The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-02-18
The Condition of the South.

The Condition of the South.
The people of the Northern States
are too much disposed to feel and act
as ifthere was little connection be-
tween their interests and those of the
South.
Louisiana seems to them . great way
OF ;sand though it is quite clear that
something has been wrong there for
two years past, they think it is of lit
tie consequence to them what trans
pires in SO distant q section. 1t is =
good deal of trouble to look into the
matter; Durell and Grant have per-
haps done some things which it would
not be pleasant to see done in New
York or Massachusetts but these in
different people cannot spend the time
to do anything more than read about
the ''banditti" and the 'assassins" in
Sheidan's dispatches, and conclude
that they don't care much about what
goes on in that far-off paradise of car
pet-baggers and colored men, the State
of Louisiana. .n....... .,..-rsl u.
But this view is a short-sjghted and
mistaken one. There is in reality too
close conneetion between the buslness
interests, al we'll as the political inter-
ests, of the two sections of the Union,
to allow either of them to be indiffer-
ent to the vell-being of the other. If
P the people of the Southern States are
to be always restless, poor, and discon-
tented it they are to be governed by
the 10 west class ofNorthern politicians
backed by negro votes, and sustained,
whenever it, becomes necessary, by
Uaitsd States bayQnets; then they
will always be a heavy bu rden to the
country as =, whole, instead of the
source of wealth and pride that they
might be and ought to be. There are
abundant advantages in the soil and
climate, of the South that should. in-
vits immigration and if its political
and social condition were not 50 re-
pellipg, its decaying farms and plant
ations would new be occupied by ac-
tive and energetic laborers. A hope
full and cheerful, spirit would take the
place Of that listless depression which
now prevails !, the fondness for the old
flag, which should protect all alike,
would grow stronger; an increased
production of cotton aud sugar would
swell the volume of our exports and
tend TO check the outflow of specie !;
and the national rsysnue would show
the effects of rising prosperity in q
great section. of the country. .s g..
The ruinous tendency Of the exist
ing regime in Louisiana was we'll
shown by Senator Thurman, of Ohio,
in his recent speech on that subject.
He referred to the fact that since Kel-,
logg was inaugurated, the securities OF
the, State have fallen from 75 to 25 ;
the securities Of tho city of New Or.
leans have declined from So to 35, and
bank shares, rail road stocks, aud 9TH
er securities have suffered an equal de-
preston. In some districts the peo-
pie are taxed more than per cent. on
the value Of their property. A total
change in the, political management of
the State must take place before any
material prosperity or growth can be
looked for. n.fd-si eil.s e- g- -.
In, New Orleans, four years ago, we
witnessed the entry Of q body Of Unit
ed States troops for the purpose of
sustaining q defeated candidate in the
position of Governor of Louisiana !;
every day we saw them paraded thre'
the streets with drum aud tife and
bands of martial music, lest the people
should forget how much bayOnets
have to do with republican; forms Of
government; and we saw body OF
| ignorant aud uuprincipled men, pro-
tected by their presence, go through
q ''pai ody on legislation to which
the people ofithc State were obliged
10 submit. Is it any wonder that dis
eouragement aud discomfort have pre-
vailed, and that all the Interests of the
State have languished d I4iioi. .,3-.
| Bat this unfortunate state of affairs,
which exists not ouly in Louisiana,
but in greater or less degree through
out the South. is. destined to
como to an end before long. The
Southern States are worth too much
to tho Union, through their capacity
for material developement, to be al
lowed to so TO decay. Once left 10
themselves, they will recover from
the effects Of the war and subsequent
bad government, and prosperous in
dustry will bring confidence aud con-
tentment to their psople.-Waul Street
Reporter. csa ,oa F,fo -.o.-s' ,...-.a.