The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-26
A Dispassionate View.

The people of the Southern States
have taken their defeat with q great
deal Of good hume:. They behave
far better under their disappointment
than did their Northern allies. There
are many reasons for this. The first
is their larger experience in such mat
tels. They know an Appomattox
when they sec one. Another is that
they have local success to Offset nat
ional defeat. They kept their half o:
the bargain. General Hancock was
not beaten south Of the line. Yet
another is that they are more intel
ligent class than the Democrats of
the North, with more states maalike
instincts, and, therefore, greater ca
pacity for accepting the situation.
But the chief reason is the character
of the people. They have a natural
nrbanity, which forbids the prolonga-
tion Of struggle beyond the point Of
usefulness. If beaten, they do not
scold. They can afford deicat, but
not i'll manners.
That there are distinctive good
points in the Southern character, is
felt by all who have had much inter-
course with them. Their civilization
may be said to lie of lower type than
ours. They have not the ideas of
equal rights, free speech, honorable
labor and universal intelligence.
which characterize:thc NORTH. But
it is our misfortune that we have lost
Us well as gained in our advance to
these. At the very least there has
been a temporary loss. The exclusive
ly commercial character of our pur.
suits has infected us with a selfish
ness, and cagcrness, crudencss of
manner, which are not seen to any,
thing like the same degree in the
South. lfit were possible TO lift the
South into all that is best in Northern
civilization, without their losing what
they have e f aIesd In themselves inc,
result would he one of the finest syn,
theses in character.
The question of their political fu-
ture is. pressing on the attention Of
the Southern people. One set says,
"Let us give up politics, and attend
to our industrial development. The
fortune Of the South lies in it's wealth
not in politice." There is truth in
this, but balf truth only. The South
ern people ought to be rich, and will
be 80 as fast as the notion that labor
is disgraceful perishes from their
minds, with other legacies of slavery.
But the South cannot give up politics,
it would be adjuring their own pro.
per characters. Nor is it desirable
that they should. The distinction
or diminution of public spirit in any
shape, or in any corner of the coun-
try, would be national misfortune.
For the Southern people to sink into
mere cotton traders and cotton spin.
ners would be miserable ending to
an existence glorlously begun.
Others advise them to join the Re-
publican party. This advice is ab.
:surd. 1t bids them TO do thing
:iiipossii'ie. The great majority OF
them belong, on principle and convic.
tions, to what we might call the cent
rifngal party in our national politics.
They are naturally resistant to the
great process OF naturalization, " ilich
has gone forward steadily since 7S9.
AS resistants they have their uses.
They are the checks and brakes on
the national vehicle. We have al.
ways had such party we always
will have IL. II is required 10 con-
serve the rights of local self govern
mont and popular initiation and to
ensure that the inevitable process Of
centralization of power is carried for
ward moderately and wisely. For
ourselves, we march with the party