The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-09-04

Bishop simpson, who has been on VisI
itation to the churches in the South con
nected with the Northern Methods
Church says:
"The general impressions which | re
ceiVcd upon this trip were of apleasant ant
| favorable character.
q. am satisfied that the South is grad
ually but surely improving financially
| business is reyiying, and every indication
points to period of financial ease and com
fort. This revival of business has tendeo
to soften and smooth some of the aspcritieS
! which have heretofore existed. The peO
| pie are more contented and more happy
The commercial intercourse between tho
North and the South constantly increasing
people know each other better, and fine
less cause for unkindness and complaint.
-. While political difficulties have eX.
listed, and do still exist, it is evident to me
that :; day Of greater safety and of more
| expression of opinion is rapidly approach
! ing. | cOnyelsed freely with our intelli-
gent colOred ministers, and did not heal
from any one of them any expression OF
| apprehensiOns of danger in his work. The
only fears which | think need to be enter
tanned are by those whose influence is sup
posed to be eXerted III political directions.
Our white ministers are greatly dislikedby
some, because they are supposed to cXer-
else Il strong influence over Il portion OF
the cOOrcd population. Those who are UNI
scrupulous toward the colored people--as
some there are in every community, either
multreatng them personally, or defrauding
them of the wages of their labor regard
our ministers with aversion, us being the
friends and protectors of the colOred race.
In South Carolina the colored population is
largely in excess Of the whites, and were
elections conducted fairly their vote would
always 0utnumber the votes of the whites;
but, by various processes, the most of
which are under color of law, this vote is
so counted that the colored influence is
greatly diminished if not destroyed. But
as time wears away, as sectional differ
ences shall cease, as local issues shall rise
on which the colOred people, as well as the
white people, shall be divided there will
probably be an opportunity given for Il
fuller and treer expression of sentiment at
the polls.
"While | deplOre all wrOng-doing, and
while | sympathize deeply with those who
have suffered, yet | cannot but think it is
almost miracle that even so much of quiet,
good order, and kindly feeling prevails so
soon after the total revolution which occur
red in Southern society. Anti-slayery as |
always was from early youth, had my
friend asked me twenty years ago to eX-
press. my utmost wish for the cOlored peO-
pie, should not have dared to ask for as
much advancement as has been made.
That il race comprising four millions,
should be changed at once from slaves to
citizens, and should be granted, not only
the right to vote, but also to sit as repre-
sentatives in the State Legislature and in
Congress, and yet dwelling in the midst of
their former masters, should have thought
would occasion commissions of the most
terrible kind. To me it is matter of sur
prise that, at this comparatively early day
after such Il revolution, so little friction
exists. Itwould have been impossible but
for the general Christian sentiment of the
people, and for the influence of the calm
ing and controlling power of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ To-day there is more enmity
between the landhOlders and the ruling
portions of ireland and its peasantry,
though 50 many years have passed away
since the union with the British Crown,
than there is between the former slave |
holders and the emancipated slaves. While |
write thus, however, / see there is great
room for Improvement, and years will |
probably pass before there is that prOtec- |
ton Of individual rights, and that scrupu- |
Ous regard for the interests of the cOlOred |
people, which ought to prevail"