Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-08-08
eureka DaiIp Sentinel.
TUESDAY. August S, 1882.
POOR


poor WHITES"
Owing to the condition of society in
the South before the late civil war, the
advantages of wealth, accompanied by
wealth and refinement, were confined to
a minority. The proprietor OF land and
slaves cultivated the arts and sciences
after pursuing extraordinary studies OF
that kind at the famous seats of learning
in Europe. To him the negro took of
his hat and bowed low, as to al Oriental
prince. He had no care but to further
his ambition, which was almost uni
v~ersally to excel in scholarly accomplish
ment The distinct class to which he
belonged had full and undisputed man
arement Of the government OF the South
ern States. They shone as statesmen
and polished gentlemen in the monopoly
of Federal affairs until the election OF
Abraham Lincoln. Since the war some
splendid relics of the ''old school,, such
men as Ben. Hill, Wade Hampton, and
Alex. Stephens, have risen to the surface
in politics, and nave been conspicuous IN
Congress for scholastic attainmcnts and
intellectual strength. No finer speel-
mems of the highly-developed Caucasian
have ever been produced than these same
Southern leaders, and many more who
have played their parts and will soon be
known no more except in history. They
belonged to a caste sharply separated from
the majority Of Southern whites; from
these, it is no exaggera5ion to say, they
were as far removed as they were from
their own slaves. While in the South
there could be found philosophers,
artists, poets, iiterateurs ct id onne
genus who would have been recos-
nized as brilliant lights as repre-
sentatives OF the most advanced civilized
nation, that section OF the Union pos
sessed also a large number, at least half
OF its population, who were poor, ignor-
ant. superstitious and miserable. The
negroes, who We're often more comtorta-
bly, fed and clad and better off generally
for the necessities of life than they, put
on airs over them, which airs were anus
ing to and slyly enjoyed by their masters,
and called them fiat white trash Yet
these poor whites were not always OF in
ferior stock. Their degradation was due
to the institution Of slavery which en-
riched and refined a few at the expense
Of the many. A very interesting and
truthful picture OF the poorer classes IL
the South at present is drawn in the At
lantic Monthly:
The negroes are being educated more
rapidly III d large portion Of the South,
than are the people known as pool
whites. More interest IS felt and greater
efforts are made in behalf OF the negroeS
than for this class Of white people. The
negro has the advantage OF being IN th'
worlds eve and mind. He is somewhat
picturesque, and occupies a position o
historic interest. tie has powerful
TRENDS. Inc poor WHITES nave IN
friends; there is no picturesqueness, NJ
historic interest connected with their sit
uation. The leading white men OF the
Southern observation-disclosures t.
feel a more kindly interest in the negroe
than in this class Of poor people OF thel
own race. They know much more about
them. Greater effort is likely to b
made, for a long time to come, for tn,
education and improvement OF the ne
groes than for the advancement Of tht
poor whites; and the class is not at all sc
degraded or so worthless as is POPULAR,
believed. Those people are primitive IL
character, and in the conditions anC
methods of their life, but they are moi
degraded. There is, however, great
danger that many OF them will be de
based under the changed condition Of
the new order OF things in the South. N
other class in that portion Of our coun'
try is so little understood, or would bet
ter repay careful study. 1t is highly i'm.
portant that the attention of thoughtful,
philanthropic and patriotic men botl
North and South, should be directed tC
their position and probable tendencies in
relation to the new life of the country il
which they live. In blood and inherited
qualities they are not, generally, vicious
or low. But they have no friends, M
sympathy, either South or North"