Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-11-05
What the South Needs.


close Of the war, and while ttt Northern
States have in great measure recovered
from its effects, and have wonderfully in
creased in wealth and prosperity, the
South, whose fields were devastated and
Industries overthrow, have made little
progress in the work Of recuperati1n. As
those States IN whose borders military op.
e~rations we're conducted suffered the most,
it was to be expected that it would take
them a longer period to recover from the
disasters Of the war; bat we fear that
many of them, particularly the cotton
growing region, are in a Horee condition
than they were ten years ago. This has
resulted in q measure from bad State
governments, no doubt but the slow prog
e ssNftbe South has not been the result
of bad government alone. Other causes
have combined to retard the recuperatlon
of that section, and the principal one, in
our judgment, has grown out Of the cor.
duct of the white people themselves. In
censed at tn cir defeat, the ruling class
allowed their passions to run away with
their judgments, and governed themselves
accordingly. Instead of acquiescing in
the decision which was reached by the
force of arms, to which they themselves
had appealed instead of %surrendering
their animosity with their muskets, and
recognizing the fact that the surrender at
Appomattox established the unity of the
nation, making the people of each section
citizens of one common country, and en-
titled to equality Of rights throughout its
borders, the Southern whites resolved
upon keeping up the distinction Of North
and South, and to regard as strangers,
and to treat with contumely, those who
resided north of the Potomac. The word
yankee" after the close of the contest,
was used by the Southern whites as a
term of contempt and d~crision more than
ever before.
On the other hand, the people of the
Northern States, having performed their
duty in the suppression of the rebellion.
entertained no luminosity toward their
erriDg brethren of the South, but rather
sympathized with them in their misfor-
tunes. Hundreds Of them went into the
South. intending to establish homes and
become residents, aud thus aid in buii.
ing up its fallen fortunes. Many ofthem
were representatives of capital, who de-
sired to invest their means proftably.
Others were men of culture and refine,
ment, who sought only pleasant homes
and the opportunity to do good. While
some may have been adventures, the
mass were possessed of intelligence, encr.
gy. and judgmen'-just the class to build
up and develop the resources of a country
and infuse new life into the enterprl ses Of
its people. Then it was that our South
ern brethren, those who ruled society and
considered themselves the representative
Of the south, evineed their hate aud want
Of judgment. Then the term Yat kee
was applied, with carpetbagger super.
added. and social as we'll as political
ostracism became the rule of conduct.
No matter how intelligent or refined he
might be, nor what ability to be useful to
the South, the Northern man was secuted
and spurned on every hand, and his tam.
lily was daily exposed to insult. Nc
Northern family could live in that region,
unless they lived insulated and alone.
Even IN the house Of God they met only
the seowls of their brethren Of the same
creed, who demonstrated from their con-
duct that they had not learned, at least
did not practice, the most important
Christian lesson, to forgive their enemies,
The consequences of this uniform con,
duct Of the Southern people was moi
merely to check the tide of Northern
emigration, but to drive off those who had
already settled in that section. Thou.
sands of Northern men withdrew Their
capital; hundreds sold out what they had
purchased, always at a sacrifice, and
abandoned a section which, however hos.
pitable might be its climate, however
fruitful its soil, was cursed With q mis-,
guided policy on the part of old citizens
wis we're joinedsto their idols, and want
ed only to be "!et alone. But for tbi.
wilful conduct on the part Of the leading
class Of the South many of the evils from
which they are now suffering would have
long since disappeared. In the ten year'
Which have passed, it q different pol