Des Arc weekly citizen., 1869-02-02
THE FUTURE OF THE SOUTH.

the box eff Pandora and allowed all the evils that affiict mankind to escape, hope rcmainad at the bottom to cheer and animate us in our conflicts with them. Just now would seem an inau- spicious time te hazard prophecy in regard to the future greatness of tho South. But in just such an hour as this hope comes yelling up from the bottom of our hearts and points us to q brighter side of the picture. It is said tho darkest hour of night is that which prccedes the dawn. Surely our night has been long ono, and we must have reached it's darkest hour. Our people have passed through terrible and trying ordeal. and although they did not come forth unscathed they exhibit n depth of strength and resolution, backed by a superior knowledge drawn from the school of their sad cxperi- encc that eminently fits them for the onward march and the glorious desti- ny that awaits them. It is the hard usages of fortune that make great men, and even great nations. The world could not have boasted the prowcss of Philip or his son Alexander, or Mace don hardly been known in history had not petty neighboring state disturbed Philip and his subjects. Napoleon's early lot was hard one; so with the great majority of all the learned men and philosophers of the world; so it is in every day life. The young man born to wealth and an easy path sell dom accomplishes anything, while of ten the poor boy, who has 10 struggle with and brave every difficulty, profits by the rough training and makes for himself name and destiny better than the inheritance of the more favored youth. The last few years have taught the South bitter but valuable lesson. Actual necessity has driven her into the right path, and all the vicissi- tRdes and experiences of the nations of the world and their teachings in his tory would not have done it one-tcnth as effectually as has her own lesson. Our people have cast off their efiemi- macy and put on the garments of men. A new mode of life is followed that will bring health and prospcrity-in- creasing physical and mental strength. The N. Y. Times in~sn article on the relative condition of the North and South indulges in some very just re- marks, which we think opposite here. It says: The tortoise may again out strip the hare. In the race for solid wealth, it seems not improbable that the South may, after all, pass the North. The former is in several respects better fitted for the trial. It has graduated in the school of diversity, and come out spare indeed in flesh, but with wind, and nerve, and muscle in capital trim. The North, on the contrary, has reyelled in the delights of dissipation, and shows all the signs of reyelry and snmptuous living. Itis sleek and finely clad, but with nerves unstrung, and predisposed to short breathing.
 The Southern planter was precipita- ted roughly to the bottom. He lost everything. The labor he had relied upon was taken from him. The com fort in which he had been reared sud- denly vanished. He suffered the bangs of poverty and despair. Compelled 10 struggle for his bread, he began life anew under its most dispiriting aspects. Necessity made him thrifty, temper ate and industrious. Having neither money nor credit, he was compelled to train his appetite to simple fare, and to adapt his ways to circumstances of the hardest kind. The lesson was an un- pleasant one, but it has yielded good results. The planter of to-day is not the planter of ten years ago. He has learned to work, to buy no more than he can pay for and to confinc bis wants within comparatively narrow limits. Hard times have lost their terrors for him. They have taught him 10 rcgn- late his expenditure by his means, and with this lesson learned he has little 10 fear. If he has not wealth he has none of the drawbacks incident to it's possession. An inflated currency does not demoralizc him; and all tho habits growing out of the war tend toward simplicity of taste in food and dress.
 This being the situniion our people have nothing 10 do but tc show the same indomi,able energy and exhibit the same frugality-which necessity demanded then--that has character ired them for the last few years, and they will create capital of their own that will draw other capital from the North and Europe. It may be safely set down as round political maxim that, just in proportion to the relative wealth and capital of-thc different sec tions of country, so will be their in- fiuence upon its legislation. The South only needs to increase her wealth to increase her influence, and shc is now laboring successfully in that direction. She is already possess cd of a capital that ia beginning to be felt again in it's influence. We mean 1 the adaptability of her soil to the growth of superior cotton and it's great productivcncss. We hope to learn of three million bales of this product be- 1 ing raised in the Southern States this year. We believe its cultivation ought to be pushed as far as the raising Of grain and meats for homo consumption