The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-15

| lhpaTuuI Correspondent.
(Mobie Letter to the Milwaukee Journas)
The long, lanky editor of Northern
paper, who went to Canada to dodge the
Craft, insists that the rebel brigadiers
arc again i'll the saddle, ready for anoth-
CT assault on tho Union. He whispers
to those who will listen that the South
crn man still hates his Northern brother
with all the ardor of his sunbrcd nature.
AS usual, the organ editor lies. I have
spent six weeks looking for uncon-
structcd citizens, without finding one.
On the contrary, the visitor from the
North is impressed with the cordiality
which marks his reception hero, and the
spirit of National pride that is manifest
cd: A spectacle not unfrcqucntly be-
held is that Of an cXConfcdcratc soldier,
who gave one of his legs to feed Uncle
Sans bullets, stcadying himself with
crutch while he praises with generous
gcsticulation this great and glorious na-
| ton. L have not heard tho late unplcas-
antncss spoken of except when the sub
jcct was broachcd by q Northerncr. OF
course there arc Bourbons here who can
not understand that we have passed from
the CO.'S to the SOS, but the average
Sonthcrncr would fight for the Union
| to-day.
The story of the business life of the
South is a sad one. 1t may have been a
guest at the Rip Van Wrinkle banquet:
1t has certainly slept for twenty years,
and is now straightcning out it's legs
preparatory to going forth to learn what
and where it is. 1t will find as much
Happiness and prosperity as Rip did at
the end of the journey. There is no
limit to its resources; to tho right and
the left one can see fortunes; but there
is nobody here to reach out his hand and
take them. One rides through miles Of
splendid country that bears no sign of
life. immigration is the first great
need; no effort has yet been made to
secure new citizens. Is it likely people
would go into such frantic scramble to
settle Oh Dakota blizzards if they knew
of the advantages this section of country
offers to men Of small capital and day
laborcrs? But the Northwest will be cX-
hauStcd sooner or later, and the tide of
immigration will flow Southward. Then,
and not till then. shall We know the New
South. 1t is not probable this mctamor-
| benefit the present generation.
The belief quite generally entertained
by Northern people, that the negro is
destined to act an important part in the
development of the South, is fallacious
They do not appear to progress. L have
seen cOlored children at school, and it is
hard to realize that human being can
be SO stupid as they arc, with rare eX-
cephons. The older negroes have not Il
spark of ambition. They live on q few
dollars year, and arc lazy, shiftlcss and
contcnted. L could learn of but few
colorcd employers. We drove three
miles into the country, in Mississippi, to
sec specimen of negro thrift. The fcl-
low had rented ground and planted cot
ton. He picked enough to pay his land
lord and merchant, the latter being the
man from whom he buys meal and mo-
lasScs. About Onc-third of the crop he
did not harvest, leaving it as it grew in
the field; he is sure of food and lodging
for the year, and is satisfied. Like all
the darkcys, he lives i'll q small cabin
that has one room, Il big chimney and
no windows. He spends no money for
clothing; i'll fact deccntly dressed
negro is not a common sight. Where on
earth they get the rags that partly cover
their bodies is Il mystery. 1t is fair to
say have seen 5000 negroes, and every
one of them wore hat which words can
not describe, and no two of them were
alike. In foot-gcar, particularly among
the curly-hcadcd dcniHcns of Tennessee
wonderful ingenuity. The majority wrap
rags around their feet, and do not re-
move or change them until warm wealth
cr Is guaranteed
The relation of the whites and blacks
is misrcprcscntcd. The negroes are ox-
trcmely respectful and frequently aflcc-
tionatc i'll their conduct toward the
white people. They have trouble with
the uncducatcd whites, whom they con.
slider beneath them. 1t was from this
class the OvcrsCcrS were selected III the
days of slavery. The stories of bull
dozIng and shotgun rule arc gross OK
a9gcrations. When the carpct-baggcrs
were driven out stormy scenes were wit
messed, but now elections arc pcaceable.
The negroes do not exhibit the slightest
interest in affairs Of State. Thousands
OF them do not even know when an cleo
ton will be held. When q Democrat
(bcgging the Bourbons' pardon for call
ing Mr.. Cleveland such) became Prcsi-
dent some of them were excited by
pictures drawn by demagogucs, but now
they seem to regard the administration
with favor. Alexander, the colorcd man
who delivered Blaine campaign speeches
in Wisconsin last year, died here this
week. He was hard character, accord
ing to the general verdict, and openly
tratlicked on his influence with his pcO-
pie. If the negroes could be intelligent
~ directed they might do much toward
developing tho South, but it is doubtful
If they can do anything for themselves
during the present generation, at least
am not prepared to say they have not
advanced since the war, as L know little
Of their condition when they were in
bondage. In Judging them the reader
must keep in mind tho ftct that for gen
erations they have been oppressed. It
is therefore not reasonable to expect that
they will at once raise themselves to q
position which humanitarians wish and
expect them to occupy.
Socially the South shines. One can
not imagine more charming people