The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-23
CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN PE0-
PIE,

/
/ ssIn the former. the most fertile districts
and all the great manufacturing centres were
| left untouched by the invaders; while IN the
latter there was scarcely a square mile OF ter
ritory east of the Mississippi which was not
overrun by the enemy and literally stripped
naked. In France the bulk OF the popuiaton
pursued their ordinary avocations and aiio~ed
the army to do the fighting; Wnlie III lIe
South every available man was carrying
musket ana roduction-except OF the neces-
sar!es of life and the munitions OF War-apso-
lutely ceased. In France the war was VIZ
tually at an end in four months; IN the South
it lasted four years
Here the Republican might have added that
in the Confederated States in May, 1865, there
was not left a tenth part OF the property value
that existed IN May, 1860. Nine-tenths OF
everything destructible was worn out, con-
sumed or otherwise destroyed. Throughout
the length and breadth Of the Confederacy
was absolute restitution. The destruction
of the labor system had taken away four-hfths
of the value of all cultivated lands. Two.
thirds of all lands subject to tillage had De-
come overrun with weeds, thorns, brlars and
underbrush. Nine tenths Of planters and
farmers tools and implements had been worn
out or destroyed. Nineteen-twentieths OF all
horses, mules and cattle had been taken away
or seized for use or food by one or the other
army. There were no plows or draught animals
to turn up the ground, nor was there seed
enough to plant. Every dwelling house lett
unburnt was flied with the evidences Of decay,
dilapidaton, pauperism and distress. All
our people were in the condition OF money
less and destitute emigrants landed in will
derness.
Since the close of the war there have been
raised eight full crops and one partial crop,
that of 1865 Before 1870 planters and farm
ers did little more than make needful repairs
and supply themselves with the means OF
successful culture. Since then they have
been steadily but very slowly gaining ground.
Not one white man in fifty is possessed Of as
much property as he had before the war. Not
one home in fifty is supplied with the com
forts formerly enjoyed. few planters have
been remarkably successful and are doing
as well as before the war, but nine-tenths Of
the Southern white people, and, necessarily,
a far larger proportion of our colored people,
are still poor, and in great many cases their
poverty is distressing.
We can not, therefore. concur with the Re-
publican in the opinion that "the South is
actually in better condition than the North. Z
The North has the accumulated results of
the almost uninterrupted industry and thrift
of century; ten years ago the people Of the
South began anew, empty handed, in the
midst Of general desolation and ruin, under the
shadow Of mean and remorseless despotism,
to till their long neglected lands. Granting
that the Southern people, white and black,
have done great deal of hard work during
the past ten years, and practiced q most COM
mendable voluntary or enforced economy,
they have not had time to become otherwise
than poor. Necessity obliged the most Of
them to depend upon home production for
bread and meat, and what was thus taught by
necessity is now practiced from policy and
sound economy. They had little credit and
therefore contracted few debts, and they are
now experiencing the beneficial effects Of be-
ing independent
All classes have found labor to be neces-
sary result of an impoverished condition, and
many of our people have learned to lcok
upon work as neither hardship nor humil-
iation, who might never have learned that
wholesome lesson under any other auspices.
In ten years more of peace, with the restor-
alton of sound currency, under friendly
home and Federal rule, the masses of the
Southern people will begin to show the effects
of thrift, economy, industry, prompt pay
ment and self-dependence. Yet, in each Of
the ten years the increase of capital must be
less than ten and probably not more than
seven per cent, taking the average Of the
entire Southern section.
But if the increase we're at the rate Of ten
per cent, not compounded, per annum, for
ten years, making the total gold value of all
real and personal property twice in amount
in 1885 what it is now, the people of the
Southern States would still be far from rich.
There would be money to spare for develop
ment and improvement The homes of our peo-
pie would display more comfort. We should
have more new houses and better schools.
We should have more railroads, more
mills, more watercraft, more live
stock Many Of the more thrifty colored
people would own farms and become
promoters of peace and order Much
new labor and no small amount of new
capital would come to US by immigration.
The remnant of the spirit of lawlessness en-
gendered by the war would disappear, and the
spirit of order now general would then be
Yet all this will not amount to
restoration of the prosperity enjoyed fifteen
years ago, nor would it make our section
wealthy in any accurate sense Of the term.
The South will not have money enough to
become lender even then, and the fattering
and hopeful prediction of the Republican will
not be fulfilled.
Our hopes picture to us the Southern States
in the year 1900, occupied by population of