The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-08-26
been very large.
THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM.

iAi1- ~ VI 41liI 1ItODltLlls
1t is obvious, therefore, that there is
nothing suspicious in the showing made
by the South. The elements of the prob
lem are very simple. In 1870 the form
er slave States contained about fourteen
millions ofpeople, and the North about
twcnty-four. Three millions is an esti-
mate Of the number of immigrants from
abroad during the decade. If the South
had received thir! of this number its
increase from this source would be about
as great as the other two millions would
produce among the almost twice Us
large population ofthe North. The South
has not received, anywhere near third,
but the deficit has largely been made hp
by emigration from the North. The
growth of ten or eleven millions in the
country's population come chiefly from
the natural increase of thirty eight mil
lions who were in it ten years ago, and
when it is considered that this natural
increase is always faster in the South
than in the North, and has been relative.
ly even faster than usual in the last ten
years, any reasonable man would expect
to find that this gain countcrbalanccd
the advantage which the North obtained
from larger foreign immigration, and
that the population of the two sections
had grown in about the same proportion.
And this is just what the figures show.
I find that 1 have neglected to men.
ton one important circumstance after
all. That is the fact which is now no.
torious and confessed, that the census of
1870 was untrustworthy as regards the
South. The work was under the charge
of United States marshals, who employed
their deputies as enumerators, men often
ignorant, careless and utterly unfit for so
delicate and responsible duty. This
year one hundred and fifty supervisors
were appointed throughout the country,
men representing both political parties
nominated by republican President and
only confirmed after careful examination
by Democratic Senate. The supervi-
sors for each State varies with it size.
The supervisor selects the enumerators,
and it is agreed that very good class of
men has been selected. Each enumera-
tor had comp paratively small district
to cover and he is held to the stric-
test responsibility for it. Under this
system an accurate account is insured,
where ten years ago very careless one
was made, which undoubtedly failed 10
cree t the South with as many inhabi.
tants as it actually contained. Gen.
Walker is extremely we'll satisfied with
the appearance of the returns from all
parts of the country, and is confident
that the present census will be far supe-
rior to any previous one.
THE MOST DIscoURAGING FEATURE
of the whole census discussion is the
scarcely disguised disappointment and
disgust of the Republican organs at the
proofs of the South's prosperity. For
years they have been insisting that
slavery was always great drawback to
that section, and that under free labor it
was certain to grow rapidly in wealth
and population. The census has now
been taken for the first full decade of
freedom, and it shows the promised
growth. Yet the Republican organs, in
stead of rejoicing at this veri6cation of
their theory, wax loud in their indigna.
tion, and declare that the South cannot
possibly have grown as they have been
proving all along that it must under the
changed labor conditions. Nothing has
been seen in partisan journalism more
thoroughly discreditable and repugnant
to every patriotic sentiment than the
tone of the leading Republican organs in
discussing the growth and prosperity of
the South. 1t is strange idea Of Ameri.
can citizenship which make man indig-
nant at the discovery that one-half Of the
other half, and that the future promises
equal prosperity to all sections. People
who wonder that the South is solid for
the Democratic party might better try to
answer the inquiry why it should sup.
port the F., publican party when that
party is found abusing it for its very
prosperity.