Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-14
Tunressfons of the South.

Impressions of the South.
What a. remarkable difference there is
in the impressions made By Southern Peo-
,,1e upon Northern visitors. 1t has been
orr fortune to meet quite number Of in
telligent gentlemen from the various North
ern and Western States during the past
Winter travelling in this section, with
view to settle, or upon business, or pleas
ure. or in search for renewed health. with
their families, or alone, they were quietly
and satisfactorily accomplishing their sew
eral purposes. We met none who did not
express themselves entirely pleased with
the people and country. Our climate. our
health, our soil, were all and more than
they had reason to anticipate. The feei-
ings, the opinions and the sympath1es OF
our citizens were applauded as becoming
an honorable people, Coming with letters
of introduction, or to renew OLD TREND
ships without public announcement or
parade, but with that quiet and unostenta-
tious modesty so becoming true gentihty.
thew have been met with the warm heart
edness so characteristic of Southern nature.
They have returned to their Northern
homes, and in their own sphere of 1ntiu-
ence have laid solidly the foundations OF
kindly feelings towards us, and will yet
build the beautiful superstructure OF Sec
tional reconciliation, which alone can re-
unite the alienated States OF the Union.
Their efforts, quiet as they are, we crust
will vet undo the damages caused by the
frothy fustian and falsehoods of dlsrepu-
table adventurers and land sharks, who
only seek our section to prey upon and IN
iure our people.
On the other hand, others to subserVe
the ends of their party, to make excuses
for the past tyranny Of Congress, and to
manufacture causes for further aggressions
as may be demanded by party necessities
find nothing to admire, nor even to COM
pliment in our people or section. What
ever virtue our people, our lands, our CHI
mate, our resurces do or may possess, the
g trail of the serpent is DER thom all. In
Georgia, where the old citizens are in con-
In North Carolina, where Radical officials
are waxing strong upon :" rebel " taxes,
the people are perverse, proud, not social,
and heap "petty prosecutions upon
loyal residents and visitors. They find
no clever inhabitants, but the debris of the
Federal armies, the colored men, Indians
not taxed" and the natives who have sold
their birth-right for mess OF pottage.
As for the rest, they arc g rebels at
heart, and are still blinded to the blessings
of reconstruction. Their pride must be
broken, their individuality destroyed, their
refinement corrupted, anI their social hab-
its and pleasures made to walk tho same
plank with their rights of citizenship and
property, before genuine or lasting pros
perity can come to the South.
The world over there is great difference
between q gentleman and blackguard.-
Politics ordinarily have little to do with
gentility. We know that it is difficult fol
any one to descend to the expedients and
associations to which Southern Radicals
must necessarily resort to secure an cleo
tive office, and remain fit social compan.
ion for gentlemen. But these causes are
local, and in most instances we have oul
doubts as to there being much descensior
on the part of the candidates. At Least
they "tako to it" SO naturally and sc
gracefully that like Topsey, We aspect
they crowd" up that way. These same
causes should not and do not operate upor
the honorable and high-minded people Of
The North those whose politics have more
foundation than q desire to revel in the
national fesh-pots. Yet the traders in
political wares here and there are the same
and however much they may attempt tt
disguise it at every step they disclose the
cloVen foot.
About the same timo two parties O
Northern visi tors set out to travel South
ward, and while Forney with his friend
were in Richmond, Raleigh and Whining
ton, the Illinois Press Association were il
Mobile, New Orleans and Montgomery
Forney finds fault with our citizens, am
sees virtue only in -baggers and sue
Southern men as have exchanged thei
manhood aud identity for lucrative posi-
tons, and predicts no prosperity for on
section until q majority OF our peopl
similarly foreswear their lineage, their pas
lives, their characters and an honorabl
future.
The illinois Press Association, represent
ing every shade Of politics, numberin
some three hundred persons, are lavish il
their compliments to the South and it
people. Attached from principle and asso
citation to their section and honest in tn
maintenance of their own views, they ar
tolerant in regard to the opinions c
Others Bold in the defence OF their cause
they honor similar courage in us. The
have filed the Alabama papers with thel
impressions of the South. We were fore
bly, struck with the parting remarks of MI
Adair, of the Carroll county Qllinois) GG
zete, upon leaving Mobile, and reminde
Of the difference between the gentlema
and blackguard, as we read the effusion
of Forney. Mr.. Adair writes to the Mobil