The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-04-30
TALMAGE ON THE SOUTH.


haob SiNoh mo Cuubu lAuu. give .i1e AlSO
springs Of water"
To our nation God has given South
land. 1t is vast and magnificent reach
of country, but it needs to be irrigated
from the fountains of divine blessing,
and our nation ought devoutly to pray
in the words OF the text: "Give me
blessing, for thou hast given me South
land; give me also spring of water"
A few weeks ago, to meet engagements
in nine of the Southern cities and to
catch glimpse of the Southern spring.
time and see how that region is recu-
perating from the desolstions of the war,
l started South, equipped with a mind
full of questions aud hungry for infor.
nation on all subjects, social, political,
moral and religious. Among other things
/ had grave to visit in Georgia, the
grave Of my uncle, Rev. DR.. Samuel X.
1almage, for twenty yesrs the President
of Oglethorpe University. Alter walk
ing amid the ruins of the institution
which he founded and from which
multitude of men went forth to positions
of influence in all parts of the land, but
an institution slain by the war, went
out to see his last TestiDg-place. When
our civil strife opened his heart broke
and he lay down near by the scene of his
eminent usefulness, the monument over
him adorned with hiss name and the
suggestive passage How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet Of them
that bring good tidiDgs, that publish
PEACE" He was of that band of con-
temporary ministers of the South who,
after eloquent words and long service for
Christ, are now resting from their la
bors-Dr. James II. Thornwel, whose
life, written by DIR. Palmer, is a holy
enchsntment, and DIR. Thomas Smyth
and DIR. Duncan and DR.. Pierce and
many others.
the dead ss with the living, l started
on the tour with no partisan predilec>
tions and no prejudices, and resolved to
tell on my return what l saw, whether
it might be generally approved or de-
nounced by one or both sections. had
no political record to guard or defend,
for my chief work in the ministry has
been done since the war closed. My
admiration for the Democratic party
and the Republican party, as parties, is
so small that it would take one of Nc
Allister's most powerful magniiying
glasses to ditcover anything Of it.
AMERICAN POLITICS ARE ROTTEN,
and that party steals the most which has
the mort chance. / had all the doors OF
information opened to me. talked with
high and low, Governors aud water-carS
riers, cleTgymen and laymen, lawyers,
doctors, editors and phil&nthropists, with
the black snd and the white, old resi-
dents OF the South and new settlers from
the North, and ] found thore have been
the most persistent and outrageous mis-
repsentations in regard to the South by
many OF the correspondents of secular
and religious journals and by men who,
Overbearing and dishonest in their be-
havior at the South, have had intsrms-
ton given to them that their company
was not desirable. II a man go South
.and behave well he will be treated well.
There is no more need of rigorous gov
ernmental espionage in Atlanta, Angus
ia or nfecon than there is in Boston or
New York, The present disposition OF
the South has been so wrongly set forth
that purpose now, 80 far as ] am able,
TO correct the stereotyped ISLANDERS con-
cerning it.
First, it has always been represented
to us that the South was longing fol-
the old system of negro slavery. so far
from that being true they are all glad 70
have got rid Of it. The planters told
me that they can culture their fields
with less expense under the new sys'
tenn than the old. A gentleman who
had 125 slaves before the war, told me
that the clothing and feeding of them
the taking care of the aged who could
not work, and the provision for helpless
colored children. was an expense ano
anxiety and exhaustion. Now the plant
ers have nothing to do but to pay the
wa es when they are due, the families
look a ter their own invalids and minors
So they all say, without one exception
that could find. If at the ballot-boxe
of the Southern States the question
should now be submitted "Sball ne
gro slavery be reinststed all the ward
and all the cities and all the countie
and all the States would give thunder
ing negatives. They fought to keep !
eighteen years ago, but now there
univt rssl congratulation at its overthrow
Thank God that North and South q
last are one on the same subject, and thi
effort ofour Northern politicians to kee
the subject of slavery rolling on, is
useless and inspt as to make the Dol
rebellion of Rhode Island, or AaIo
, Burr's attempt at the overthrow Of tn
> United States Government, the test
our fall elections. The whole subIet
of ofAmerican slavery is dead,and damned
. / inquired verywhere: "How DO q
negroes work under the new plsnT IN
7 answer was: well, very well. Jul
e after The war there was the disorganiz'
h ton that naturally came Of new O
/ der of things, but now they work wei
They work far better than Northei
l.hcxa~a 4ha onrne here because our CO