The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-11
THE SOUTH as 1T IS.

The Baltimore American has u correspondent
travelling through the South, writing series ofin-
tsresting letters to that paper. From one dated
Charleston, December I'd, NO take the following,
headed "The Reason Why's"
Tho reasons may be summed up IN the simpir
statement that Charleston has always lived for
herself, and herself only. For South carolinian
the sun rises and sets only with the borders ofthc
State for Chariestonian IL rises in the Cooper
and sets In the Ashley. II Il sheer narrowness o:
public opinion that has kept the city tagging In
the rear. l might write volumes Of the intolerance
which has been displayed towards Northern men,
but u Is not more marked than the Intolerance
which these people manifest towards each other
Equally In business, politics and society, eliques
control and direct popular sentiment, and there l.
not man In Charleston bold enough 10 defy
them. 81 am glad you have come" said q lead
ing business man In the course Of a Conversation
the other day, "for want the people Of the North
TO know that We do not have free and fair eiec-
tions down here. II Il useless for me 20 protest
against L.; should simply ostraeisc myself But
when the managers came 90 me for money during
the last campaign told them wouldn't give
them cent; that they intended 10 stuff the bal
lot boxes 20 suit themselves. and they didn't need
any money" Said another gentleman: Before
the war, when went 90 Northern hotel aud
registered rs from South Carolina, I was looked
up to ~ presumably gentleman Of character and
intelligence. When 60 North nOw and register
from this State the people look down on me con-
temptuOusly As II say That's one ofthe cheats.
tell you when the President Of the United States
has 10 send the census enutneraiors down here
three several times 10 safety the country that
have not been making fak e return, Il shows that
our reputation - about ~ pw ~ hcan well be. )"
ssid third citiEen--a strAight-out Democrat like
the others: "There was n time right after the war
when prosperity was within reach of Charleston.
Northern men were coming down here. real estate
was going up and capital was seeking investment.
What did We do? Instead Of welcoming immi.
grafton, We turned our back upon Il. and even 70
such men as WIN. b. AEtor refused social recogni-
ton. IL Is the curse Of our civilization" StiIl
another gentleman remarked 60 me II am aud
have never been anything else but n Democrat.
but have got 90 get rid Of this notion that the
State Is bigger than the nation. don't wonder
that the Northern men wont come down here.
Knowing what do, couldn't ask them o. eume"
During chat On the same subject one 0f the most
active business men the city said II have been
here almost constantly since 1859. and yet these
people regard mo still rs \ earpei-baggcr. !
want you 20 sny that We ostracise each other just
rs persistently rs We do your people. Ny fimiiy
Is hundred times better than any here. and I
have the entree 20 all the society ] want. but,
with very few exceptions. have intimate
friends. Equally suggestive n remark made
BY . railway Official who holds 4 prominent posi-
tion ON one Of the roads leading jut &c the city.
81 came to Charleston over two years ago, and
have done nv utmost TO foster the interests Of the
Charleston merchants. yet the very men who come
90 me for favors and talk cordially A. if they
had known me all their lives pass the on the street
without recognition and sometimes have O. be in
troduced over again" I might multiply inst4n-
ces Of this sort indefinitely. A gentleman who
has resided here for half century. and has never
committed the crime q voting the Radical ticket,
told tina; he inaie the greatest mistake of his
life when. instead Of going North after the war.
he allowed himself 90 believe that the immiy ra-
ton Of business men from other parts fthe eosn-
try vas about to restore the eiys prosperity, and
remained 20 lend helping hand. I have par.
posely avoided giving the opinions OF Char'eston
Republicans in this letter, for when pronounced
Democrats tell me. ss they have almost without
exception, that this state Of things exists here IL
Is not necessary 90 look further for witnesses. |
wish IL were not 50. IL Il sadienins to see men
Of intelligence and integrity overawed By miser-
able clique Of self-seeking politicians and shan
ArisfoeFa;s, but that they ovc-awel they con
fessed themselves In the same breath that they
asked the not 20 mention their names in the paper.
"sevefal times have gone away 90 New York
said an exCOnfeierate officer. 'jgst 20 escape this
Intolerance of opinion which prevails here. bat
business interests have compelled me % return.
Perhaps you think I ought 90 stay here and make
Sight for my opinions ! have Oftea thought Of
doing 80, bu, that would mean social osiraeism for
my wife. and ! am not prepared % sacrifice her TO
politics" i began BY asking hos il vas that
Charleston. With its superb harbor delicious eli
mate and profitable trade. Jagged behind in the
race for power and wealth. bat the answer,
think, mus; now be plain. Il Is because Charles
ton Is city where the sentiment, Il am an Ameri-
ean,' has lost It's meaning.