Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-11
Political MatexiaI1sm /.

yusto the doomatic assertion Of President
GRANT to delegation of Virginians who
called upon him few days since, that
ssmanufactures were better worth cultlva'
ting than chivalry," and proclaim it with
much pleasure and approval as if it con-
tanned the real germ Of political wisdom
and national greatness. Too frequently
our own papers, crushed by the mlstor-
tunes of the past few years or cramped by
poverty have given assent to the same
sordid naterialism. Not only have our
people been advised to give up all interest
in public affairs, but beseeched to turn
their whole attention to the worship of
money. Yankee enterprise, yankee thrift,
yankee shrewdness, yankee cunning are
held up as national virtues meekly to be
emnlated.
Even GREELY, the utilitarian Philoso-
pher of the New York Tribune, enters his
protest against this all-absorbing spirit of
materialism and comes to the defense of
Virginian civilization. He Gays: "Gen-
sral Grant, the other day, in effect assured
the Virginia delegation that 'manufactu-
res were better worth cultivating than
chivalry." But while it is worth their
while to remember this, it is worth ours
to consider that there was something in
herentIy good and worth saving in that
much laughed at chivalry. The Northern
new corners may bring capital, intelligence
and enterprise into Virginia, but they
should beware lest they ignore and destroy
something which is there as valuable as
any of these. Civilization is not more a
matter of railroads and factories than of
honorable instincts, of pure domestic life.
of sincere hospitality and Of gentle man
ners. The Northern people have suffered
themselves too much to judge of Virginia
by her slave breeders, her blatant politici
ans and would-be duelists. But behind
these was the great land-holding popula-
ton. people simple hammered, bearing
the traces of generations of ease and cul-
ture; kindly, hospitable, genial. Our
crude and chaotic American social life can
lily spare so sincere and good type It
is these people whom we should welcome
back again, overlooking any temporary
bitterness among them. Judge Under
woods words were eminently sensible and
fifty spoken. We commend his example
to all new settlers in the South. Let them
couch their eyes in the beginning, and be
willing to recognize among their foes men
who bear without abuse the grand old
name of gentleman" A friendly and pure
social life is worth as much as q stable gov
eminent and the man who went with the
heartiest, highest motives into the war,
will be most Jealous now in establishing
with his old enemies the basis Of a real
and Christian brotherhood"
Far be it from US to attempt to withdraw
the attention of our people from their
labors of rebuilding the prosperity of our
section and renewing their own fortunes.
We are glad to see such hopeful industry
displayed by the Southern people. We
would not have them mourn in Improbable
idleness over the past. We would have
them accept the present condition Of af-
fairs as become honorable and Intelligent
men. But We would not have thaG turn
their backs upon the past and bury ip their
present misfortuno8 the proud recolec-
tions and honorable customs and sympa-
thies Of former years. AS contemporary
well says, "chivalry in the South is the
synonym of honor, integrity and inteIi-
gence." We despise the feeling, let it
come from tho President or the hum blest
citizen, which holds these subordinate to
the shrewdneSs which produces {: fly
traps, palpitatIng bosoms," or " hatch
ing eggs by machinery" Such statesman
ship would exalt the inventor of an adding
machine or the maker Of cigar holder over
the vG!atras Of science and art, who have
adorned history with the rich trophies of
their researches.
The ordinary struggle for g livelihood
and the inherent selii4hness Of mankind
lmplant sufficiently the spirit of material
ism IN our hnSQms. Let us continue to
cultivate those Virtues and customs which
have given cleL >ictsr 10 the Southern
people. Let us Ep,cot-a batter agricul.
turallsts and EiO i, Kali manufacturers,
and moro enter EtsiQa, <Q@rca2nts, a,2d still
LEI US ne high tone l-sn chivalrous GEN .
tiemen, Happiness, and prosperity, and
charact'r, and power DC not lie altogether
IN the possession of money; it is not the
one thing needful in human greatness.
Let Us first be good citizens and good
neighbors, and then prosperity will be a
blessing when it comes. Let rs cultivate
chi7alry and manufactures, no5withstand-
ing the smoky advice of President GRANT. |
'The decentralization Policy the South -
Under this head the New York Times of
the I'd instant has an editorial written for
the guidance of the South If the South
had been permitted to exercise any free
will IL the Resumption Of It's status in the
Union, politically, we would reply to the
article on political principles and with
political arguments alone; but inasmuch
as freedom of political action is denied by
the unlawful exercise of tyrannical power.
and the Times not very Indirectly alludes
70 our social and industrial reconstruction
We feel iustifiad in J0aoll;,l, AZ: