Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-01-15
JQNQLoES-N0ai40G
THE PAST AND PRESENT.

One of the main goods of self-gov.
ernment Is that IL Is adapted by those
for whom IL is attended, and who
best know their own needs. This
Fundamental principle il disregarded
\ by the reconstruction acfs-whieh are
the laws of those who really know
nothing Of the condition of the peo-
pie on whom they are to operate =
We have O striking instance Of this
sort Of ignorance in an article i'm the
New York Tribune, which seems to
be dictated by no unSindly feeling. =
The editor, speaking of the great I'M.
provement OF the Southern people
since the war ~ observes: fThey
have not only raised their own bread,
which they had not done for many
years before, but they have added
largely to the list of farm products,
and, as result, their affairs are ap-
proximating to more hopeful con-
dition, while families and individuals
generally have more varied, or, what
is the same thing, better food" We
do not know where Mr.. Greedy OBJ
tanned his information, either in res
pect to our present or former con-
dition. We apprehend there Is not
one man, black or white, in the State
of Virginia, who would not testify to
its gross inaccuracy In every respect.
We believe the simple truth to be,
that before the war there was not on
the face of the globe n population OF
ten millions that lived In such plenty
as the Southern people. A rude plen-
ty 1t might be, and with few luxuries,
but it was plenty-substantial,
wholesome and varied-in which all,
bond and free, rich and poor, partic-
ipated. Hogs, sheep, beef and poul-
try abounded in the land; in many
neighborhoods and districts meat
houses and corn-houses were not even
locked, and a case of starvation, ex-
cept from some accident tai cause, was
unknown to our annals. 1t was q
system not recognized by political
economy-wasteful, prodigal--fool-
ish, II you choose; but there underlaid
1t tacit, universal recognition that
there was something in this world as
good, If not better, than the mere ad-
ding dollar to dollar.
The contrast between that state of
plenty and the present of destitution,
which the new dispensation and high
er civilization have ushered in, has
often presented itself to poor Cuffee,
and eXtorted tears from his ewes and
sighs from his bosom. We fear he
will be constrained to indulge in q
great many more before he comes to
realize all the blessings of his new
and more civilized condition.
The Tribune concludes its blunders
Of facts with the following compli-
ment to the Southern people, who, 1t
hopes, will not lose their amiable
traits as they ascend the scale of civ
ilization, and learn the true value of
the almighty dollar:
There is much to admire in the do
mestic habits of the middle and even
of the upper classes of the Southern
people, and this is most admired by
those who, by residence, have
learned what those habits are. We
refer to their simplicity, hospitality
and natural kindness of heart. Per-
haps there Is no portion of the Cauca-
sian race SO little elevated above what
daily concerns the common masses of
mankind, either by fortune or station,
or whose native goodness is less OBJ
scurcd by the fashions and manners
of the day. When wealth, educa-
tion, and whatever modern progress
is capable of bestowing, shall come
to these people, mainly as a fruit of
present and future endeaveors, may
these amiable traits be retained, that
the american people may be taught,
If II Is capable of learning SO much,
that itsgreatest happiness arises from
uniting Intelligent regard for the com
mon affairs of life with learning and
skill, Richmond Wig.