Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-19
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Present Social and Political Condition
of the Palmetto State.--Still MOurs,-
ing for the Lost Cause---Ostracism OF
the Republicans.

"South Carolina of To-day" by Ed
ward Hogan, which opens the February
number of the International ReCietC,
presents a very sombre picture of the
present social and polictical condition of
the Palmetto State. In 1876 the state
bore close resemblance to military
camp. The young men of to-day, i'll
fact, are better educated as cavalry
officers than MS business men. They
are more at home in shaving pota-
toes and in snufling candles Mt ten PAGES
than in the common rules of arithmetic.
| The military establishment is still avail
able, and the old spirit of the rile-cluhs
lives with 1t. Ii the negro in the future
votes the Democratic ticket he viii be
safe enough, and viii meet with no more
molestation than he does now from
drunken groups of young men in the
country. But ii he votes the Republic
an ticket, and still persists in calling
himself ii citizen, no amount of
peaceful professions will save him
from being pushed aside by men
who are indignant nj his asser-
ton of political equality. His rights
will never be recognized by the major
ity in this generation. The hulldozers
of the Democratic party are, III the first
place, the poor whites who rival the
negro in Ignorance, but surpass him in
cunning. They hate the negro bitterly,
and their hatred is fully returned. Next
to them is class produced by the war.
When the war broke out the education
of the southern young men came to an
end. Those abroad were called home
I .4,l,, y l,f+
Every able-bodied boy and man oyer
fifteen years of age went into the army.
The schools were all closed. At the
end of the war there WAS universal ruin.
He who had been the richest was now
the poorest. The large class of lads cat
off from au education by the war ro-
turned to homes of poverty and desola-
ton. Four years of army life did not
tend To inspire them with content.
/ They have thus spent the last twelve
years in some mental employment or
course of vice, aud nursing their reverses
aud the ruin of their families. Most of
them, at present, are low downin the scale
of social life. They refuse to recOgnize the
negro as their peer, and defy his citizen
ship with rifle shot. The negro must
emigrate to maintain his political rights,
or to enter upon the path of enlighten-
ment and progress. There is no decided
prospect of any advance i'll the business
interests of South Carolina. The state
appears to be still mourning for the lost
cause. There is a pervading air of age
about the towns, and decay seems
to float in the atmosphere. The
| city of Charleston ls market of con-
siderable importance for such staples as
cotton. naval stores, lumber and rice.
But the business spirit Is at standstill.
The torpid methods of southern mer-
chants give the city nm air of industrial
stagnation, in sharp contrast with the
brisk business of Savannah. The de
probation of property in Charleston since
the commencement of the war is some
thing wonderful The Charleston hotel,
for instance, which cost more than $780,
600, has been recently sold for $50, 600
The Academy of Music, which was
built for 100000 before the war,
brought only So 900 at a recent sale.
A piece of property for which $50, 900
had been refused before the war was
lately purchased 10y negro for - 200
after several attempts to dispose of it at
sheriti's sale The society of South
Carolina exhibits peculiar aspect. Not
a trace remains of the ancient traditions
and customs. The old fa1nilies are scat
tered throughout the country, or live in
sort of feudal retirement in the state.
, Young scions of the great families which
have furnished six or seven COVER
nors for South Carolina in fifty years
and who might have followed in the
royal line, are now working in very hum
bic positions in New York houses. The
feeling entertained by southern women
against northern people, and especially
against ayowod Republicans, is one Of in
tense bitterness. Southern families visit
each other, and northern people are
occasionally invited, but not 80 freely
as to disguise tho expression Of
dislike. Southern society is closed
against Republican Office holders and
politicians, and the South Carolinian
who has become a Republican receives
less consideration than a dog from the
families Of Democrats. Republican physi-
clans get no practice except among the
negroes. Republican lawyers make the
same complaint, aud assert that man
viii retain Democratic counsel, though
against his inclination, in order not %
prejudice his case in II Democratic court.
Antique Butter.
From the London Nows.l
II Il -,