The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-18
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.

The London Saturday Reriem, in reviewing
the work of Mr.. Robert SOmers, on the
" Condition of the Southern States since the
War;" says:
The writer is remarkably free from preju-
Dice is certainly not prejudiced i'll favor OF
the Southern cause, and he avoids, as far as
possible all reference to the political con-
tlicts which preceded aud brought about
secession. When his subject compels him
to speak of political measures. he studiously
confines himself to an account Of the facts
and practical evidences of the working OF
the Republican party which he himself wit
messed; but his main purpose is to exhibit a
full and fair picture of the social aud in
dustrial state and prospects of the South.
He has traversed nearly all the conquered
States, and conversed with all classes OF
their inhabitants he has been careful and
impartial observer, and the record of his
observations is therefore as satisfactory and
trustworthy as any DIES rptive work OF
travel that we have lately seen. His tenn
perate language and perfect candour disarm
suspicion and dstrust; and even those adj
mirers of the Federal policy who have tried
to persuade themselves and the public that
the South is prospecting under government
of negro votes and Northern bayonets, will
be compelled to accept his evidence. That
evidence shows-lncidentally and of direct
purpOse-that the war was waged with a
wanton and savage ferocity on the part of
the North that recalls the devastation Of the
Palatinate by Louis XIV.
The wholesale cOnf1agratiOn of cities and
hOmesteads, the devastation of cultivated
lands, the destruction of all factories, ma
chinery, railroads, buildings, all the accu-
mulated wealth of generations, has reduced
the South to utter poverty and her entire
wealth in 1870 was hardly more than half
Of what it had been in 1860. Moreover,
though no executions for high treason
marked the close of the war, the recon-
struction policy displays a more vindictive
spirit than the infection of death upon a
few leaders would have done. 1t is the in
Fiction of cruel and degrading punish
Ment upon whole nation.
The Test act excludes from office every
man of character and repute in the South,
and practically DISTINGUISHES the majority
of the white people; so that the States are
ruled by Northern adventures of the lowest
class, elected by negro votes; men of the
stamp of Fisk and Tweed, who have treated
the Carolinas as those gentlemen treated
the Erie Railway and the Munici pality of
New York. Such government, of course,
discOurages immigration, and frightens
away capital; and, in spite of the immense
resources OF the country and the heroic
energy of the people, the South is poorer
than she wa, twenty, or probably thirty,
years ago. Mr. Somerss accounts of the
character, conduct and demeanor Of the freed
negroes are interesting, but do not at all
confirm the hopes Of those who suppose that
the experiment Of emancipation will be
more successful in the South than in Jamai-
ca Altogether, the picture drawn of the
condition of the co lntry might satisfy the
most vindictive OF Northern Radicals, and
is deeply painful to any one who, whatever
his adherence of slavery, cannot help SYM
pathizing with the calamities of gallant
nation, crushed by Overwhelming numbers
while struggling for what they considered
to be their national rights and inherited
liberties.