New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-25
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
ATALK WITH GENERAL JOHNSTON.
AN OPENING FOR CAPITAL AND LABOR.

General Joseph l.. Johnston is spending
few days tho city, at the NewYork Hotel Though no
has been actively engaged In business for considerable
time as the agent Of an insurance company he still re-
tans what soldier seldom loses, military bearing. his
and his form is slight but ia spite OF al
yancing years. lie is erect and fuchesed His hair ana
beard are gray. almost white. His voice is firm and
pleasant In its utonaons. General Johnston declined,
yesterday, to talk political subjects mot because
am Grabbed" no said d" unwilling 10 give informa
ton should be very glad II could say anything which
would be OF value TO THE TRIBUNE but my
time and my thoughts devoted to the business by
which / support myself l am not in communication
with poltIclans and do not often move public circles
and could not speak with any authority upon subjects
of political Importance" Upon being reminded that tho
views and impressions OF private gentleman, formed
from independent point OF view, were ofen most In
tercstng and valuable, General Johnston aughingy re-
sponded: "But might make mistake. you see, and
should mo-, Ike TO have my remarks proclaimed as an
index of Southern feeling"
The repogte, then said: Perhaps I should not ask
you say anything on the subject or ponies nut 10
sneak OF me general condition of the South. and yohr
own PERSONAL experiences" General Johnston replied;
% am not sure that | could say anything OF
ing. Southern people complaining Of hard
times, just as you in the North The policy which
withdrew troops from the South was certainly calculated
To restore prosperity that part Or the country but
there hardly been time for the development OF such
a result The withdrawal OF the troops mas aiTeay done
much I'm way II has brought about Spirit OF nope
fI ~ Which acts a. stimulus to eXcrtiOn. In tnat
way the South already feeling its result with regard
10 agricultural interests believe that one class or per
engaged 10 agriculture in the South Is more pros
porous than before the There are, as you well
know, two cla,ses-the planters, and the small farm
crs, as they called, who. on n Hue
ground. raise enough to support them, having q
few cattle for their food, etc. They also
pant ttle for sale. Now before the war these
small farmers did their work, with the assistance OF
Their sons There thus scycrai FAMILIES to support
from the land much cOuid be laii BY Now try
hire time necessity requires TWO OF three
men help them III their wOTK. There are no fdinllfs
% support. ana there is waste OF labor. believe
such men. with, perhaps, q hundr Il acres or COTTON
are doing better than before the war On the pidhls-
tons, however, where hired by the year. IL Is
different"
General Johnston remarked that he constantly heard
complains in the South OF scarcity OF laDOFers Il
rather Doubt he continued, f more wOik-ptuple are
urgently needed there lam sure that white ab0ers
could and enough to do IN the south 10 i mistake 70
suppose thai WHITE could nor endure WORKING ~ the
Southern climate. Before the war; certain Labor GA
the sugar plantations OF Louisiana was performed
by Ifishmen The planters would not allow thelr
negroes do II. Ay experience the war convinced
that specially accustomed 90 the climate
tor manufacturing industry, and believe that in
departments OF 1t, at least, there - now greater
prosperity thau IN the North. The cotton nthuactur
ers, led 10 nnk dong better In the south than
mere Ny busncs, Of insurance affords me some OI
pOrtuniry 90 INFORM myself on tn 4 point"
the Ncw-IOrk Hotel, taVOTte resort OF Southern
ers, =, fsrson Davis has been spending day or
ago but she not until ner present visit made stay
this city for several years. Mrs ID yi- Is tan ana erect
Her stately carriage and mead OF white halr maze Der lm
posing I appca