Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-30
SOUTH CAROLINA REDIYIVUS.
THE CHEERFUL TESTIMONY OF NEW ENG
AND pEp11R1 IcAN L ny TIE CHEZ.

THE CHEERFUL TESTIMONY OF NEW ENG
LAND REPUBLICAN LADY TEACHER.
To the Editor of the Nsw York Nation :
SIR-I have just returned from a summer
spent in South Carolina, where l had every
opportunity to study the political and social
condition of things. The gain in material
prosperity since the educated classes recovered
the control Of politics is marked-more so
among the negroes even than among the whites
I can compare the old condition with the
new. I spent nine months in South Carolina
almost Immediately after the war, when car
pet bags were possibility rather than q fact
The older men of the State were stunned by
the complete collapse of the old institutions,
and knew not how to adapt themselves to the
changed conditions of life. 1t was the same
with the negroes. Up to this point there was
no sign of ill-teeling between the white man
and his former slave. Indeed, the master was
grateful for the kindness and fidelity shown
during the war. Why should there be an.
tagonisms, the interests Of the two races being
the same?
What followed, we all know. The most
ruinous accomplishment of the set of men who
Aocked to the State, scenting plunder, was the
antagonism they brought between capital and
labor; capital, being less robust, suffered more
than labor My next winter was during the
triumphant "spoils" period, which has been
elaborately enough described. Land was ly.
ing uncultivated, the negro was idle and per.
fectly demoralized. was shocked to see the
drunkenness, to hear of the stealing. There
seemed no hope for the future. This fair State
was given to the robber and to the ignorant.
The change in the condition of things du-
ring the last eighteen months is positively
startling. 1t is difficult to know where to be-
gin. Every one seems hopeful, and, better
still, busy. The negroes are working cheer
fully. If the wages be low, 80 is the living;
think of good chickens for sale at ten cents
apiece 1t does not pay to rob hen.roost.
The large estates are being cut up into small
farms, owned Unfortunately by black and
white drove through the country districts,
through lands which only a little while ago
were covered with oaks and pines. Now J
find little homesteads, with gardens and be-
ginnings of orchards in some cases, pathetic
attempts at "decoration." For the first time
in my experience, fruit, vegetables and chick
ems were daily offered at the door by negro
men and women. saw few or no idlers, and
heard no expressions Of discomfort
The increased earnestness and hopefulness
of the young white men is most encouraging.
They no longer direct, oversee, but literally
put their own hands to the plow, with honest
pride in their work. They work during the
day, in that burning sun, side by side with the
negro, in perfect good comradeship. The
great want Of the State is capital, and that
must flow in when the future is assured. Out
side interference in politics will be ruinous.
It means accentuating the color line; it means
arraying labor against capital, ignorance
against education. The misfortune for South
Carolina is the coming Presidential election:
But for that the names of Republican and
Democrat might be erased from the spelling
book. If she were not needed for party pur-
poses, she might be left in peace to bind up
her wounds.
Now one last words as to security OF LITE
and possessions. The contrast here is in
favor of South Carolina as against my own
New England. In Connecticut town, last
summer, I kept pistol as comfort, it not
protection. In South Carolina, not tramp
all summer, and no beggars! Our house
hold was composed of three women, the SER
want sleeping in "the yard" Our house is
little isolated. We sat or slept with doors
wide open until late into the night, and we
never had one moments uneasiness nor anx-
iety.
When so much that is false is being said,
1 hope these few words from New England
Republican may not pass quite unheeded:
New York, October Z, 1879. N. 3.
CThe writer of the above, woman, is a
we'll known teacher in this city.-Ed. Nation.
MoNEY.-It heals the lacerated honor, sat-
isles justice and buys square meal. Every.
thing resolves itself into cash, from "corner"