The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-26

macy of the South in the long period that
preceded the late war. he declares that
although the Southern people did not possess
an extraordinary amount Of wealth and were
not much in the habit Of mingling in society
outside of their own country. yet wherever
they went in any numbers their domination
was an admitted fact General Pope very
properly, in our opinion. attributes this social
pre-eminence 10 the influences Of plantation
life. which gave habit of command anda tone
of habitual supremacy in consequence of the
unauestioned authority exercised and the law
ish hospitality INDUCED in by those who led
It. The same causes. as he points out, insured
the foremost place to the Southern politicians
who participated in national affairs.
General Pope quotes in connection with
this. and with approval so far as the truth OF
the statement is concerned, the saying at
tributed to Mr.. Davis. that the Southern
people were the natural masters of their
Northern brethren, and that in few years
after the passions of the war had subsidized
they would again be put in control of the
Government" He shows how this forecast
Of the late President Of the Southern Con-
federacy has been realized not only in the
political life, but. which is far moro remarka-
bic under existing circumstances, in the social
life Of the United States.
Washington furnishes a very good illustra-
ton Of the correctness Of what he says. Al
though they were Oyerthrown in the war,
their fortunes ruined by the disastrous issue
of that contest and their whole social system
disrupted and permanently altered, neverthe-
| less Southern people still control the social
life of the capital Of the country, and their
supremacy is recognized by their fellow
citizens from the North in spite of the fact
| that in mere point of wealth the latter occupy
in comparison a very much superior position.
1T has been surprising TO many people.
remarks General Pope" TO witness the resur-
rection Of the South and its triumphant adj
vance again to power and to place; but II IS
fact, worthy or not, "a the case may be, OF
some study. If things go on as they have
been for the last ten years, the South by the
end OF another ten years will as fully be in
possession OF the Government and will as COM
pletely direct its policy as in 1853; and it can
not be said that this will happen because of
any popularity Of their lives. nor the habits
Of authority and domination which were
the natural outcome of their system of
slavery, and of the necessity for their band
ing together, regardless of all other questions,
| TO protect it, Such conditions exist no longer.
| The South Is poor and needy, and her people
are compelled TO work az hard "a any North
ern laborer but over and through all blazes
that power 10 rule and that fitness to COM
mand which characterized them before the
war. and which Is rapidly being recognized
and submitted to now"
The fact is that the characteristics Of
great peoll lie, which are the results of the in
huences Of several centuries. are not to be
radically modified in twenty-five or even
fifty years, however severe the stress Of cir
cumstances to which they are compelled to
submit in that length Of time The people
Of the South have been passing through
| harsh school. and have been exposed TO many
trying conditions. but the day Of their pow
erty in its worst features is over. In the full
possession of the qualities that have always
| given them both political and social SUI
premacy. and with rapidly Frightening pecu-
MARY prospects, it Is not likely that this SUI
premacy in either form will ever again be
wrested from them.