Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-11

much for tho coloted people that the
"haughty" whites call them not "niggcrs,' u
but "colored pcoplc;'' that they have the
right of entry to public places, from which
thoy would have been cruelty dubbed but a
few years ago; that not only the politicians
but the common people exhibit surprising
respect for their lawful rights, and accord to
them sympathy hard to be realized by the
people in the North who havo read Of the
atrocities of Mississippi and Louisiana.
Much moro it is great stride for tho
people of the South, utterly impoverished
as they were by the war, to attempt at this
omparatively carly day to provide educa-
tioual facilities for their former slaves,
For it should be remembered that their
common schools for tho whites are not of n
superior grade, excepting in the cities.
The touch of nature, however, which
brought about tho great civil revolution
which President Hayes has inauguratcd,
was best expressed by Southern men them.
selves: "Mr. Hayes trusted u.s. Many
Southern men with whom T talked said
they felt as if they had been abused. They
felt dishouored because tho professions they
made were not believed in tho North and it
cxasperated them. To their astonishmen
President Hayes accepted their professions
They were put upon their honor, and thcy
said that they intended to prove to tho
President and the country that they could
be relied upon. Hence their sincere and
cordial reception of him. They sud TINT
they were grateful to him, and 1 could not
doubt It when l saw, as did, people
and womcn-in Nashville, whom I had
personally known during tho war were
among tho most passionate rebels Of tho
South, foremost among tho throng to well
como the President with oil public cercmo-
accorded to tho Chief Magistrate of the
nation. Nay, more; at all the points visited,
took pains to circulate in the crowds about
the platforms, and in public places, to hear
the romurks of tho common run of the
people, and the result was as any one might
have judged from tho cheering when the
President was speaking, that l was cou +.
vinccd that tho people generally meant
what they profcssed-not that they would
change their party, but that they want peace
and that the policy of the President would
assure it.
In the bar rooms tho rudcr sort Of fcI.
lows drank to "our next ticket" Hayes
and Hampton great round oaths that
sounded strangely enough. The wives,
widows and daughters of Confederate off
GERS, the cite of the South, were prominent
in the exhibition of courtesy to Mrs Hayes,
fact of peculiar significance, as everybody
who has understood the Intense feeling OF
the cx-Contedcrate women sinoc the war
mny readily comprehend. 1 could cnume-
rate n multitude Of incidents illustrative of
the points I have given, which would add
spice to the narrative, but it is hardly nc
cessary. Suffice it, that from Louisville to
Atlanta no member of the press heard any
disrcspcctful word uttered to or about the
President, but everywhere the utmost re
spect for him was exhibited, vastly more
than for the name of Tildcn In fact it
was a very common thing to hear men say,
~ voted for Tiiden, but am glad that
Hayes is President, for he has done aud
can do moro for US than Tildon could have
donc!"
I shall not repeat the story of tho amaz.
ing journey through the South. 1t wns
more in the nature of a trumphal march,
celebrating the re-establisment Of peace and
goodwill thnn anything else with which
can compare it, and tho President deported
himself with dignity, ability, sclf>posscs
sion and manliness that was deeply crafty
ing to those who knew him we'll.
In conclusion, repeat that I believe
that the Presidents Southern tour will
prove vastly beneficial to the country. It
has already established botter feeling, and
has opened wide tho gates to permanent pa
cifcation.