Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-28
SOUTHERN OSTRACISM.
What a Liberal Republican Has Dis.
covered.
Correspondence o. ths Philadelphia Press ]
RICHMOND. Va, july 8.

RICHMOND, Va, July 8.
Do you remember the characters in
Charles Reade's novel OF GA Terrible
Temrtation?" How the gentlemanly Sir
Charles Bassett not only incurred the bit.
ter enmity of his boorish brother Richard
by inheriting the family estate, but mar
ried the girl whom the latter loved, there
by turning richards hate into jealous
persecution! And do you recall to mind
how he nourished his spleen and never let
pass an opportunity to make things un-
pleasant for Sir Charles and his wife?
l thought of these two characters before
| had been south of Mason and Dixon's
line two hours, for the average Southerner
regards the North and Northern people
just about as did this Richard Bsssett re-
gard his brother. He may not be so rabid
in his dislike, and he may be polite
enough not to show it. He may smile
and smile again and assure you that he
has no feeling but those of friendship for
Northerners; but he doesn' tell the truth.
When entered Richmond I was one of
the most liberal Republicans you ever
saw. believed "bloody-shirt" waving
should be classed among the "lost arts"
and that peaceful unity was the thing to
be desired. am of the latter opinion
still. AS to the shirt, the higher it is
waved and the more blood there is on it
the better will be the effect.
1t is pity that so good part of the
country has so degen crate class of peo-
pie. Reconstruction is needed In more
senses than one, and a Northern man,
especially if he be little orthodox in his
views, opens his eyes in establishment at
the people themselves and at the way they
live. He will be interested with the coun.
F1r &c har % \
down here that does not breathe of war
and bloodshed, and perhaps he may feel
a breeze of compassion for these people,
who, Micawberllke, are waiting for some
thing to turn up. They are all waiting
for that. They work just enough to en-.
able them to exist; the future is all right;
something will turn up-a Democratic
President, perhaps, and then everything
will be jolly. came down by boat, down
the coast, through the Chesapeake and the
James River. The first Southern ground
I set foot on was Norfolk. 1t is a won.
derful city-wonderful for its shipping
and iniquity. Now is the time to see
Norfolk at its best. The truck season is
at Its height, and tbs wharves are lined
with steamships, sloops and schooners
from nearly every Northern port. AL
though 1t has only $4,000 people, yet it has
all the vices-on larger comparative
scsle-of New York city.
It was nearly midnight when I went
ashore. | expected to find everybody in
bed. But didn't. Apparently everybody
was out of bed, and drunk at that. It is
m elancholy fact that half the people on
the streets were under the influence of the
stuff for which the Motif bell-punch was
invented.
Is this holidays" inquired.
"No."
"What is it, then?'
Nothing"
"But everybody's drunk"
What of it?"
This was accompanied by stare of
surprise, as though it were the most nat.
ural thing In the world for everybody in
Norfolk to be drunk.
There is very little politics talked here
The newspapers, such as they are, run
column after column of Hancock fire,
stolen from Northern papers; but nobody
seems to care for the papers. The power
of the press appears to be limited IN Nor
folk. It is city of dogs, rum-shops and
banks.
What good society there is here is ex-
elusive. Public-spirlted men are scarcer
than churches, of which [ didn't see
more than three, and I rode all over the
town.
Richmond is a different city. 1t is
morality itself, and church-spires loom up
everywhere. 1t is most beautifully stu
ated on seven high hills, and if it had
underground drainage 1t would be most
perfect city. And yet there is an air of
listnessness and decay about everything,
that impresses a Northerner at once
You can walk for squares in the busiest
parts of the city and in the busiest hours
of the day without meeting a score of
persons.
The large stores looked deserted. The
wealth OF the city, what little there is, is
tied up in the tobacco interest and in in
vidual purses. There are great many
tobacco manufacturers here, bat as they
| give employment to class of labor that
is ignorant and unskilled, the masses of
tie people are not benefited as they are in
| our Northern cities, where hundreds of
spindles and lathes are whirling from
morn till night.
I took Richmond man around with
me to show me the town. Whenever we
came to particularly handsome resi-.
dence. l asked: "Who lives here, and