The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-15
Oh 4 r L E. S TON.
TIE TRUE EPHILOS0PHYAN AND POLICY OF
THE so UTH.
TUESDAY MORNING. MAY Is, 1865.

TIE TRUE UEPHLLOSOPHYAN AND POLICY OF
THE so U1H.
| We have noticed, with considerable inter-
est the views of our exchanges in regard to
the true policy which the South should pur-
sue just now, but we must confess that we
have as yet seen nothing which appears to us
as being real philosophy. A New Orleans
paper comes nearer the correct view than
any we know of. 1t agrees with our ideas,
that great many Of our people do not fully
comprehend and appreciate the effects of the
great political and social changes which the
recent war has produced, and cling too tena-
ciously to old ideas and opinions. This is
not surprising, but quite natural and in the
usual course of human affairs 1t is vain TO
argue against such tendencies and feelings.
They must be left to the gradual cure and
eradication of time and events. Very few of
US are philosophers and logioians enough to
conquer AID restrain our prejudices and hab-
Its, our cherished opinions and notions. They
are fortunate, indeed, and largely endowed
with practical wisdom, who can immedi
ately adapt themselves to sudden changes of
condition and circumstances. And truly un-
happy and pitiable are those who, like the
BouRBoNs, forget nothing and learn nothing,
who cling to exploded systems and ideas, and
seek to perpetuate prejudices and habits,
which events have or ought to have abolished
and rendered obsolete.
1t is to be hoped that our people will learn
from the sud history of this family, and from
all who have initiated their folly, the great
wisdom Of the opposite course-of a quick
and ready adaptability to their new oiroum-
stances, cheerful acquiescence in what is
determined and inevitable, an earnest spirit
of progress, and just appreciation of their
present circumstances. This should be the
leading characteristic of the new programme
of Southern rehabilitation. We must turn
away from the dead past, and prepare for the
living present and certain future Nothing
can retard our future growth and prosperity
more than vain and disastrous struggle with
the new ideas which events have produced
and established beyond our power to assail,
exclude or extirpate them. And if our peo.
pie do not pursue this obvious course of wis.
dom and policy, the inevitable result must
happen that they will be crowded and pushed
aside ny others who will. Now we have
firm conviction that this people of the South
are the equals, if not the superiors, of any in
the world in capacity for oil human enter
prises.
What advantages have been gained over
them ny other people, have been due to oir-
oumstances-not to intellectual, moral, or
physical superiority. Given the same situa-
tlon' the same motives and impulses, tho same
arena to operate on, We. do not believe that
any race can surpass ours in sll the under.
takings and enterprises which eplst the fac
ulties and ambitions Of men,, This has been
abundautly shown in the cosmopolitan cities.
where the Northern and Southern aud the
principal European races have been brought
into conflict and rivalry on equal terms. In
no department of business, in no sphere of
life, have our people failed to hold their own
with the best representatives Of the capacity