The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-09
r.e Inexorability of the Situation-A
catholic Spirit cur Duty and Policy.

The results of the war are nexorable.-
rbev cannot be made to bend. One of the
rs.ults is the humiliation of slavery 1t was
~ TO speak, the Plutonic formation upon
which the labor system OF the South was
based. That formation has undergone po-
Giical upheaval like the geological one
which pushes up to the surface the granite
rocks. And so, slavery may be now regarded
a. having been projected upon the sociological
.uriace. We cannot push back to its original
level in our social system this feature or pc
culiarty which had characterized it Its sur
face position may now be regarded as fixed
definite, stiff, and irresistible. 1t is an event
10 which we may assign the term logical
II has become the situation" so to speak
il is one among the Logical events. 1t is,
now the logos, or reason, It is folly to argue
AGAINST it. 1t is wisdom to accept it. Some
II the philosophical have already become
adjusted to this political upheavai. Others,
less wise, will require more time to receive
"the new way" Like the sbrine-lnakers of
old. they will continue for a longer period to
ding to old prejudices, or rather to the old
system. 1t is natural they should thus adj
lore to the traditions in which they have
been reared These traditions, and the edu-
cation Of generations, have been "rudely
wrnnc and riven" The shock was too sud-
1on and lacked the elements of law and JUS
tee, to commend it to their acceptance. But,
Notwithstanding ali this, the deed of emanci-
nation has been accomplished, and is ire
vocable. We must accommodate ourselves
1 TO our new position and circumstances.
There are other ideas, or bents, or bases, of
elrcaton which we shall be compelled to
discard if we purpose to move with the cur
rent which we cannot stem. And to waste
our energies in futile efforts against an irresis-
tible current is more than beating the air;
for, the latter will not require the foolish ex-
penditure of so much energy, which might be
50 much more advantageously disposed Of
We must learn to acquire the habit of mind
and thought, which induces welo ONE to all
incomers, or immigrants, who are likely to
add wealth to our population or locality No
matter whence they come, SO they are men of
WORTH energy, enterprise or means. If we
wish the enlivening breeze of prosperity to
fill the sails which we have spread to he wind,
we must be governed by discretion, prudence
and Judgment, and so manage the helm as to
catch every favorable air We must emerge
ioh VII S<ASi uoi' CHCoGs w . uluSt ~ Oub VI
ourselves. We must divest ourselves of our
aversions. We must invite participation in
the rights and benefits derivable from our To-
cality.
We must not remain contracted, if we ever
were. But we must become catholic in tone,
in the temper and disposition of our minds,
and welcome all who are to contribute to our
financial and commercial regeneration We
want men of means ard enterprise among us.
We want workshops and factories We want
trade and commerce. IF we adhere to the
dead past IN sullenness and apathy, we shall
act the part, not only of fools, but Of traitors
to the mother Of us all
But, travelling out of all contracted views,
which would now be fatal to our progress and
prosperity, and going abroad, as it were, to
take more enlarged view of men and things,
as they really exist out Of the narrow sphere
to which wemay have too much accustomed
our vision, we shall acquire catholic tone, an
enlarged sentiment, which will inculcate a
hearty reception of all men, without regard to
the quarter Of the globe whence they may
come, or where they may have been born,
who are likely to add to our moral or material
prosperity.