Richland beacon., 1877-08-04
TH.fT SOCIAL QUESTION.

remaris Of the Mississippi, Baptist Recor'
ourh, 10 silence forever those who seem Il
thins !, the duty of Southern people - rur
out into the highways and hunt up Northern
Deople who come South. herald their advent
with shouts of joy and p'eans of praise. and
to even drag them from the lowest grade oi
society and place them upon the topmo>r
round Of the social ladder and that too after
we have learned by experience tha, nine out
of ten Of them will return 10 their homes and
m>represent us or write sanderous letters
about us while enjoying our hospitality:
Our Nor,hern friends and brethren are con.
s'aniiy worried because, as they suppose, We
do not treat Northern people who come South
as we should. IL Is p,iy that this matter
cannot be settled satisfactorily once for all
With view TO assisting our brethren to
proper understanding OF The situation, We
submit; the following:
l. Northern men. travelling or settling in
the South must not expect us to liOnize them.
W hat great thing have they done for MS that
we should kill the fai,ed calf whenever one
are they superior TO other menS Englishmen,
Frelchmen, lrishmen, and men Of ali nations
come and go among us without any particular
notice. Nor do they expect or desire il,
Virsinians pass through Mississippi or settle
in our bounds without word. And 50 il is
with citizens of other States South Wherein
is a citizen of Maire. better than citizen of
VirgSiaa' Let Northern men make up their
minds 10 be as other men when they come
South. Ii was right amusing a year or so
ago TO read the announcements Of certain
Northern men. They were going on tours of
inspection, and would take such and such
places ea r0ue. Well, that did very well,
but were we called on to turn out and make
demonstration?
2. In the South. as in all other countries.
there are classes in society. When any one
comes here 10 live he can choose what circle
OF society he VIII enter, and if lie is morally
and Intellectually fitted for it, he can enter it
and live in it,
No ore in the South can consort with the
rabble, and at the same time find a welcome
in the frs, circles Of society. But this is
socially free country. Every person, with
out the leas, hindrance, may choose his COM
ldillpus n -NOltlltln lIldU Cbllll1 NOlln may
take up with negroes and the most profligaie
{ Ass Of white people, if he chooses, but if he
does, he mast remain there. He cannot pass
from ;he upper TO the lower, and from the
lower 10 the upper classes of society al his
own sweet will. Is this hardship Can a
man pass from the society of Five Points in
New York 10 Fifth Avenue at will? Hardly.
We wish our Northern brethren and friends
md enemies too, could understand these
hings.
There has been, undenia bly,, social ostra-
ism in the South, hut for it all there has been
sufficient cause. The great majority Of
Northern men who have come South took M !
II once with our lower class and treated the |
'etter class as though they could not be |
rusted. We have simply left them TO their |
,wn choice
Ard further, in making up the case. our
Northern friends ought to remember that they ,
ave not sent Us men whose moral character /
II social habits would Justify us in taking I
hem into our families. Ever since the war /
lie North has had its worst side tnrneG to-
ward us. The cab drivers and saloon keepers
f New York, Bostor, Chicago, etc, we deem
ntit for our parlors, even if they keep no
'ad company in Or midst.
But still further, men whose education and
tanding at home would have justified our
eceiving them on a footing of equality have
y their conduct forfeited all claims TO our
ocial recognition. OF such are Bullock,
Wells, The is a Southern man,
Ames, etc. The public plunderne Of these
nen and their misrule are as notorious as
nything need be. How could we accord to
uch men any social standing without thereby
ondoning their ofienses2 Will New York
ntertain Tweed, Oatey Hall and their ring in
er first circles. If so, woe to New York
Once more. As rule. Northern men
oming among us have assumed the attitude
enemies, and not friends,
Taxing all these things into the account, it
not difficult TO understand why things are
ist as they are. Men who plumber us. or
Phod those who do; and slander us, and
eep bad company, and are in many cases
ow and coarse, need not expect our social
ecognition. We are human, and we act jus,
5 our kind have always acted under similar
circumstances. Besides we have an immense
lterest al stake, one we dare not forfeit Our
cry civilization is involved, and with il the
estiny of our children and children's children.
We must require people 10 be worthy OF our
,cial recognition before we accord it.
But many Northern people in the South are
.ceived into our best circles They are such
} come among us for legitimate purposes
,me TO live with us and not on u.s. Being Of
orthern birth is no more bar TO social re-
Mons here than being of English, French or
'ish birth. The rules of society are not very
fierent in Dixie from what they are every
here. They are such as are founded lp
,ture and cannot'be changed for the accom-
odation Of Northern men, many Of whom
'em to expect to act like the worst Of men
ld to be treated like the best.