Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-16
FRIDAY MAY 16. 1890.
The Veterans Part in Southern De-
Nclnnmenf.


volopment.
There is a familiar picture, in which
\ Confederate soldier who has Just re-
turned from Appomattox stands looking
upon the ashes of the happy home he lett
when he gave his heart and hand TO VIZ
rinia and enlisted for the war. lie u
young man, but bronzed and beard
ed. He wears an old slouch hat,
a faded Jacket of gray, and panta-
looms the legs Of which are stuck into
home-knit yarn stockings. HIS shoes
are ragged. All his worldly goods, save
canteen and q hayersack, are enclosed IN a
brown army-bankct. which, according
20 the custom Of the times, he has slung
across his body from the left shoulder to
the right hip. Through mists of tears this
parc'cd follower of LIE sees that the enc
mv's raiders have burned his dwelling. All
that is left Of Vt is a blackened chimney.
Around and about is desolation. His
mother. his wife and children, he can only
hopo have found safety and shelter with
kindred ~ friends.
This soldier is a type of his people
Weighted with the burden Of defeat, his
property wasted, and his slaves liberated,
he starts life anew. IL Is uphill work Tor
hands unused TO labor, but he loves Viz
cinia and has a strong heart, and boldly
be opposes to adversely the front Of manly
courage and patriotic perseverance. lie
builds a log hut and gathers about him his
family. The fence-rails which have gone 20
blaze in some roaring campfire he replaces
with saplings. Horse and pillow, and all
the essentials Of farm life he gradually ac-
cumulates.
The freedman and the Freedman's Blu
reau annoy him greatly, but in time he is
liberated from the one ana makes terms
with the other. He labors on and i'm
provingly. Reconstruction now comes and
blights the land. and many Of his comrades
tearfully abandon the State and seek their
fortunes in distant homes. This last po-
ftical horror over and the State in the pos
session of her own people once more, the
horizon brightens. Hope bounds IN his
breast. and he sees great future for his
State and his section.
Numerous railroads are built, mines are
ceive fresh life, and prosperity reigns where
the close Of the war left only distinction.
1t is true that all Of his neiChbors have not
Jared so well While no gives hospltable
welcome TO new settlers. 1t sorely grieves
him TO think Of all the old families broken
up and dispersed. He knows that all por-
tions of his State are not prospernS
equally: but he has great faith in the
South. and believes that she Will yet take
her proper rank in wealth, and population,
and influence. Remembering the vastness
of our losses, the revolution IN labor, and
the oppressive legislation to which his
people were land TO too great an extent
still are) subjected he can but rejoice In
the wonderful work that has been done,
and conclude that a fraction of his earn
ings can bo spent no better than III coming
to Richmond May Goth, here to greet old
comrades and with them rejoice IN the
glorious achievements of the past and all
the bright promises of the future.
But is it really true that the South is
making all the progress claimed for it?
There is no doubt about it! 1T Is not
that the South is lust now the most pros
porous, the most rapidly and richly de-
vcloping part of the Union" the New York
Herald declared not long ago.
The Tunes Democrat of New Orleans
(quoted in WuLIAMs's ManuaD says that
from 1850 to 1889 the growth of the South
il shown by the following figures
Population from l4,639,7H IN 1880 TO l9,SOilS8
IN ISSs-S2 per cent increase actual wealth from
GsGs.OO0O0O In 1880 10 fs,6i7, s0O,02s In 1SS9-jl
per cent increase: revenues Of states from 3d.
eOi $50 in 1880 TO 81, i9s,6S3 in 1851 per cont
increase ban& capital from s99,5s5.OOO in 1850 to
sI40.s58 6S7 IN 1881 per cent. increase; rail-
road mileage from H. sos in 1850 10 $685. in 1900
JOG per cent increase; manufactures In number
from 1868 In 1880 10 66,iS6 in 1881 per cent.
increase; and manufactured products increased
from ssiss 2l703 to s651, $4,000, 1Oe per cent
total value OF all farm products from S6ll,619,-
O4s in 1850 g. SS6S,9iaS23 In Iss942 per cent in
crease.
These figures preach sermon of success,
and the Confederate veteran is entitled to
his share Of the credit.