The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-20
Economy, the Need OF illesSouth.

diture of money or other material means. 1t
is not ALWAYS easy to strike the golden mean
between parsimony and prodigality- between
the desire to spend and the duty of saving
| What may be economy in one man may be
waste in another 1t may be proper for per-
son to adopt very different rules of expenditure
at different periods of his life. The measure
of his expenses should be regulated by due
regard to his possessions, his income, the
claims of his family and OF society. and his
prospects for the future. The use OF money or
its equivalent whether one has much or little,
| calls for consideration and conscientious re-
gard to all the responsibilities OF life.
There is great need of this virtue IN the
South. The system of slavery led generally to
self.indulgent and extravagant mode OF iiv-
ing, Most farmers and planters expended the
full amount of their yearly income or more
Their 8asteful habits did not disappear with
the abolition of tie system. 1t was difficult
for families, accustomed to certain style OF
living, to change it with the change in their
circumstances. The old indulgences must be
continued, even on borrowed capital, and at
the peril of bankruptcy: The handsome
equipage, the trained servants, the sumptuous
dinners, the costly raiment and the sparkling
jewelry must be retained, regardless of conse-
quences.
1t is easy to perceive that the expenditures
of Southern people are disproportionate to their
resources. In Europe, one sees everywhere
careful economy. There are plenty and COM
fort but everything used to secure them IS
measured, weighed and nicely. adjusted to the
necessities Of the case. Nothing is wasted.
This economy extends to all the departments
Of life. In some cases, it may appear to be
niggardliness but, in the main, it is careful
ID h, stu nd
sound Judgment. One of the great evils of
the South is the extravaganza of its people
They do not limit their expenses by their in
come They do not husband and employ to
the greatest advantage their resources. This
evil is not peculiar to those whose fortunes
have been wrecked. The poor live up to their
means or beyond them. The freedmen, with
rare exceptions, spend their meagre earnings
for candles, fruits and trinkets, regardless OF
| the wants of the future. This inconsiderate
waste, in former times, might plead some ex-
cuse but in our changed condition it is a folly
and a mischief which calls for prompt and
earnest correction. Only by rigid and general
economy can our fair land be redeemed from
its poverty, and raised to its pristine prosperity
and independence.
Economy should be carried into all the busi
ness and interests of life. 1t should regulate
the expenses for our food, our dress, our furnl-
ture, our equipage, our journeys, aud especially
and fancies There are few families or persons
who might not, in some or in all these branches
of expenditure, save many dollars, in the
course of year, to be added to the means of
usefulness or the supplies for old age or the
day of our adversely.
Unfortunately, when persons are forced or
persuaded to economise, they are likely to oe-
gin this retrenchment at the wrong point.
They abridge their benefactions, but not their
superhuities. They have no money for the
poor, but ample means for attending concerts.
Provision is easily made for pamperng and
adorning the body, but the culture of the mind
and the wellbeing of the soul are neglected.
They can spare something for the purchase of
tobacco, rum or ice-cream, but nothing for
missions. Their dress affords no indication of
the hardness of the times, but all appliances
for the improvement of the intellect are cur
tailed. The pew must be given up, the sub
scription to the pastors salary must be dimin-
ished or withheld, and contributions for church
expenses must be reduced to the minimum
but the retrenchment is not likely to be carried
any further.
Economy, to be successful, must proceed
from principle. We are only stewards of God.
We are responsible to him for the use of the
possessions which he puts in our hands. We
should employ them according 10 his will and
for his glory To hoard and to waste them are
equally displeasing in his sight. They are the
means of employment and usefulness, and
should be carefully preserved and employed for
these purposes. Nor can we reasonable expect
that our economy will be avaiing until it is
cohsiderate and systematic. All necessities
must be moderately supplied; but, beyond this
point, our income should be discreetly divided
between the means of comfort and pleasure,
the demands of charity and usefulness, the in
crease of capital for more extended business,
and provision forold age and the aid of chill
dren. "a good man leaveth an inheritance to
his children's children"
Capital is one of the great wants of the
Southern people. tits needed for the improve
ment of our lands, the development of our
mineral resources, the opening of manutacto-
ries, and the payment of our private and pub:
lie debts. Various plans have been recon-
mended for obtaining it. The founding of
banks, foreign immigration, and the cutting OF
canals, and laying of railroads have all their
advocates as the certain means of securing
prosperity to the country. We believe that
economy, private and public, is the only sure
method of increasing our capital and securing
our welfare If all our people, or even fair
proportion of them, should spend less than they
make, very soon new life and success would be
impaired to all our industries. Enterprise
would revive Our fields, receiving more
generous culture, would flourish and yield
bountiful harvests. Our manufactures would
become profitable. Our commerce would ex-
pand and prove remunerative. The surplus
products of our industry, if economically en-
ployed, would soon pay our debts, and furnish
an ample capital for the prosecution of all our
legitimate and judicious enterprise, secular and
religious.
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the
leopard his spots? We fear not. 1t is easy
to preach and to see the duty of economy, but
hard to practise it. Old customs are almost
ineradicab!e: Poverty, want, experience, a
changed social roodon hsg may 9n soSy teach sees
-. .onorol odontion Still every effort in th hat