New-York tribune., 1874-09-10
SOcTaI pIFISURES SOUTH.

We can well remember how, in the old days
of bitter controversy, we were accustomed to
make fun of those Virginia festivities which
are called Tournaments D-of the Sir knights
fitting at a ring and of the Queens of Beauty
bestowing gloves, wreaths and like poetical
donations. We confess that we are glad with
our whole heart to hear of such festive go
ings Oh once more at "King George Court
"House, Va, August 29th," and to be in
formed that "the genial days of 'auld lang
"syne' seem to be returning, despite the Grip
"pled condition of the country" Equally
pleased are we to learn that at Buffalo
Springs, Mecklenburg County," there is yet
a good deal of jollity; that dancing goes on
"briskly every night to-the stirring music
"of Motleys band;" and that "last
might, after the ball, Col. F. gave
Gus separate performance of fine old Vir-
"gnia jig to the tune of fiddle" In more
serious, but still in a social way, it is of good
omen that the Agricultural Society of Vir-
ginia is about to celebrate its twenty-frst an
niversary and to hold its fourteenth annual
fair, the said Society having been fortunate
enough to preserve most of its investments
"unmpared by the calamities of war; Such
a celebration, with its exhibitions, its cOmpe-
titions, and its interchange of personal expe-
riences, will be of more value than many
tournaments :" but everything which tends
to promote cheerfulness, hope, general good
feeling, and philosophical acquiescence IN
the new order of things is deserving Of hearty
approval and encouragement.
While the great controversy was raging which
IL orr la 30
the South, and costly and burdensome in all
ways to the Worthwhile we were discussing
Slavery, its morality, its economy, and its ex-
pedency, it was not easy for us to estimate in
a just and kindly spirit the real merits of
Southern society. 1t is not too late to admit
that in many respects it was genial, generous,
refined, and accomplished that it was marked
by a warm hospitality which the different char
acter of Northern life hardly permitted here
and that the best people of the Slave States were
enyironed by difficulties hard to be overcome,
and subjected to criticism which severely tried
the temper. 1t would have been strange in
deed if the planter had seen Slavery with the
ewes of a Massachusetts philanthropist. The bat
tie was too bitter one to permit us to
be lust or considerate or charitable. When
we were told of the compensatiOns of Slavery,
we refused to believe in them; when we were
asked to contemplate the redeeming features
of the institution, we. shut our eyes and
fiercely protested against compromise; when
we were told of Southern gentlemen of knight
ly nature, and of Southern ladies, their grace:
and their courtesies, we turned away to talk
of the horrors of the barracoon, and to weep
over the bitterness and the bereavement OF
servitude. From the inevitable struggle which
followed, we emerged victorious, and we can
afford to be fair. The loss of Slavery was in
itself gain to all concerned, bat the pecuniary
ruin which overlook so many accustomed only
to ease and afluence, accompanied as it was
by a radical change in social relations, was a
hard trial to the strong, and utter wretched-
ness to the weak. From this the whole country
suffered. The best people of the South
to whom the work of reconstruction might
have been most safely and successfully con-
fided, fell into a condition of morbid inertia
and surrendered themselves to an unresistinG
despair. So the field was left to class OF
unprncipled and hungry adventurers who per-
yerted the minds of the negroes, took posses
sion of the State Governments, and guiding
them into vortex of debt and insolvency
completed the work of the war by instituting
a taxation which in most cases was hardly
better than confscation itself. When we ask
why so many of the best people of the South
continue sulky, indolent. and utterly dis
heartened. 1t will do no harm to put ourselve,
in their places, and to inquire of ourselves il
we too, under similar conditions, would
have bated no iot Of heart Or Of hopef-n We