Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-04-05
Iiecn Stout fIearts.

In tho spriag OF the year l7sl, that year
which terminated with tho capture Of cornwallfs
at YorktoSn and the cessation. of hostihties, the
AFFAIRS of the colonists he never wefn go gloomy.
an aspect. Charleston and Savannah were both
10 the bands Of tho British Gen,,Gatss had
suffercd defea., which. caused the slmost total
dispersion Of his army. What remained of 1t
sscmodft for nothing Int prey to the enemy.
Tie traitor Arnold had come suadonlyinto James
river NTH strong foroe naval andsmilitary, and
captured Richmond, where there was no force to
oppose him. To crown thc public distrtss,
the. Pennsylvania. lino,- scrring Under General
Rashias;on,. musin;ej for want Of pay and it
was for t:re supposed that the whole force,
which was largo, important and efficient, would
disband. This alarming mutiny Ind no sooner
been suppressed, than tho New jersey line fol-
lowed the bad example. The publisa :. large, and
even Gen. Washington himself, feared that the
example had been contagious, and the greatest
possible anxiety prevailed. Nevsrhad the Affairs
of tho colonies seemed SO near complete destruc-
lion. The weah-kneed shook in thsir,sh0es Even
men of the irmest courage and ths: most consis-
tent temper began to despair But Washington
never suffered his hopes to abnte, e his courage
to shrink. or his Grm resolve TO bs shaken for
one moment Others might trehble, but he
knew not how to fear Placirg o firm reliance in
the business of his canse, and in Tie goodness OF
P-or;depcc, no never doubted for at Instant tsat
all would turn out well, snd tdss'his country
would omege from oil these /triaF greater snd
more. glorious than it world haFa done had 1t
never bcqsSubjectod to thom. FHOslike to WASH
ingtoA is cur own great and good LEE. The
country caught tho coutagion Of Washinston's
example aa men catch the plasue. Its fears were
sllayed when it saw tbs commanderyin-chief calm
and confident. 1t proved to bo ths dark hour
just before day. The light soon began to break
On the 10th of October, CORVALLIS surrendered,
and the war Was endsd.
We recall these saaings to recollection, ct thii
time because it strikes as there is similarity in
our present condition to that of ourfathers in the
spring of 1871. Richmond however, is sill in
our hands; whereas in the spring Of 1871, Arnold
was master Of it,. When Con. Greene Joined the
army of the South, IL December, hefeund tire.
,duced to mere handful, intimida.edb By defeat
and togcther incapable of making any great
oxerton. The forces of Gen. JoHnsToS, on ths
contrary, are numerous and well-di.ciplined, ani
his officers are able and experienced soldiers
| Everything considered, We are in far more hope
full condition now than wore:our fathers in 1881
Let cur countrytnon consider that fact aud do
durs. from it the inevitable conclusion. . The,
have no CAUSE for dependency. II God, in Hi
own time, brought light opt Of the darkness o
the spring of 1881, what reason have We to thinl
| that He will not bring g glorious day out of thi
! night Of 1868? Our cause, ike erorything cls'
: 10 the unlror&, ia in the hands Of God. II i
prosper not, it is bccausoof our sins, and because
! OF cur dirtrust in Ills Providence. Let-us trus
ia Him, lrst purifying oursclves Of offences
by prayer and pOnitence. There il no diligently
Sc groat that it may not ho overcome; no cause
so hopeless That it may not bo Hade to triumph
Put at tie same time that God giyts the victory
j. IS through mortal instruments that He effect,
the triumph. Our pcople must continue finn ant
| united, as 5hcy have heretofore bseb. They mns
cast OF all hope. of victory saEO hrOugh thei
own excrsion for God smiles not on that causi
in which iaen scruple to do all thasis necossar,
to insure success.