Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-07-16
POLITICAL REFLECTIONS.

on one extIeme-either to indulge inc l1lusiohs VI
hope or despondency-that philosophic accuracy
and impartial investigation, is the raress anu d.
the same time the most valuable characteristic OF
sound craftsmanship. Without the aoility 10 sur
vey dispassionately, the subject under cons'aera'
ton, the conclusions drawn will be accurate OF
erroneous, just as truth happens to harmoh'He
with their prejudices or array against then'
Yet it is to statesmen of this type that majority
of men look as their political leaders. There are
politicians whose hope is so largely developer 'aa'
nothing can possibly occur, to make them less
sancn;ne men who in the face Of all history, will
prayely assert that there is no cause for alarm
when the entire country is convulsed and turou'
lent men who will find palliations and consoia-
ton for the most ominous events, just rs II the
virtue, the patriotism and glory OF Greece stiil
lived in pristine excellence; or as if the "Last OF
the Romans" had not exclaimed, ere he fell on the
fatal sword. 90 Virtue thought thee sub
stance, but find thee no more than an empty name,
or the slave of Fortune" 1t may be very pleasant
to hope on to the last, to aid unconsciously ike
the yonthful Isaac in constructing ones own fu-
neral pyre: to drift like an Indian asleep in his
canoe, over pricipice, but such is not the man
to whom we would entrust the destinies OF great
nation.
The instances of dependency are more rare,
either because it is more agreeable to hope for the
best, or because the signs of decay are often mis-
taken for evidences of prosperity To one Of these
extremes large majority Of men, and likewise
politicians, are naturally prone. And to apply
these abstract remarks to our condition, there
are two parties at the South-one disposed to in
dulge the illusions of hope, to look on the bright
side at whatever sacrifice of prudence and -Judg-
ment, to trust that some unseen event will trans
nire and clear up the political atmosphere-on the
other hand there are few who have long SINCE
despaired of mans ability for self-government;
who place too much emphasis OH the lore OF n's-
tory; who construe the past not as m index OF
tbe dangers that surround US, but as the inevita-
BILE prototype of our own destiny. We can but
consider both Of these extremes wrong. That we
are surrounded by dangers, no one, not disposed
to hope against palpable facts, will deny that
we have no way of escape is only true, II We re-
iect the conditions of our safety.
We admit that if we considered all men as IN
fuenced alike by similar causes, that it would be
to us an inexplicable mystery, how any one could
entertain for moment the idea that there Is no
danger-or that the danger is not imminent A
stranger who had never heard Of MASON ana
D1xos's Line, the slavery agitation or UNCLE
TOMS Cabin, would readily understand that the
commotion of great intelligent and prosperous
people was portentous of evil II we were en-
roped in an unsuccessful war, if the nation, and
narticularly those most discontented, were groan-
ing under private debts like the followers of CATA'
LINE, if we could hope that ii was mere r"Se
among the politicians to gain certain end' why
then we might expect that the storm would blow
away like the ordinary party conflicts which are
inseparable from free governments. But the re-
verse of all this is the case-we have no war or
pressure from without: the moneyed prospects OF
the South were never better; the North IS also
rich. comfortable and drawing millions yearly
from the South. it is not temporary expedient
of designing men, but controlling power, 10
which the genius, the integrity and virtue OF one
whole section of the country has been compelled
to bow, and before which, the patriotism of the
other stands trembling and dsmayed. Whatever
NAV be the case at present, there was a time when
we believe, there was patriotism enough, i'll either
the Democratic or Wing parties North, to save the
country but it cannot be expected that men will
continue to resist an evil at the constant sacrifice
of their private interests, whatever, they may be
willing to do from the first virtuous impulse.
It is an easy matter to satisfy their consciences
that the case is hopeless, that, so far from being
the part of patriotism it is the height of folly, to
immediate themselves to no purpose, and permit
the unprncipled to appropriate all the honors and
emouments of office. Il is easy to reason them
selves into the belief that tits better for the coun-
try that the honest and upright retain the control,
at any ami every sacrifice of principle and honor,
than permit it to pass into the hands of designing
men and trucking demagogues. Such is the OBJ
lquty of human nature, that men thus uncon-
sciously array themselves with traitors, dema-
gogues and office buyers, and take the first lessons
in political immortality under the specious names
of prudence and patriotism.
The next step is more facile still. Having en-
tered the list, the victory perches on his banner
who can pandar most to the corruption of the
times and ere he is aware of his situation, he
who trembled before the tempest, guides and dl-
rects the storm. This we take to be the case with
the yisest and most yirtuous statesmen Of the
North Could they without self-sacrltice stem the
torrent-were they assured Of this-they have no
desire to sunder the Union or to trample on the
rights of the South, and would array themselves
in favor of constitutional measures. But they will
know that an open and determined posture of this
kind, would be the signal Of their political DOOM
They have satisfied themselves of the absurdity OF
such al attempt. They have set up as the moral
test of their actions the everchangng criterion of
erpedisncy. And perhaps they are right. Per-
haps it is not man but Heaven with whom they
are conteuding. Perhaps the same wise ProVl-
dence that guided US through the darkness OF the
Revolution, that planted in the bosom of WASHING
ton the self-abnegation of Cincinnatus that banded
us torether in the bonds of friendship and BROTH
ery love- during our political infancy, IS now 1or
purposes equally wise re-casting our destiny. Who
knows? There are many facts which seem to in
dicate this. a brief review of these apparent in
d;cotions Of the guidance of controlling Proyi-