Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-20
SOUTHERN FEELING..wHAT :
CORR RESPONDENT OF THE NEW
YORK TIMES FOUND OUT.

InaC Jne OOuCnern people are SaIlS-
fed with the result Of the war, or the
methods of reconstruction, it would be
folly to affirm; to demand such q state
of feeling would be unreasonable on
our part. But have used my powers
of observation to a very little purpose,
and have been most grossly deceived
by appearances, if many of the intelli-
gent Southern people do not see that
the new orders of things opens up pos
sibilities in the way of material devel-
opment, of which they never dreamed
under the old regime. This, if it does
not make them satisfied with the
result of their venture, goes far to
make them reconcileG to it.
The tone and spirit of the people
whom I encountered were indicative
of anything rather than that of mo-
rose, brooding. discomfort. Their
manner toward Northern men, when
introduced to them, either in due form
or casually, in the way travelling ac-
quaintances are formed, is frank, open,
cordial. Certainly no one in travelling
through this country would imagine
for a moment that there was latent
and irreconcilable bitterness in the
hearts of the people SO powerful as to
stand in the way of the most cordial
cooperation for the advancement of
their material interests.
I have been specially observant
during my journey, and since my az
rival, of the relation and bearing of
the white and negro races toward each
other, and of the bearing and demea-
nor of the negroes themselves. 1 can
detect in the intercourse of the races
nothing that distinguishes it from that
prevailing in our Northern States.-
True, the blacks are not permitted to
occupy the same GERS upon railroads
with whites, except where they appear
as servants, nurses or attendants but
how long is it since in our own City of
New York colored cars were an institu-
ton? In the ordinary intercourse l
could see nothing that was distinctive
or noticeable. When I recall how
short is the time since the relation be-
tween these races was that of master
and slave, absolute domination ON the
one hand and abject subjugation on
the other, and reflect further upon the
violence with which these relations
have been severed. and of all that this
severance implies, marvel more anti
more each hour as I behold how natural
and commonplace the new and chang
ed order of things has become.
HOW HE FOUND IT OUT.
From Washington to Birmingham
Gn North Alabama) / sought the
vicinity 81 groups engaged in convers-
alton, in drawing-room cars, sleeping
cars, common passenger cars, smok-
ing-cars, and negro-cars-in which
latter, by the way, it was no uncom-
mon thing to find whites sitting-in
stations, at eating houses, at hotels
in short, in all places which the lin IFS
of travel opened opportunity for, and
I have yet to hear the first allusion to
any political topic.
This seems very much like what in
good Cd times was called leaves
dropping" a practice, that not to put
too fine a point upon it, was not
deemed quite reputable. But all that
is now changed, and men do not hest
tate to own that they use all opportu-
nities.to catch clandestinely fireworks of
those with whom they may lie thrown,
and for the express purpose of giving
publicity to them.
And yet this correspondent of the
Times and all others in like case
offending, would have doubtless
resented it as Il great wrong and in
dignity, to say nothing of its being a
browning proof Of disloyalty,if he Lad
been caught and kicked for thus caves
dropping.
It is fortunate probably that the
Times man was so expert in his con-
duct as a spy as to escape detection,
as otherwise the Times would have
been full of blood and thunder stories
about disloyal Southern feeling.