The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-23
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1890.
THE SOCIAL SOUTH.

The Southern states, at the present tine'
arc not interesting merely as Common
weal,hs in which most remarkable lnuu7-
trial transformation is now in progress
Transformation which Is radically opl"S'u
10 the material conditions when ha'' -
long prevailed in this division o. inc 'n'''u
states. The different phases OF the sSci"'
evolution now going on in the sou;h are '"'
more subtle. but not the less notablei IN theui-
selves. and in those revolutionary changes
in the framework and the spirit oil eur So
cial life which they so distinctly foreshado"'
The social spirit which in the past gave
such charm TO Southern life, and lnNeseu
II with so much celebrity in the eyes oil the
world. has received es fatal blow AS the
economic system which rested upon lhe
foundation of slave institutions. Ihere mas
been n social as well as an industrial al
ustncnt 10 new conditions in the southern
states since the war; and # is possible no"
10 forecast the final issue OF this ADJUST
mont with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
0As every indication points unmistakably
10 the complete industrial assimilation OF
all the people Of the United states 50 Inc
indications are Just as strong that tDe So
cial assimilation will be equally as COM
plete. Local circumstances have modiheu
here and there the general economic deNei-
opment of the United states. The same
influences will modify here and there the
general social development. There VIII
he communities in Massachusetts when
will always differ from communities IN
Virginia. there will be communities III
Ohio which will always differ from commu-
mites i'm Texas, but the general social spirit
Of all the divisions Of the Union viii after
awhile be thoroughly unified by the grow
ing disposition to conform to one accepted
tandard.
The social spirit Of England is distinctly
characterized, although there is an INFINITE
variety in the social spirit Of its provincial
life. The South. the North, and the west
are not separated from each other IN "a So
cial sense by differences Of race as the peo-
nile of England. Scotland, and Wales are TO-
day. The stock from which tire controlling
social elements Of every part OF the Union
sprane is the same. II is true that the M
migration Of foreign populations to TINS
country has somewhat modified the social
instincts of that stock IN the Northern ana
Western parts Of the United states b"i
under the new conditions which have
arisen in the South, the same influences are
certain in time 10 be observed IN
the social life of this section. Ia
this respect. as well as in every
other. our Southern society will be eN-
posed TO the same modifying pressure which
has been shaping Northern and western
society for so many years. The day VIII
arrive when there will be no essential an
ferences in the social customs, the conNen-
tional forms, the tone, the spirit Of the so
ciety of Boston, New York, Chicago, san
Francisco, II. Louis, Memphis, Galveston.
Atlanta. Savannah, Richmond, and Balu-
more. Whatever differences may exist
will be attributable TO comparative proNin-
cialism. but not to radical diversity Of So
cial spirit.
The absolute social unihcatiOn Of the
United States is inevitable, as the southern
people are subjected TO precisely the same
economic influences rs the people OF the
North and W est, and are brought into more
and more intimate personal relations with
the communities of these sections by tn IN
creasing rapidiiy of INSTRUMENTATION.
All this will but strengthen the stability OF
our political institutions, and make their
perpetuity still more assured. The iounda-
ton upon which the Union rests undouOt-
edly grows hrmer with the passage
of time. The sectional animosties Will
only be remembered in history as the
embittered but impotent protest Of fac
lions either unable or too bind TO appre-
ciate the consequences of the growing So
cial and industrial assimilation OF the
American people in their day That assim-
ilation, when complete, will make the Re-
public perpetual.