The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-13
Southern Provincialism.

Southern Provinciaism.
"GAru''-the pen-name OF Mr. GEORGE
ALFRED TowNsENp-is quoted in the papers
as making the following remarks:
"The South must throw away Its pro-
vincialism and look at facts and become IN
diyidual, every man thinking for himself
and acting freely, as in the North. There
Is an empire rising in Texas-great, new
State societies to come forward with the
Carolinas and Georgia. Tennessee has
greater future than any politics can give
her. Remove the stranger and his military
domination, and those communities VIII
make new politics for themselves, with
divisions and debates, as we have IN the
North" -...
The South cannot throw away the sub!u-
CATION that has been forced upon her with
the acauiescence of the North. She cannot
make her own peace, her own order; she
cannot make her own bed: that has been
made for her. 1t is hard and thinly fur
nished, and her rest has been disturbed.
"Provincialism indeed! Before the war
the South was genial, generous. and large
hearted, liberal in philosophy and compre-
hcnsive in her political economy. Hers
was the peculiar section of this nation, which
more than any other was distinguished for
these virtues.
Since the war she has not been at liberty
to do anything save suffer. As well ask the
prisoner to throw Oft his shackles as TO call
upon the South to throw Off its oppression.
But we are not so sure that it would be adj
yantageous in the South to conform exactly
to "GATH's" advice and become "indi-
yidual." We admire personal independence,
and nowhere on earth was there moro OF
that spirit amongst men than in this same
South when she was unreStrained. Indi-
yidualsm in the extreme is the trait OF self
ish communicated communities in which
the spirit OF patriotism is sunk, the sense
Of public obligation is weak, and in which
seltishnsss is the rule. Noble communities
combine for the public good, and hesitate
not to make individual" sacrifices for
public good. 1t is true that in liberal
sense, when men, conforming to the rules OF
fairness and equity. exert themselves wisely
for their own good, they do exactly what Is
best for the community OF which they are
members. Butindividualism without these
conditions Is the selfshness Of men; and
the community most remarkable for it is
not especially worthy of admiration or emu
lation. "GArH," we suspect, has known
such a people.
The latter part of "GATH's" statement Of
opinion is inconsistent with the first, since
the first supposes that the South may of its
own motion do what "GATH" thinks it ought
to do; while his last view OF the situation
indicates that the South must be set free be-
fore she can do anything. In his own words !:
"Remove the stranger and his military
denomination, and those communities
"(southern) will make new politics for
themselves" &c. .....
Exactly. The South has not had freedom
to restore her own order and to re0rganize
her domestic economy. She has been op-
pressed, distressed, and nearly ruined
everywhere in her States. Nothing short
OF that wonderful sef-control which is the
highest proof OF the nobility Of the southern
character has saved the southern people
from the worst horrors Of baroarism. With
the high places of Government In the hands
OF land pirates and villains, who squandered
the public revenues and multiplied the pub
lie burthens, the people have succeeded in
maintaining wonderful degree Of neighbor-
hood order, and have carried on with sur
prising success their own private pursuits.
The outrages that visited them with such
woful consequences they have endured for
twelve years, and have continued all the
private life.
This is the grandest triumph ever achieved
by society in this land. 1t is something to
offset any complaint and any accusation
about provinciaiism or anything. The
South has suffered untold and indescribable
injuries and humiliations. These she might
have avoided as far as possible-under that
great social revolution which OF necessity
had It's inevitable evilS-by simply Joining
the Republican party. Negro suffrage was
created to "hold the South" for Republic
,arism. The South could have appeased
by giving that her adhesion.
But that act ,cas impossible. She could not
be the hypocrite. She preferred sorrow and
70 dishonor-the humiliation Of
poverty to the humiliation and disgrace Of
hypocrisy.
The South Is not free, and cannot act UNI
Ter the liberty of independence which
should subject her public character and pol
cy to criticism. But remove" as /" GATH"
says, ]" the stranger and his military domi-
,ation, = aud then the South will show that |
he ia still as she was in other days-liberal |
nd cosmopolitan 10 politics and philosophy;
md, furthermore, that she has the energy
hat is equal to her exigency. and that she
yiu fully employ the proyidential advan-
ages which have been so boint:'ully be-
toned upon her land.
The heading to the canal-article In yester-