
MANY losses incurred This is true even in
very simple matters. Do you want an IL
lustration? You ask me 20 write to you as
I would talk. In thought nothing appears
easier, and yet when 1 come to do it l find
it out of my power.
"I hear a Southern man glibly and plau-
sibly saying to his neighbors 'We must
abandon the cultivation of cotton, for situ-
ated as we now orc it is very easy by hg-
ures to prove that, at best, it can afford
little more than bare subsistence. Let
us plant vineyards, raise vegetables, devote
ourselves to those root crops to which our
soil is so we'll adapted, raise stock by means
of these root crops,-securing stock-mind-
ers, and preparing to house our stock under
lock and key at night. Adopt the small
farm system and abandon the big planta-
tions. Plant only as much ground as we
can manure heavily. Make every edge cut
In short, as farmers, let us put our fine cli-
mate and good soil to the best and most
profitable use. If we will so do, We shall
soon be richer than we ever were before
the war
Mlisten we'll pleased and assent, and then,
inquiring concerning this Southern man,
find him Just as far off as are his neighbors
from the realization of the theory that he
advocates With such enthusiasm. Is this
for lack of intelligence? Plainly not Is
it the result of want of enterprise l say,
no. It is because, when he comes to apply
his views, he is met by II myriad of small
practical difficulties that he had not antici-
pated. His inexperience sits heavily upon
him. He ventures little, makes q blum
der, and loses,-and his neighbors laugh.
He doubts, hesitates, and in the end con-
cludes to await the movements of those
around him, to advance only as they ad-
vance.
ave are moving, however, in this direo-
ton and there is hope. When we adapt
ourselves to the change, then it will be we'll
with US once again. Here and there far
mer ventures and succeeds, and his neigh
bors rush after him. Wo learn how to do
thing by seeing it done. What then can We
do to relieve the present suffering? BY
helping forward this so much needed adap-
tation to present circumstances, by every
means in our power. Stay laws and stay
orders obstruct the change, and 80 let us
oppose them. Encourages every enterprise
that offers work to those who need it. Let
US not give either money or provisions to
the destitute, unless they can prove that
they either cannot work or cannot get
work. Suffering is needed to bring about
the change. Ifthe government is disposed
to help, advise that it lend it's money to the
planters. Encourage people of the first
class to become house servants and farm la
borers, and where they will not do either
let them suffer until they are willing 80 to
do. Advise those having means to learn to
regard and treat house servants and farm
laborers differently from the way they were
.,t - ,,nord ond frnof the alaves Tell