New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-13
The Future Of the south.


The most despondent person can hardly
look into the future of the country without
feeling that the silver lining is at last be-
coming visible through the dark cloud that
has hung, pall-like in its gloom, over it for
ten years past.
The vicissitudes of war impoverished us;
bad management in high places paralysed
us, and there seemed to be no light ahead of
us to give encouragement for the future.
But manyNof these evils have been swept
away by the powerful hands and wise heads
of new management, and we now find
ourselves in good condition, and confident
of better one in future.
With the large accession of voters in the
persons of the negroes, the South gains in
her number of representatives in congress
sional halls, and consequently has proper
tionately more power in the making of
vance her interests. Yearly these negroes
are becoming more Intelligent, better edu-
Gated, and less apt to be the dupes of de-
signing, unprincipled men. Many of them
are developing an unsuspected depth and
scope of intellect, and are raising step by
step from the lowest depths of ignorance to
exalted position, and proving themselves
worthy of the place.
The true policy of the South undoubtedly
is to favor any and all attempts to educate
thoroughly this class, whereas their educa-
ton so far has only been accomplished by
- e I'M
have been so blinded to their true interest
as to seek to keep the freedmen, who pos
sess an equal right in the government with
themselves, in the same state of utter ig-
norance of the principles of self-govern-
ment as the slaves had been. And have re-
sisted all attempts to place them in such
condition as would render them capable of
judging for themselves in moment0us issues
as so many attempts against their dignity
and importance.
avail. The negroes will be educated and
will exercise their right of voting, thus
benefting them in spite of themselves.
The reign of disorder and decentralization
consequent upon the war is over. Every
thing has settled down on firm and solid
basis, and the future teens with brightness.
A constantly increasing population, more
extended cultivation of grain, lessening de-
pendence on cotton, and the numerous and
hitherto unknown manufactures, which
are daily springing into existence, all seem
to promise much for.the future realization
of the hopes we have always entertained of
the grandeur and glory destined to be our
lot.
The day of big plantations and hundreds
of slaves has passed away, but in its place
we have the inestimable blessing of more
equal distribution of money and of power.
No longer is the proud aristocrat able to
hold his thousands of acres of land, and
draw his revenues of hundreds of thousands
of dollars from them, while his poorer
neighbors were forced to emigrate 10
distant and rough countries, in order to
gain scanty support for the wife and
little ones, who depended on him.
These large plantations are divided into
many small farms, and under scientific
cultivation many of them are proving that
a small place, properly cultivated, is really
more profitable than a larger one with its
attendant train of expenses. At the same
time the same amount of land is supporting
a much greater number of people.
We shall see in time the English system
of landholder and tenant adopted in many
instances, the owners of large tracts of
land will cut them up, build neat cottages
on them and rent them to thrifty farmers,
as is so frequently done in England, while
it will not be subject to the great evil so
aceruing from the system in that
The superior enlightenment of the poorer
classes in this country will show them when
the landlord becomes the oppressor and
when to apply the remedy by moving else
where. The poorer has equal rights with
5he richer citizens, and knows how and
where to seek redress for his wrongs.
Thus is the future full of light, and to
hose who would despond, we address but
'ne question, what more would you have
A good government, increasing population,
Intelligence, and increasing
wealth, all these are ours.
The City Hall.