The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-13
Bishop Simpson and the South.

The general impressions which re-
ccived upon this trip were OF a pleasant
and favorable character.
l. I am satisfied that the South is grad
ually but surely improving financially !;
business is reviving, and every indica-
ton points to period of financial ease
and comfort. This revival of business
has tended to soften and smooth some of
the asperities which have heretofore ex.
listed. The people are more contended
and more happy. The commercial in
tercourse between the North and the
South, constantly increasing, people
know each other better, and find less
cause for unkindness and complaint.
2. 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
approaching. I conversed freely with
our intelligent colored ministers, and |
did not hear from any one of them any
expression of apprehension of danger in
his work. The only fears which, I think,
need to be entertained are by those
whose influence is supposed to be exerted
in political directions. Our white minis.
tiers are greatly disliked by some because
they are supposed to exercise 8 strong
influence over q portion of the colored
population. Those who are unscrupu-
fous towards the colored people-as some
there are in every community, either NAL
t! 3ating them personally, or defrauding
chem of the wages for their labor-re.
gard our ministers with aversion, as be-
ing the friends and protectors of the COL
ored race. In South Carolina the color
ed population is largely in excess of the
whites, and were elections conducted
fairly, their vote would always out num-
Der the votes of the whites; but, BY
various processes, the most of which ale
under color of law, this vote isso counted
that the colored influence is greatly d.
minished, if mot destroyed. But as
time wears away, as sectional differences
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 giver
for fuller and freer expression of senti'
ment at the polls.
While deplore all wrong-doing, and
while I sympathize deeply with those
who have suffered, yet I can not 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 occurred in Southern
society. Anti.slavery as always was
from early youth, had my friend asked
me twenty years ago to express my ut
most wish for the colored people, J.
should not have dared to ask for as much
advancement. as has been made. That
race, comprising four millions, should
be changed at once from slaves to citi"
zens, and should be granted, ont only
the right to vote, but also to sit as repre-.
sentatives in the State Legislatures and
in Congress, and yet dwell in the midst
of their former masters, should have
thought would occasion convulsions Of
the most terrible kind. To me it is a
matter of surprise that, at this compare.
lively early day after such revolution,
so little friction exists. 1t would have
been impossible but for the general
Christian sentiment of the people, and
for the influence of the calming and con-
trolling power Of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. To-day there is more emnity
between the landholders and ruling por'
ton of Ireland and its peasantry, though
so many years have passed away since
the union with the British crown, than
there is between the former shareholders
and the emancipated slaves. While l
write thus, however, I see there is great
room still for improvement, and years will
probably pass before there is that pro-
lection Of individual rights, and that scru'
pulous regard for the interests of the
colored people which ought to prevail.