The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-13
SOUTH CAROLINA.

SOUTH CAROLINA.
Prescnt social and Political Canslittan
OF the Palmetto State~>-sstll N1oWrsa.
Ina for the Lest Sause---&sssraclsu 81
"South Carolina III To-day" by Ei-
warl Hogan, which opens tho February
number of the International Rerietr,
presents very sombc picture III the
present social and policticM condition of
the Palmetto State. In 1876 the state
bore close resemblance to military
camp, The young men of to-day, in
fact, arc better educated as cavalry
officers than IA business men. They
arc moro ut home in shaving pota-
toes and in shutting candles ut ten PAGES
than in tho common rules Of arithmetic.
The military establishment In still avail
able, and the old spirit of the riie.clubs
lives with 1t. IL the negro in tho future
votes the Democrats ticket he will be
safe enough, and will meet with no more
niolestation than he does now from
drunken groups If young men in the
country. But II he votes the Republic
an ticket, ami still persists in calling
himself citizen, no amount ri
peaceful Professions will save him
from being pushed aside by men
who are indignant at his asser.
ton of political equality. His rights
will never he recognized by the major
ity in this generation. The bulldozers
of the Democratic party ARE, in the first
place, the poor whites who rival the
negro in ignorance, but aurpass him IN
cunning, They hate the negro bitterly,
and their hatrea il fully returned. Next
Ia them ia u elaas produced by the war.
When the war broke out the education
of the southern young men came to an
end. These abroad were called home,
These in the state colleges left them.
Every able-hodied boy and man over
fifteen years af age went into the army.
The schools were all closed. AT the
end of the war there was universal ruin.
lie who had been the richest waa now
the poorest. The large class Of lads cut
oil from m education hy tho war 1T
turned IL homes Of poverty and desola.
ton, -Four years of army life did not
tend to inspire them with content.
They have thus spent the lust twelve
years in some menial employment ar
course III vice, aud nursing their reverses
aud the ruin of their families, Most If
them, ut present, are low down in the scale
Of social life. They refuse IL recognize the
Negro as their peer. and defy his citizen
ship with rite shot. The negro must
emigrate H. maintain his political rights,
or to enter upon the path III enlighten-
ment and progress. There IL no decided
prospect ri any advance in tho business
interests of South Carolina. The state
appears to he still mourning for the lost
cause. There IL perva,ling mir III ago
about the towns, AMI decay seems
to float in the ahnosphere The
city Of Charleston is market III con.
siderable Importance for such staples ia
cotton. naval stores. lumber and rice.
But the business spirit Is at standstill.
The torpid methods of southern mer-
chants give the city au air of industrial
stagnation, in sharp contrast with the
brisk business III Savannah. The de-
probation al property in Charleston since
the commencement of the war ia 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 $4,000 at recent sale.
A piece of property for which So, 900
had been refused before the war wis
lately purchased by negro for 81 200
after several attempts to dispose of II ut
sheriif's sale, The society III South
Carolina exhibits u peculiar aspect. Not
a trace remains ii the ancient traditions
and customs. The old families are scat.
tered throughout tho country, or hive in
sort Of feudal retirement in the state.
Young seions III the great families which
have furnished ak az seven COVER
nors for South Carolina in fifty years
AMI who might have followed In the
royal line, are now working in very hum
hle positions in New York houses. The
feeling entertained by southern women
against northern people, and especially
against avowed Republicans. is ono of in
tense bitterness Southern families visit
each other. and northern people are
occasionally invited. but not M freely
IA to Disguise the expression I
dislike Southern society is closed
against Republican oillee holders and
politicians, and the South Carolinian
who has become u Republican receives
less consideration than dog froM the
families ef Democrats. Republican physi.
clans get no practice except among the
negroes Republican lawyers make the
same complaint, and assert that a man
will retain Democratic counsel, though
against his inclination, in order not 10
prejudice his case in Democratic court.