The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-22
"The Coming city"


followed by broadside in the shape of a
declaration that, in Columbia, 'real estate
'.is advancing in value; new buildings are
''being erected al! over the city; business is
''picking up, and the prospects for the in.
production of new business interests were
''never so good as they are to-day"
This is good news, indeed; but the Union,
it seems, cannot elevate Columbia without
attempting to depress Charleston. 1t says:
SIN Charleston everything looks mossy with
age and decay. Even the stores and places of
business, together with the people, have an
appearance of antiquity about them. But
very little building or improvement Is going
on, and although the County Commissioners,
last year, expended upwards of two hundred
thousand dollars in and about the county, the
greater portion Of which was doubtless devo.
ted to the city, scarcely any evidences of the
tremendous outlay are anywhere to be seen.
No new business seeks that city, nor will 1t, so
long as that spirit of intolerance prevails. If
any newcomer starts in business there. imme-
dialely a coalition is formed against him, and
he is soon forced to suspend. Savannah and
Wilmington are to-day taking trade that ought
to be done In Charleston. Capitalists pass 1t
by in disgust, as q city which seems determined
upon its own destruction"
It's charitable to assume that the editor
of the Uaton, has never visited Charleston.
The houses and stores are old, but they are
none the worse for that. More building is
going on than at any previous time. 1t is
true that we have not Radical Legislature
here, to lavish OF fast horses and faster wo-
men the il-gosten gains Of its members. In
this sense, there is undoubtedly 'a certain
s.air of progress in Columbia" which is want
ing in Charleston. Perhaps, however, the
"white-sheeted gentry" will scare the Gene
raj Assembly from Columbia. The X. X. Il
may make it advisable for the grave senators
and turbulent representatives to adjourn
post-haste to Charleston. Horrible thought!
For, the Union, which would then adjourn
too might be compelled to set to work to
sbecome convinced" that Charleston must
SOON outstrip Columbia
We admit that the County Commissioners
have spent upwards of 5000, 1000 to very lit
tie purpose. What then? 1t is not our
fault-lhe commissioners are Radicals, men,
bers of the very party Of which the Union is
chief spokesman. They were foisted upon
US by Radical laws and Radical votes, and
we expected just what we get.
Munchausen, alas! must hide his dimin-
ished head The far.sighted editor says that
enc new business" seeks this city. Gra-
cious Busy streets; crowded wharvcS; two
steamship lines to New York. steamship
line to Baltimore, fourth to Philadelphia;
Us much trade as the city can handle. Al!
these we have, but the Uaion can't see it.
Encouraged by its success, the Union next
asserts that, if newcomer starts in busi-
ness in Charleston, ''a coalition is formed
against him and he is soon forced to sus-
pend" This is, mildly speaking, whopper!
Among our most trusted merchants are new
comers-Northern men OF that. Some OF
them have already made fortunes here;
others are coming money hand over list.
And any man who says that since the war
closed, there has been any discrimination
against merchant because he is ''a new
'comer," or that any coalition is formed
against any business man because he is "a
newcomer, talks very wide of the truth.
That's all.
Charleston may be, as the Union says
determined upon its own destruction" We
have so many new factories, so active
trade in phOsphates, so many new stores, so
many new wharves, SO many evidences Of
wile-awake progress, that we may break
ourselves down in carrying the burden OF
commerce Which our over eXcrtions have
placed upon our shoulders. This is the only
way in which Charleston runs any danger OF
destruction. Columbia is doubtless ready
to take the same risk. We should like,
however, to ask the Union whether there is
not room enough in the universe for both
Columbia and Charleston? Why this un-
ceasirg howl against u city which, in every
decent way, wUuld afford material for several
Cvlumbias? This city is anxious that Co.
lambia should thrive, and gives to its sis
ter constant words OF encouragement s.ad
cheer. The only Tecompense is an eternal
cry, Delenda est Charleston! It's some COM
fort that the Union knows nothing of one
city, and wholly misrepresents the other.
For, no paper which had the interests of the
State st heart would sttive to build up its
political centre at the expense OF ills CON-
mercial metropolis. In The first place, it
can't be done; in the second, tit could it
wouldn't. When the seer of the Union has
been little longer in the State, he will know
better and may prephesy less. We hope so.