The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-11-04

WE HAVE been furnished, through tho kind
ness of q friend, with tho proceedings of q
meeting in Boston, to render aid to the suffer-
ing citizens Of Charleston, and publish them
for whatever Of interest or information they
may furnish to our readers 1t is certainly
not agreeable to be the subjects of such criti-
cal charity; still less agreeable, perhaps, to
be in condition to attract it, but the move
ment was, doubtless, we'll intended. Itwould
be unbccoming to assume, in the face of un-
deniable facts, that there is not much discom-
fort and destituion, even among our people,
and il was not an unkind or understandable net
in citizens of Boston to consider of some measure
to relieve it. The spirit of the meeting mi ght
have been better than would appear from
these proceedings. They night have touched
the wound they sought to heal less rudely.
The sacred inspirations of genuine charity
are seldom mingled with spirit of unkind-
ness to the subject upon which they nrc ex-
pended. 1t is an ordinance Of nature, con-
slant and lovely as natures ordinances always
are, that, if truly charitable, we must love the
victim we relieve, and who does not, has not the
wedding garment at the feast; but the act,
however deficient in higher inspiration, was
! doubtless well intended, and we so accept it.
Itis true, of SOME communities, that their
| utterances Of public sentiment are above the
average of individual culture and refinement.
Of the people Of Boston it has been said, and
with propriety, perhaps, that they fall below it;
hnt bar Sc IL 4 Il
culture the constant sacrifice of abnegation.
That may be true, and theso proceedings but q
necessary tribute to such demoralizing spirit,
and even in our low estate we can still COM
miserate people 30 afflicted.
But there is ono of the actors in that little
drama who so industriously embraces the op-
portunity of exhibiting hmsclf in character
of peculiar malignity and meanness, that it
were scarcely just to deny him the considera-
| tion of q further notice.
In better days, the Rev. Mr.. RICE appeared
among US. He came to make his bread, and
share the bread Of others. He was received
to the hearts and hospitalities of our people;
he was the accepted pastor of congregation;
he led them in religious exercises; he min
gled with them in public and private minis
trations; he shared, OF gave them reason to
believe he shared, their hopes and feelings.
If hostile to the sentiments and purposes of
those with whom he was associated, he found
1t convenient not to advertise them of the fact.
lie was impressed with the charities and
beauties of their institution, incensed at the
malicious Or misguided men who persisted to
disturb it, and, if not prepared to rupture
cherished political relations to escape their
unwarrantable interference, certainly assumed
the appearance of being able to submit with
complacency to the act and to look with kind
ness On its actors.
In view of these facts, his part in the pro-
ceedings referred to is conclusive commen-
tary upon his character; it leaves nothing to
be said in further delineation but this only-
that it is one 60 low, it scarcely justi6es so
much Of comment.