The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-12-20
Despondency.

There are the best OF reasons why
Southern patriots, once rich, but who lost
property by the war, should hold their
heads as high as ever. Whether their
present reduced condition results from do
nations, contributions and voluntary sac
rifces, or were the unavoidable effects of
o long and fruitless war, their losses alike
represent what they were willing to pay
for success Neither the event of the
war in disappointment, nor any altered
relations resulting therefrom, can at all
detract from the merit of having acted
from honest motives and honorable i'm
pulses. The good and true men OF the
South whom the war made poor have in
calculably more cause to respect them
selves and each other than they ever had
in the halcyon days of their wealth.
Their sacrifices have set the seal of no.
bility to their characters which no mis-
fortune can erase.
While duty justifes, and necessity re-
quires, obedience to the laws, and a frank
acceptance Of the legitimate results of
failure, it is due to ourselves as we'll as
consistent with our condition that we
Wow acts done and sacrifices made for
success in the same light now as they
were then viewed by all earnest support
ers of the cause. This wrongs no one,
nor is it in any degree calculated to mar
tho peace or disturb the tranquility of the
country at large. This is simply prop
er selfrespect which we are under obli-
cations to maintain scrupulously in all
situations, thereby winning the good
opinion and confidence of the outside
world though it may be by slow pro-
cess. We can live without the applause
or esteem of foreigners, but without self
respect we must sink to grade of sheer
servility.
Where it is possible, our once wealthy
citizens, now reduced by war, ought to
bear themselves as proudly as ever, and
ought to avoid any indulgence in despon-
cy. There was formerly too prevalent a
pride of wealth with some of our people;
but as rule our men Of property bore
themselves with becoming moderation
and modesty. Ostentation was some
times manifest, but chiefly in connection
with an open-handed hospitality which
covered the fault. 1t requires the same
good sense and stcadiness of character to
bear the adversely OF today, as it requi,
red to bear the prosperous condition OF
other days. The solid advantages of
wealth are always manifest and always
operative; it will at all times command
more or less respect. But, in considera-
ton of past sacrifices and losses, wealth
among Confederates has ceased to consti-
tute q badge of distinction to the usual
extent. The terrible experiences of war
have taught that other qualifications de-
serve confidence and applause than those
which enable men to get and keep prop
erty. An aristocracy of character and
honor has supplanted that of wealth
among those whom common purposes, tolls
dangers, sorrows and pains have made
fraternal. This should not be forgotten
either by the many who are impoverish-
ed, or by the few who have been lucky
enough to save goodly portion of their
property honorably. Poverty is uncom-
Portable at the best, but it's sting is taken
away when it ceases to humiliate. If the
South were canvassed to-day it would be
proved that our people almost unanimous.
iy prefer Southern honesty, truth and
valor, though hard fed and ill clad, to all
the aristocracies of the world. 1t is to
be hoped that this wholesome mutual re-
spect and local pride will be kept up and
strengthened for all coming time.-M 0.
Crescent.