Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-09-05
MORAL COURAGE.

A rare virtue, and great as it is rare We
remember when we thought the courage oI
the field every thing, the charge-the word
Of command-high sounding and clear amid
the battles fury-the clash farms, the
roar of artillery, the thrill of the bugle's
note, as with more than magic sound, j,
bids the soldier. dare all for .victory-the
banner of your country in front-planted
there to stand amid victory or defeat. Oh!
how young hearts beat to be@actors in such
a scene; calling it glorious to mingie in,
and fighting nobiy, to lie down and die.
But what is the courage of the battlefield
compared with the moral courage of every.
day life! Stand alone--see friends scowl--
hear i,distrust speak its foul susPicion--watch
enemies take advantage of the OCCASION,
laboring to .destroy-who. would not rather
encounter the shock OF hundred battle
fields, and lead forlorn hope in search,
than bear and brave these things. Why,
the one is rs the summer breeze on the
ocean to winters stormiest blast. The
common spirit may summon courage 10 play
the soldier well. Use quickly fits him for it.
But it requires man to speak out his
thoughts as he thinks them--to do--when,
like that stormy blast in winter, on old
ocean, peace, honor, security, and life. are
threatened to be swept away. Yet who,
looked back on the page of history, or for.
ward to the hope of, the future, would hest
tate which of the two to chooses The
martyrs-what are theys Chronicled names
in all hearts. The patriots who died for
liberty, ignomiaiously, and on the scaffold--
how fares it with thems Cherished as
earth's honored sons. The good who spoke
the truth, and suffered-where are they!
The best and brightest--frst in our thonghts
and love. And yet, what did theys Like
men they spoke the truth that was in them
This way their courage. II they had been
silent, if trembling before tyrauts, or .mobs
they had feared to tell what they knew, to
speak what they felt, they would have lived
and died like other men. But they had the
courage to do all this, and through their
suffering and truth, lighted it up with new
glory and. power.
Give US the moral courage before every
thing else! 1t is the only bravery on which
humanity may count for any real blessing
Give US moral courage! for while it nerves
man for duty, it roots out Of his hear hate
and revenge, and all bad passions. making
him wise amid danger, calm amid excite
ment, Just amid lawlessness, and pure annie
corruption. 1t is the crowning beauty o.
mauhood.-C. M. CLAY.
SwEAR1sc.-The .absurdity and utte1
folly of swearing is admirably set forth If
the following anecdote of Beelzebub anc
imps: The latter went out in the morning
each to command his set of men, one the
murderers, another the liars, and another tht
swearers, &c, at evening they stopped at thu
mouth Of cave. The question arose be
tween them who commanded the meanes
set Of men. The subject was debated a
length, but without coming to a decision
Finally his Majesty was called upon to de
eide the matter in dispute. Whereupon hi
said the murderer got something for killing
the thief for stealing, and the liar for lying
but the swearer was the meanest of then
all, he served without pay. They were hi
majesty best subjects; for while they wer'
costless, their name was legion, and presen
ted the largest division in his (Satan's) EN-
Eploy. 90
:. THE SABBATn-NoT SUNDAY.-We re
.eret that the term Sunday has come int
such extensive use among Protestant Chris
tians. Why not give tho day of sacred res
the Scripture name9 True, a name is
little thing; but little things produce grea
effects sometimes. Sunday Is the healhe
name for the first day of the seven. Tha
day was appropriated by our Saxon fore
fathers to the worship Of the sun. We d
not wish to be as particular as our Quake
friends, who, too, above appearance Of evl
reject the Saxon name Of the secular cay
as we'll as that Of the sacred day; but wit v.
regard to the day Of holy rest, we 90 te'
that the. contrast between its idolatrous an
Scripture name is something like the dIftel
nce.between the worship of the sun an
Etle worsphip Of God. Sabbath is.the Ht
tbfew word for rest; and is used in sacre
sense. The sagbathsdsy isa day, Of hol
EeStf1nsrAsf *