The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-08
OH A RLE ST ON.
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 8, 1865.
OUR FEATURING INTERESTS.

OUR MANUFA CTURKNG INTERESTS.
No class of citizens are more useful to the COM
munity than the manufacturers. Mono contribute
moro largely to it's material prosperity, and none
therefore are more entitled to our cheering sym
pathy and fostering care. The tiller of the soil
alone should take precedence. He who walks
behind the plow and makes the earth yield forth
her increase, unquesionably claims the first place
in our regard. He is the most useful, as he is the
most needed member OF society. But next to him
ranks he who, by his skill and ingenuity, by in
dustry and perseverance, changes tho crude and
shapeless raw material into the servceable fabric
or the beautiful piece of mechanism. The ca
pacity OF n State for independence and self-gov-
ernment appears to depend moro upon the extent
of her manufacturing interests than upon all
other causes. The ago is clearly material in its
tendency, and daily growing moro so. And what
ever theories Of economy raay have prev allied in
other days. spindlos, anvils and stUam engines
now WELD controlling influence ia the destiny Of
nations.
We know that poets and 81 ses, in every age and
cline, have sung tho praises Of country life.
Virtue, it is thought, has her seat exclusively by
the rustic cotter's health. "Honor suks where
commerce long PREVAILS" says GOLDSMITH. We
concede that rural occupations, and residence
remote from the large centres of commerce, are
more favorable to cultivation Of the passive
virtues than bold encounter in tho 'world's
broad battles" Many of our best citizens in
former times were opposed to a large introduction
of manufactures, because Of the baneful influence
they were likely to exercise upon the community
They looked to the manufacturing districts Of the
North, of England, France and Germany, and
found much in the state Of society there prevail
ing that was not desirable, aud, if possible, to be
avoided here.
But we dol not why rank infidelity and ra dical
Fourierism must needs be component constitu-
ents of a cotton mill iron foundry. Very
much depends upon the men at tho helm they
should be OF the proper stamp, and know how to
govern men without tyrannizing over them. They
should be men of intelligence, education and
character They should have experience and,
moreover, must enjoy the confidence and esteem
Of the society in which they move. Such men will
find no difficulty in governing their little empire
and if they exercise proper discretion in the selec
ton of their subordinates and operatives, the in
fuence shedabroad by such an establishment can
not but prove highly beneficial to the community,
both in q moral and material point of view.
We had such manufactures in our State in
former times. We have some such in operation
now, and we are glad to know that others are in
progress OF construction and orga nization and
from what we know of these last named enter
prises, we think we may confidently assure the
respective communities in which they are located
that these acquisitions will rebound to their ad-
vantage in every respect. Capital is brought
there; large accession Of the population will be
the immediate and necessary result. Towns will
soon be built, churches and school-houses spring
up, to be followed by libraries and iyceums, and
all these institutions will radiate their benefcent
light in every direction from the manufacturing
centres. ....... .......
Our community, as whole, are religious
church-going people.-and we hope they will SO
remain. The multifarious isms of the Northern
radicals have never taken hold here, and with
proper care and exertion on the part OF our lead
ers, never will. Let those who WELD influence
in the legislative hall and give tone to society, set
the proper example, mingle freely with the middle
and lower classes, and give them convincing proof
Of the interest and sympathy entertained for them
and we need have no fear of ehartism or agra
rian mobs.
We take great interest 10 manufactures, and
shall be grateful to any OF our readers who will
have the kindness to furnish us the earliest in
formation regarding enterprises of this nature.