The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-07-31
THE SOUTHERN DIFFICULTY.


The following article we take from the
New York Daily Bulletin of the 18th instant,
journal devoted to the commercial interests
of the country, and one which is pre- eminent
for the ability and judgment with which it
is conducted. We think it well worth the
space it occupies, and commend it to the
careful perusal of our readers.
A conflict of races at the South appears 10
be inevitable, unless the negro race, guided by
other counsels than those which have prevail
ed since its emancipation, should consent to
take and keep its proper position in the So
cial scale, in doing which it will not be ne
cessary 10 surrender any of the political rights
which now guard both its person and prop
erly, but if it should continue to use this po-
litical equality in demanding so-called "civil
rights" and attempting to drag the white por-
ton ofthe South down to its own level, we
cannot see how this conflict can be avoided.
Voluntary migration of either element from
the South is not likely to happen, and the con-
fict will be, when it does take place, for the
decision of the question, who is to be master
No true friend Of the negro race but who will
be reioiced to see it pursuing such a course
rs will turn aside the impending danger, for
if the contest once commences it must nevi-
tably end either in the eXpatriaton of the
negro or his determination, neither of which
alternatives the white people Of the South de-
sire, unless it becomes an imperative neces-
sity The Bulletin says:
1t is useless to spend much time i'll lament
ing over past errors when problems of the flu
ture are demanding immediate solution. We
therefore do not care to discuss the grave
plumbers made in determining the political
status of the Southern negroes, after the war,
when the fact sares us in the face that the
settlement has left on hand one of the most
serious political difficulties with which the
country has ever had to deal. We can al
ready see most plainly the beginning of a So
ciai and political disorganization in the
Southern States 1t is based upon hostility
between the white and the colored races so
fundamental and decp-seated that there is no
room for hoping that it may easily die out or
he disposed of by legislative eXpedients, or,
in short, take any other course than that OF
deepening and strengthening until it breaks
out into open, passionate rupture. The ne
ban, and vet, being conscious of their politi-
cal equality with the whites, they resent this
social ostracism in every possible way, not
even stopping at the use of their political pow
er for that purpose The white population,
conscious OF their superior mental and social
cndowmenis, are CALLED to the quick at their
virtual subiugation to the political power OF
the negro clement. They say little, but they
feel profoundly this humiliatng subsection
but they might resolve to endure the bitter
modification, were it not that the making and
the administration of the laws are rapidly 60
ing into the control of this ignorant and de-
old.time homes and holding their property,
they feel that they have no security in either,
and that, so far as respects all that makes citi-
Zenshp precious and esteemed, they are ex-
lied and despoied. They see the laws, offices
and honor of their local governments becom-
ing objects of derision in the eyes ofthe world;
and they complain that their earnings and
property are being swallowed up by taxes
imposed for the benefit of corrupt politicians,
who have won the support fthc negro popu-
lation
These are the relative positions of the two
classes in the South. Their attitude is that
of conflict conflict of feeling. conflict of po-
itical policy, and conflict OF interest. Du-
ring the earlier stages ofthe conflict, there
is mutual forbcarance, and especially on the
side of the whites, who are more restrained
by considerations of prudence and hope; but
the conflict is nevertheless as "irrepressble"
ms was the former one between the slavery
and the anti slavery sentiment of the South
and the North respectively; it is the conflict
of two widely diverse but politically associa.
ted race; revived under new conditions and
within narrow geographical area, but fun.
damentally the old contest over again, and
virtually rs far from being settled as it was
fifteen years ago. The following is q geo
graphical and numerical statement of the dis
lribution of the antagonistc populations: