Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-29
WHY IS 1T !!

The condition of things in South Carolina
is very remarkable. Evidently, there is
disproportion between the natural resources Of
the country and the progress of the people.
The recuperative powers of the soil and eli.
mate are very great; but the progress of the
people is comparatively slow. We have no de-
sire and no intention to make invidious COM
parisons; but we think it may be said, with
strict regard to truth, that in natural resour-
ces, South Carolina ranks amongst the first of
the sisterhood. The question may be asked
with propriety, "why is it that in permanent
progress she is so slow" The reason, we con-
ceive, is found in variety of circumstances.
In the first place, the luxuriance with which
the soil produces the necessaries of life, and
the sparseness of the population, induce in
doence and forbid enterprise Such is the
fruitfulness of the soil, whilst in fresh state,
that almost without an effort, it brings forth
a support for man and beast. This obviatcs
the necessity for that rigid economy and uu-
tiring industry which the inhabitants of some
other sections of the United States are obliged
to practice, or perish. From multitude OF
causes, the population of South Carolina has
not increased as it has done in many other
sections This, also, has had a tendency to
impede progress. Every individual must have
something to stimulate him to action. Men,
universally, are lazy and indolent. They
must be moved, or they will not move. The
greatest of ali motive powers is necessity.
From the peculiar circumstances by which
the people of our State have been surrounded,
necessity has not pressed upon them as it has
upon the inhabitants Of some other States.
The fertile soil, the genial climate and the
sparseness of the population, all conspired to
foster Incidence in the people.
Another reason why the State of South
Carolina is not in the front rank in the arts
of civilization, is that the people are exclusive
ly devoted to agricultural pursuits. In this
respect they resemble the nomads of Asia.
Every one knows that a planter in South
Carolina feels that he has, like the Arab,
pitched his tent, with the intention Of remain
ing only so long as he can wear out the SOIL
We have nothing disparaging or discouraging
to say to the man that tlls the soil but no
people can ever become great and indepen-
dent people by agriculture alone 1t is like
the man of one idea. 1t may be good idea
and strictly practicable for a certain thing
but its application is scircumscribed. Agricul-
ture is good and laudable avocation, but its
sphere is entirely too circumscribed to meet
all the demands of people far advanced in
the arts ofcivilization. The fact is, people
wholly devoted to agricultural pursuits can
no more become great people, than city
can become great in which the inhabitants are
universally devoted to the practice of law or
medicine. The fact that our people are cx-
clusively engaged in agricultural pursuits, ac-
counts, mainly, for that migratory disposition
which has ever characterized them. The land
holders of South Carolina have ever been
ready to sell out and 60 to some place else.
This is the case to-day, and it will continue to
be the case so long as agriculture is the only
avocation of the country.
Another reason why greater progress is not
at present made in the arts of civilization by
the people of South Carolina, is found in the
fact that too many of the people have turned
politicians, to the neglect of very nearly every
thing else. 1t is wonderful what fools our
people are making of themselves by dabbing
in politics. Every body, even the most stu
| pd of the people, think they understand the
theory of government; and, perhaps, the ma
jority ofthe men feel convinced that they in
dividually are eminently qualified to fill any
office in the government, from a trial justice
up to the President of the United States. 1t
may safely be said that South Carolina can
furnish sufficient number of men qualified,
in their own opinion, to fill every office in the
federal government. The only object which
large number of the inhabitants of the State
have in view, is to get into some office This
universal office seeking has locked the wheels
of progress, and is riveting upon large por'
ton of the population of the State the CALLING