Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-06-19

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psrsecuting people and just struggling into being,
could thus boldly denounce the prevailing wick
edness by how, much stronger reason should It
boldly denounce wiekedness both in low and high
places, now when itis securely founded upon the
rock Of the public heart and backed by the pub
lie Press more powerful than can army with ban
nersn?
The law Of the land denounces penalty against
all who dare to compound q felony. But does
not Christianity and the Press alike, in effect,
continually compound with public vice and public
immortality, by dealing with national sins in
sort of modest, courteous, kid-gloye fashion?-'
What is this, on the part Of both, but winking at
known, admitted, public vice, and thereby accord
ing to it quasi sympathy and encouragement?
1t is the Office of Christianity and the Press to
teach mankind their duty, and to make the world
happier and better thereby. Rome, at one period
of her history appointed one Censor: we have taoo
which constitute an essential elementn in our social
organism, and which are not elective, but exist in
perpetuity to witt CHR1sTAN1TY AND THE PRESS.
The paramount power of both is conceded, and
woe to both, and to civil society as we'll, if they do
not the duty conAded to them. Hstory-human
ity-God, will hold them to stern reckoning
in coming hour. If be told that "moral sua-
sion' is all either can do; respond, what sort Of
moral suasonf That which utters its condemna-
tion of rampant vice in such honied words that
the perpetrator, instead of being rebuked, feels
encouraged and Aattered by them? Who win call
in question the great example set by Christ him
self? 'It is written, my house ahall be house
of prayer; but ye hare made it den of hieues."-
Here the barbed arrow is sent home to the quick
at single throw. Timidity, in the support Of
auy right and virtuous cause is itself vice
Whenever Christianity and the Press omit to re-
buke public vice and to hold it up boldly to the
public gaze and the public reprobation, they COM
pound with it in degree, and become in like degree
partcsps crimins. In acting thus, beth mistake the
spirit of the public judgment I am fully pur-
suaded that large majority Of our people are not
only in favor Of o higb-toned public morality, but
will sustain the Church and the Press in denounc-
ing its opposite, in the most decided manner and
in the keenest language. Diseases which are deep
ly seated in the human system cannot be eradica-
ted by doses of syllabub; ample doses Of tartar
emetic will nauseate the patient, and will certain
ly mitigate if not altogether heal the malady.
Now it is just the sublime Of absurdity and nom
sense, to suppose that men in these days seek po-
litical preferment from motives of patriotism
The fact is, period of long peace is fatal to pat
rotc enterprise. When the temple of Janus is
shut, noney-getting, personal aims, nepotism rule
the hour. In period Of great public danger,
that patriotism which in times of peace is latent
is evolved by the passion of resentment towards
the public enemy, and is once more ready, for the
public safety and honor, to make sacrifices and to
meet any and every personal hazard. Then the
best talent of the country is demanded By the e1-
igencies of its affairs, and the maxim is realized
that desolating wars and revolutions ever bring
forth the proper men to lead them. In times Of
protracted peace, however, the people become in
different lv public affairs, aud fall into the great
and often fatal error of supposng that but little
ability is required to conduct them. It then fol-
lows as natural consequence, that many men Of
small public virtue little wisdom and still less CO.
pacity, aspire to legislative honors, under the fat
tering assumption that the Indifference of the peo-
Pile will prevent rigid criticism of their shallow
pretensions and feeble claims to the public conf
deuce As each election year approaches, there
FORE numbers of this class of aspirants pop their
heads up to public view, like shoals Of fresh-water
tortoises above the dark waters Of the lagune, on
lazy summer's-day. With the aspirations Of
such men, the exalted sentiment of patriotism
has about as much to do as moonshine in impart-
ing vgor and development to the growth Of our
cucumbers. Much the greater portion Of these
aspirants possess not single qualification of the
statesman. Ignorant alike of political economy
and of statesmanship-the most difficult Of. all
sciences to comprehend-of the great laws of hu-
man society, and Of our peculiar, social and poiti-
cal organism, it is no wonder that the very pillars
of our State system are snapped by the miserable
quackeries of their puerile legislation, and the
public liberty and property of the country put in
jeopardy. The fact must be apparent to all that
in times of public danger this class Of our citizens
would not be clothed by the people with thepower
and responsibilities of legislators and past ex.
pcrience abundantly provesit The emost Of these
aspirants have ulterior views to. .subserve. They
know, yery well, they con never be distinguished
as statesmen! But, nevertheless, they still cove
the distinction of the name and, through the O.
gency of ''bad-face" principally, the public good
is made subservient to their vanity and folly
The people themselves, alas to their own injury
often overlook the fact that office rs euer unworthi
bestoaped ,rhen ii is unhonoredJy the incumbent
When men of the class to which 1 alude arc
clothed with the legislative power, it is no won
der if the people complain Of appropriations,
which peril the public good and in time become
positively tyranncal and Of taxes that are equal,
ly so. What better is to be expected Of men who
know no better? If the wisdom and talent of the
State be not substituted for the prevailing non'
sense, not to give the evil basher name, few
more years of common time will place the income
IL.