American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-06-28
The Spirit of fhe South.

The Spirit of fhe South.
We find the following honest and
! ont spoken article in the Boston
Adrertiser of late date. 1t is a
strong statement for the Southern
people, based upon truth:
/ You will permit few words on
the subject of your article. entitled
"the spirit OF the South" and the
series of extracts from Richmond
newspapers ? Three mo .itfs passed
in the South during this winter and
spring sentitle me to speak with
some confidence of the situation
there; aud | may add that my own
observations and opinions have
been shared and confirmed by hun
dieds of thoughtful people from the
North, out of the twenty-five thous-
and who have visited Florida aud
the South this last winter. These
persons, Intelligent men and women
tsnm all parts Of our country, have
Loen largely Republican in politics,
anxious for the education and ele-
vanon of the colored people, and
most tenacious of What are called
the results of the war. l do not
care to offer your readers any
south side views or comprehend
comments, nor even the political
fault -tinaings of the Democracy. 1
would have this question uuder-
Istood at the North as it has been
seen by Republicans, and Republi-
cans only.
1t is a tedious matter to discuss
the measures adopted tor the recon-
stiuction OF the South, or to appor-
ton the blame upon eXPreSidunt
Johnson or the South, or the failure
10 adopt the wise Recommendation
of Governor Andrews farewell adj
dress. Whatsoever the cause of
the muddle which now exists, the
result is simply horrible. In our
desire to protect the colored people
from real or supposed hostility OF
the Former masters, We have given
| the suffrage to- them almost of
them hopelessly ignorant; we have
organized item into political
leagues; elected them into posi-
tons OF high trust, for which they
are 6eplorably unsuitei; aud then
handed them over. in their help
less ness to the most corrupt and
incompetent set of .shysters, called
carpet-baggers, from the North, of
which it is possible to conceive. i
have yet to learn of IL single man
who has gone from the North to
better his political fortunes, {who is
con the make" as they themselves
tell you,) who has any real, earnest
desire TO help the colored people or
the community in which he lives.
One OF these carpet-bag politicians,
III reply to q question of mine about
Investments, remarked that he was
not fool enough to invest in the
South; when he had n:atle bis pile
he should leave the Id concern y
1t is impossible for Eortlern peo-
pie to understand the terrible cor
ruption at the South, which is still
kept alive by careless or design
ed use of the patronage OF political
influence at Washington. We have
organized society at the South up
side down. Ignorance and crime
override intelligence and decency.
The great educationaI, financial.
commercial, charitable and political
interests Of the States are intrusted
to common field hands of the South
aud uupIincip'ed Adventures from
the NORTH Can You wonder that
these people desire to free them
selves OF this tyranny and corrulr-
ton? Such a state of things is con
irary to nature, Gods laws aud ait
the teachings and The Wisdom Of
mankind. Such governments are
the most grotesque travestics hey
command no respect from black or
white; they are Il scandal and dis
grace - them and to US Aud DO IS
ii help It's OF the Nort h in any way
to have II lot of men, the natural
product OF this condition OF things,
Sent IT. to the halls of Congress, to
iegislatc for rs; there to become the
tools of bad men, and ready to com
binc with vicious elements from the
North and West! 1t Is certainly of
SoHe consequence to us, that the
twenty four Senator's and eighty or
more Representatives from the
) NTH should be clean and intelii--
gent men. We cnn have them rcaS
onahly SO, il we desire; but not by
sustaining the present Order OF
things.