Des Arc citizen., 1866-05-05
nar Our duties under existing cireum

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 b@ Our duties under existing circum- stances rear thsmselvesto to mountain heights. h days of prosperity our duties were grave and important, and required all our time and abilities to meet them and live and act up to them, but now we look back to those good old halcyon days as traveller upon the arid plains turns and fixes his longing gaze upon the green and refreshing oasis that he has just past. In our feelings we are reminded of the children of Israel on a certain occasion, repining for the flesh pots of the Egyptians Our thoughts and feelings are too much inclined to dwell upon and brood over the days that pre- eeded the unfortunate civil war from which we have just emerged, But those days like these, brought with them stern reali- ties, and then, as now, all our faculties, mentaI and physical, were to be actively, energetically employed, in order to sue cessfully encounter the duties and obliga- tions enjeined upon IS as men and citizens. We are too prone to forget that the great secret in human happiness is contentment, with our lot, coupled with . determination to act we'll our part in whatever sphere of life we may chance to be placed. Our great pioneer ancestors in the early settle ment of the colonies of this then wilder ness land, experienced what sore trials and hardships and poverty are. The ordeal through which they passed, was the great nursery or school that has given to the world some of the noblest specimens of our race; trained and developed in the school of hardships and adversities, they came forth like Pallas from the brain of Jupi- ter, full armed and equiped for the great conflict of life. The history of every peo- pie abundantly show that adyersity is the mother of genius and true greatness z calm seas never make skiIlful pilots = dig deep if you would gather pure trea- sure We have all felt the pressure of the heavy hand of misfortune, and have drunk to the very dregs the bitter contents of tEe full cup of woe, but our past career as people, was doubtless, such as to merit the severe chastisement that has been visited upon us, and as a wise people NC should profit by the lesson taught us, and thus we may realize the blessing in disguise. AL ready do We sec unmistakable signs and evidences of good resulting from the terg ordeal through which we were called to pass. Energy and industry have gone abroad, and the varied departments of bus mess and manly enterprise every where exhibit the most cheering and satisfactory evidences of will and determination on the part of the people to reinstate and build themselves up again upon deeper, broader and surer foundation than they have heretofore enjoyed. The farmers, the true sovereigns, the legitimate nobility sof every free government. have gone to work Tn good earnest, and behold what is being aecomplished--crops of cotton, corn and every variety of vegetables meet your eye in every direction. The same may be said of the mechanic and artist; the mer- chant and professional man, there Is an earnestness in his walk, his very face; every thing indicates an interest and ear nestncss on the part of the people that argues we'll for great glorious future, up to which industry and patience will surely bring Us. We sometime hear our business men complaining that times are very dalls money very scarce, and nothing doing. But what of this Those who build up country and raise the flood gates of trade and commerce, are now quietly and noiselessly preparing for a great harvest and gathering of cereals, cotton, &e.; true some Of them may be sowing in sweat and tears, but the promise is unto them, and in due time they will come rejoicing in plenty Let us then bide our time, fill up the measure of our duty in whatever we may be engaged, con tribute our mite sn furlhcrance of the great end and aim of our earthly destiny, and io living for ourselves, let us live for our coun- try and fellow beings. Whatever of tal- enss or influence we may be possessed of, let us strive to exert and employ them in developing the resources of our common heritage; let this be our highest ambition; yea, essF Asssse qza soaV in the great con aict that opens out before us, and then the world will have been the better. and not xtN Q