The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-27

ITS YOUNG MEN.
A CHARACTERS TO BE ADMIRED.


Home Seekers Guide)
1t has often been said that the
young man is the hope OF the Ma
sion. If this be true In general
sense it is forcibiy true in the case
of the young man Of the South. Does
be hear and consider the sound of
going among the trees; the note of
preparation for future work. Does
he see and aPpreciste the movement
going on around him, which means
immense Development and future
wealth? Does be feel the stir and
movement Of the day? VIII he be
quick 10 perceive and seize the op,
po,tuulties Of the hour2 And will
he measure up to the demands and
responsibilities Of the times? If so,
then is the young man the hope OF
the Sonth. We will not give direct
answers TO our own questions, but
! ~ill try to show to our readers the
young man Of the South, and let
them answer the questions.
The young man 8f the South to
day is the product of one Of the
greatest social revolutions which
ever affected a civilized nation. The
present condition Of the social struc-
ture, and its condition befrre the
civil War, are as unlike as rich
meadow well coated with clover and
grasses, and 4 garden shO wing at the
same time the most beautiful flowers
and the most nOxious weeds. Before
the war society was divided into two
classes; viz the poor whites; with>
out education and refinement. almost
without the common decencies of
life, without wealth or the means to
acquire, and yet counting in the
census and in the political life of
the people. The other class, cons
sisting Of planters and important
business men, was fairly wealthy,
with the means Of wealth always
within their reach; they were able to
give their children the best educa-
tional advantages, and to surround
them in their homes with comforts
and luxurles Both classes repro.
duced themselves as the generations
followed each other. almost without
change. The poor whites remained
poor whites, and the young men grew
up TO be like their fathers. The rich
and prosperous remained rich and
prosperous, and the sons succeeded
to the advantages Of the fathers, The
sons Of the lower class, without educ
alton, still were educated to believe
that they were to be nothing more
than their fathers. and that they ex-
listed mainly to fli the gap between
the negroes and the ruling whites.
The sons of the other class were
educated to and with the idea that
they were to be the future business
men. law makers, governors and
presidents of the land, The two
classes lived side by side, yet far
apart. They did not intermarry, and
they were socially separate and dis
tinct. More than that. Generations
Of such life and conditions had made
them almost two distinct types OF
humanity in personal appearance.
But the civil war came, and all
the men of the South of every con
dition and almost of every age, were
swept into Its destructive current
The existence Of a common belief in
tue jastice Of their cause; the COM
mon discipline of the camp; the com
mon necessities Of the marct; and
the common dangers of the battle
field leveled all distinctions. Then
the drawing together process of the
two classes of people began. Similar
influences were at work at home too
during the progress OF the war, A
common cause AMI common suffer-
ing were breaking down social dis
tinction, and were drawing together
those who had lived apart. The close
of the war left all alike poor, and
face to face with the solid ct that
henceforth they must work for liv.
ing. Labor had been menial; the
fortunes Of war made it a necessity
It's pleasures and its gains have nov
made it honorable in all. The con
titions forced upon all classes o
people at the South, still continue
though niodifed in 6o:Ge degree. al
a result Of those conditions new
socla! l,fe has been evolved, and il
nov quite we'll established. Tht
upper class has lost its opEortunitie:
and means for education, c2lture
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