The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-01-31
SOUTHERN CHARACTER.

We gave some reasons last week why
the Southern people possessed more
unified and harmonious character than
those Of other sections of our country,
but we did not particularize these char
acteristics, intending to return again to
the subject.
They are generous people. Living
in country where nature yields her
gifts with bounteous hand, growing
rich from the prolific products of the
lahd, having everything in abundance,
the Southerners' home has always sy-
nonymous with hospitality. and their
large-hearted and generous disposition
furnised an ever-ready means of their
Identification wherever they travelled.
There is nothing little or mean in their
composition.
They are an honorable people. Among
business men the credit Of Southern
merchants has always ranked first, and
even under the terrible wreck of fortunes
brought about by tie war, that credit
has been maintained with wonderful
steadfastness. It is very rare thing for
| u Southern merchant, one "to the man.
ner born," to seek to defraud his credi-
tors. In their transactions amongst
themselves the credit system formerly
attained proportions which it never
could have done with people less scru-
pulous concerning their pecuniary obli-
cations.
They are an honest people. Such a
thing rs the stealing of public money
through political party ymachinations was
an unknown thing in any of the South
ern State Governments until since the
close of the war, and the standard of
mercantile honor was so high in most of
the Southern cities, that mans word
was as good as his bond, and one who
failed to comply with it was as rigidly
excluded from mercantile circles as he
would be here from the privileges of the
Stock Board under similar circumstan-
ces. And it is only since the changed
condition of affairs in the South that it
has been thought necessary to provide
more than the most ordinary precautions
against the visits of burglars or thieves.
We have left our doors wide open or uu-
locked for months at a time in one of the
principal Southern cities, without hav-
ing the least apprehension of visit from
a thief. We could not recommend the
same course there now.
Even during the war, when the temp
tation to dishonest practices were so
great, very few instances occurred Of
peculations or defalcations amongst the
public officials of the Confederate Gov
ernment. The decentralization which
swept over our entire country, rs result
of the late civil war, touched more lightly
the South than it did other sections.
They are cultivated people. We are
aware that this declaration may not
meet with as ready an assent as the pre-
vious ones; but we know whereof we af-
firm, and we mean it to its fullest legiti-
mate conclusions. We have enjoyed op-
portunities Of comparing the intellectual,
moral and social culture Of the Southern
people with that of other sections, and,
as q Southerner, are entirely satisfied
with the result. There is degree Of
true refinement of manners, based upon
and growing up from a proper educa-
tional, social, and religious system of
training, for for which all the best char
actcristics of her people are favorable, to
be found amongst the Southern people
alone of all the people Of this country
In no other section will be found better
sense of the term, better schools and
colleges for this purpose, better read
people, more earnest and thoughtful
men, more polished and refined women,
more elegant and effective public speak
ers, more conscientious and devoted
than in the South. -.
Our readers may think it is imn1odest
to speak thus in praise of ourselves, hI.t
really it has been common so long to near
every one speak i'll of the South, co think
and say that 10 good was il. icr, that her
people were heathens 3r uncivilized des-
peradoes, and to .;,lk of the superiority
of other portions of the country, that We
are determined to remain silent no lon
ger; but shall, so far as we have the
means to do so, spread abroad the truth
about the noblest people and the most
magnificent country that the world con-
tains, and if our word reaches homes
where there may be aspirations for life
amongst such a people, and in such a
country, we can in ell carnestness assure
them, going with such feelings, such a
hearty welcome and a cordial greeting
rs will prove the truth and sincerity of
our declarations.-7hcS South.