The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-15
rFrom the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat, sth.J
Southern Progress. --...7

The terribly earnest cry which comes up
to Cnnpress from the South asking for relief
in variety of ways. and for appropriations
for a hundred different objects, indicates
with irfalibIe certainty that the southern
neople, as a class, are beco ming aware tnae
they are BALI century behind the rest OF tue
world in everything tending to promote
nrosDerjty. The causes Of their backward
ness are not hidden. He that runs may READ
thorn with as much readiness as be VINO
siops and POWDERS. Prior to the war the
social system aud life of the people IN tne
southern States were those OF the ancient
Romans, lacking, however, some OF the re.
deemiru features of the latte!'s political
econonlc. hy which the comparison is 10 the
disadyautage Of the South. 10 the southern
Sales the lire was strictly and sernly drawn
bet ween the slave and the master, 80 that the
former could seldom hope to be other than
wba, he was, while the Rome offices OF honor
and profit were often open to slaves. and IN
the latter days of the empire freedmen or
their descendants held the most important
positions.
So great a change 10 the social ard indus
trial economy of auY section as that prodpced
by the nauumission OF millions OF slaves IN
dsy would be liable to cause the most pre-
found sensation, and 10 produce disorders OF
considerable magnitude, even If elected
quietly and in times of peace. When. how
ever. it was done as natural consequence
of defeat in warl X controversy, the Won
der is not that so many disorders, so many
riots, so many individual acts Of outrage and
plo9dshed have taken place, but that the
former slave States were not at once con-
yerteG into scene Of dcsolalion from bloody,
internecne strife. Great, however, as the
change was, it vas effected with comparative
ouiei, the mingled fear and forbearance OF
| both sides preventing any widespread out
| III st of feeling.
| This is one Of the strongest evidences OF
PROGRESS that can be adduced. That the ola
chiyalry spirit should have become so tanned
| as to tolerate political equality with beings
so much below what it was pleased 10 con-
slider its own raGk, is wonderful step 10
advance. Another appears in the dlSpoal'
| ton OF those who were formerly large
planters to reduce the extent OF cultivated
grounds, and improve the character OF Inc
culture bestowed. The poverty Of The peo-
pe forbids The old eXtrayagant method OF
| farming, AID the uncertainty Of labor deters
the venturescme from attempting the cult
va!on Of too much land, and compels the
introduction OF labor.saviDg machinery.
Thus less is done, but il is done better, moe
thoroughly and much more to tue advau-
iage of the people than ever before. Non
oudntum se9 quo mode is becoming more
and more popular as the motto OF the south.
ern farmer, as we'll as Of the professional
man, and its beneficial effect is even now ap-
parent.
A writer in the International, specializing
on this subject, lays all the blame on slavery,
and declares that but for this incubus the
South would long since, in arts, manulac'
lures, and mines, have rivaled the North or
West. Without discussing tie point, the
fact may be accepted, and it is not iound
unsusceptible OF an explanation. The South
is far behind the rest Of the nation because
the need for tbrs. advantages Of railroads,
canals, river, and harbor improvements was
never clearly recognized in that section, and
the people, regarding them as not essential
to their welfare, took no pains to secure
them, seldom asked for the necessary ap-
preparations, and even when occasionally
reused to the necessity spasmodic tit OF
energy was all that could be elected from
the southern congressional delegation; anu
this, as every one kuows, is not the proper
method to secure legislation in behalf OF any
project.
Iu view of these facts it is not remarkable
that while the national appropriations for
| river ind barbor improvements during the
| last half century have amounted to S55,344,.
900. the amounts expended for those purposes
| in the South have aggregated but Sl5, "a, 00n.
Equally susceptible of explanation is the
fact stated in Poor's Railroad Manual for
| 1876 that while the railroads of the country
| number y 602 miles, those of the South lave
bur Is COZ miles. The southern people do not
p:sssss these advantages, because taey have
never before viewed them in their proper
lighh and consequently have not adopted
adequate means to secure them. A change
has lately taken place, and the undertaking
formerly so common is now likely to be
succeeded by an overestimatioD.
The South wants everything. at once.
Railroads, harbor improvements, canals,
| light houses, and lines of subsidized steamers
are all now clamored for with degree Of
vieor that shows how keenly alive to the
situation the South has become. The arous.
| ing Of southern interest in southern affairs
| is one of the best signs for the future wei
fare Of that section and certain harbinger
of coming Industrial and commercial pros.
peTity.