The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-14
THE RELATlvE ACeUHUI.ATIoNs.

" IN ilese StaleS WHICH, uaS W. ae.IsfvSL Ilot1
three hnndredto seven huDdred aud fifty
dollars per inhabitaDt. ss ~
THE.RELATIyE AceUHuEATIoNs.
In this connectiorsit is well to Investigate
the details ofsoDe 1og, the States, considered
With reference to their entire population, 10
ascertain in what States the average wealth.
is greatest and least, and to consider some OF
the cases which produce such results: Inc
greatest average accumulation OF lndiVloua'
wealth il in -New.~-Yesk State. Each New
YORKER. on an average, possesses 81 .4S1 worth.
of real and personal estate. Massncnusets
rates next, with an average wealth OF II, 463 TO
| each inhabitant. Connecticut has an average
OF 81 ,43l. These three States. therefore, APP
pear TO be upon almost precisely the same
nane of average individual wealth ana
| they are also in the same portion OF the 'and,
| on The same parallels of latitude, and In Jux'
| taoositlou. The commerce Of Europe Sits
principally through them, leaving go lden
sediment in its passage. They were among
the first States settled, and have therefore
had longer period in which to accumulate
stores of wealth. They have never suffered
FROM the rayages OF war, and have been long
free from the facilitating influences of slave.
~. Iii natural therefore that they should
precede all the other States in substantial
wealth.
The State with the next largest average is
Rhode Island, 81 1856 TO each person. Still,
The precedence is confined to the eastern
States. But no longer, for California as.
sumes the next position Ia order, atfording
an accumulation of 81 ,095 to each CaIfor-
MAN. California may properly be considered
as State that has bad wealth thrust upon
it, and is scarcely entitled to the credit which
of right belongs to those States In the West
which, without any natural advantages ex-
copt fertility Of soil aud salubrity of climate,
have elevated themselves into rich powers in
the world. The life of California is fresh and
active, however. Her money comes easily
and goes easily. II may be assumed that
where there is no extraordinary reason for
it, and where the government is pure,
liberal amount of taxation betokens, primd
facie. high degree of prosperity for in the
| first place, there must be large personal means
to sand the draft; aud secondly, the money
laid out for public uses is greater. Thus, in
accordance with this general rule, the Ststes
Just enumerated are taxed with very high
per cnpitd tQres. California has one OF tue
very highest, attaining to 1885 for every
soul. This is an indication, but merely an
indication flor it is not intended to be SAID
that large taxation presupposes wealth., OF
full and free circulation of wealth in Calitor-
MA, with substantial footing OF accumula-
ton. GU
PENNSYLVANIA is the only remaining State
that has a wealth attaining to more than
q 600 for each inhabitant. One thousand
and eichty.one dollars are the exact figures.
Ohio. Illinois, and Maryland follow next,
with per capita figures respectively 1888.
1885, 1924. New Hampshire. S793; Dela-
ware, S777; indiana, S7734; Missouri, S7G;
Vermont, Sill, are next in relative indi-
yidua weal;h. Having 5000 individual
wealth or more, but less than 500. are Iowa,
5000: Michigan, SG05: Wisconsin, 1863. Over
$500 vet less than $500, includes Kansas and
Oregon, each 1906; Minnesota. S513; Nevada,
500; and Maine, 500. 1t is rather sur
prsiDg to find the old and well.conducted
State Of Maine so far down on the list.
Doubtless dollar there will purchase SUBJ
s,antially far more than dollar 10 the
weather. States and in the comparatively
quiet and primitive life in that State many
luXuries are uncalled for and uncared Tor
which have come to be regarded almost as
utcessares in most OF the other States. Her
wealth virtually is, therefore, greater than
these figures would indicate. A cause OF
their not being higher will be sought for
further on in this discussion.
The states that rate between $500 and
$500 per capita are: West Virginia, S43l
Nrbra, ka. $3.50; Louisiana, S4j4; and Ken
lucky, sl3l. Virginia and Arkansas are
nearly on u par, having respectively 1854 and
1922 Der nhabilaut. West Virginia, 1t will
be noticed, has 30 per cent. surplus OF
wealth over Virginia. Tennessee has S395
average individual wealth.
| hnf hrirU Tho md
prcseut the poverty OF Our laud, are: SOUTH
Carolina. with 1904 to each Individual; Miss
,,,ppl, S252 North Carollna, S243; Florida,
S234; Georgia, 1926; AlIbuma, 500 aud
tiually Texas, 1914.
TIE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
| 1t has been seen above that u great part OF
| the personal property of the South was annl-
bilatcd by the change in the status OF the
slave. II may he asked whether this IS real
or only apparent loss of wealth, for the States
still have the negro population is one OF their
vealtll-produclng forces, even II they no lon
ger belong to their former masters. But the
actual result of the change Of status Of the
black man is not confined merely to
transfer of profits Of labor from his masters
pocket TO lis own pocket as their re-
ceptace. In the days of slavery the
black man was almost a mere money
mlkng machine, worked up TO its full Gu.
pacity bv its owner, and goaded by the lnl-
prlling power of the overseer and the LASH
TO uprcmiting industry. Now, these pow
erful forces have released their pressure on
his energies. His instinct Of selt-preserYa-
tion and other motives Of his own are SUB.
stitll'ed therefor. His native lndOlence. con-
gratulating itself on t> chances Of free eXer.
else, asserts its sway over many OF the D0u'S
formerly employed in labor, and unchecked
incIlnations to vice further affect bis useful
ness.
TIE ELEVATION OF THE NEGRO THE INTEREST OF
THE WHITE MAN.
Thus it appears that the change FROM
slavery 10 freedom pas certainly affected the
! wealth Of the South, and the effect will not
disappear until the negro is developed into
the possession of the same energy ana power
of sct-restraint "a the white man. IL IS the
interest Of the white race 10 do this. Could
we elevate the negro race, not by laws "hich
only give them names rs public officers, or
members IF legislative assemblies, but
| by energetic efforts 10 educate and
| improve each member Of the race III
our land, every individual so improved
would be source OF incaicultble
benefit. The true wealth Of q country is 10
be sought in the people themselves, not IN
the amount of bullion they can sign away.
| Instead of so much anxiety about the civil
rights Of the negro, let US rather make him
| by well-tirecled pbilanthropic efforts Wha;
be should be, and bis civil-rishts will ADJUST
themselves. No amount Of artificial bolster
| ing by enactment can supply the want OF de-
| raIopp,ont in no rapp Whatever offices are