The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-02

that | had observed in Columbia
Anderson and Grcenville that s
number of colored men had bought
lots and built comfortable houses
thus give evidence of habits of in.
dustry and economy. These he
thought were exceptional instances.
They were the mechanics OF the
towns, trained to steady labor from
boyho,d. The vast majority of the
coIored people Of the State barely
live from hand to mouth, he said.
The Colonel thought that the
African race would soon become
extinct in all the country, with the
exception, perhaps, Of the hot,
marshy seabord, where the white
race would not come into compe-
tition with it. According to his
observation, the mortality among
the negroes had greatly increased
since they were emaucipated, and
this increase resulted from INSULT.
cieut food and clothing, poor shell
ter, and carelcssness and lack Of
of Judgment in tending the young
and nursing the sick. Pulmonary
complaints, formerly almost un-
known, had become prevalent and
fatal. lie discussed Darwin's the
ory Of the struggle for life, and
maintained that its truth would be
striliingIy illustrated on this con.
tinent by the gradual disappearance
of the negroes, who, now that they
are brought into active competi-
ton with the whites, must inevita-
bly, perish according to the law of
nature, which preserves only the
strong and vigorous races. In the
days of Slavery" he said cit WIS
for the interest of the white men
that the negroes should increase in
numbers, There was, therefore,
no struggle between the two races
the stronger, on the contrary, aid
ed and protected the weaker. Now,
this is changed; and, with all the
feeling Of Kindness we have for the
and our unwillingness to
see them suffer, the aggressive en-
ergy Of the Anglo,Saxon race will
push them out of existence"
The Colonel thought that, as the
negro race disappeared, a new and
vigorous civilization would spring up
in the South that would lead the
world. lie believed that all the elc-
raents Of such q civilization exist in
the Southern character, the remarka.
bic power and energy of which were
fully proved by the war. eve are
not an indolcnt, cnervated people, as
many at the North imagine" he said,
sand we demonstrated during the
war the immense excrtions of which
we are capable, When this energy,
industry, and intelligence, which We
possess, arc brought into full play in
developing our industrial resources,
We will make the South the garden of
the world. Mark my prophcsy." The
Colone's gray eyes shonc with enthu-
siasm while making this prediction
lie gave me an interesting but sad
account of the decay of the old proud
amilies that once lorded it on the Sea
Islands. spending the Summers at the
Virginia Springs and the Northern
places, and living the rest of
;hc year upon their estates in prince
y style, eating the finest game, drink
ng the ,arest wines, and dispensing
At all times magnificent hospitality.
Many Of these families have entirely
disappeared, and nearly all arc reduc-
ed to poverty They lost both slaves
and lands. Their fine mansions have
been destroyed or are ruined and de-
serted, rank weeds obscure all traces
If their once beautiful gardens, and
hey themselves are outcasts and wan.
lerers, reduced in many cases to the
station Of common laborcrs. The
Colonel said he had seen the other
lay y son Of. one of the wealthiest Of
these planters working in Charleston
as conductor of a strcet-car. They
were an encrvatcd and cffcminate
race. these Sea Island planters, be
said, not intelligent, although highly
and when they lost their
they gave up in despair,
made no attempt to maintain their
social position, and sank out of sight
the lower classes. 1t was diff:
ierent with the first families Of the
np-country. Although great losers
by the war, they arc hard at work,
under great discouragcments and en-
barrassments, they try to retrieve
their fortunes, and still maintain
much Of their former position and in-
huence.