The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-26
Our countrx,. ruture..

Our Country's Future.
In this happy holiday season, it is
natural that we should strive to ban
ish the gloom that until lately has op-
pressed the nation; and that, instead
OF gazing upon the cheerless past, we
should eagerly look ahead to discover,
II possible, what favor the future has
IN store for our chastened country.
1t IS an easy thin to paint the future
IN brilliant colors; but blasted hope
Is more bitter than no hope at all,
and 1T is wrong to inspire an expecta-
ton that has no reasonable basis.
Still we think the signs of the times
arc promising for the future of the
United States. Hitherto, the great
political bone of the nation has been
sectionalism. The people in different
parts of the country have been in
constant conflict of opinion concern
ing their political and material inte-
rests, and it was the estrangement re-
sulting from that difference which led
to the sanguinary events of the last
five years. The seed of discord, jeal-
ousy and sectional strife was implant-
ed at the very root of our govern
mental tree, and the fruits of that
seed we have seen in the rancor, ha-
tired and eventual rebellion, which
have now passed into history. Time
alone can definitely decide whether
the great evil of sectionalism has sur
vived the terrible ordeal through
which the nation has lately passed.
Certainly it has received blow which
ought to forever prevent its renewed
growth. 1t is true that we still see
some evidence of the old pernicious
influence, both at the South and at
the North, but there is good reason to
hope that this is only the scent that
hangs around the broken vase, and
which time will ere long dispel. AL
ready we see evidence that national
questions are beginning to grow rlp
IN the place of the old sectional issues.
Instead of the conflict of interests be-
tween certain portions of our common
country, which was SO long q subject
of contention, there is now an evi-
dent disposition to nationalize our
interests and to make the welfare of
o part of the whole Union. The in
creasing interest that is manifested in
questions relative to our commercial,
manufacturing and general trade in
terests, is an encouraging sign of the
future. In the early years of orr Go
vernment, before the poisonous germ
of sectionalism had permented the
body polite, the subjects of political
dispute were confined to such nation
al questions as the tariff, the finances,
territorial extension, internal i'm
provement, 40, There is now an
evident tendency of our politics to-
ward those national issues whose i'm
portance has lately become apparent.
The old issue of protection and free
trade is becoming animated with new
life, and it's discussion is already
warm and widespread. The national
finances have also become fruitful
theme for controversy; the develop
ment of internal resources and ques-
tions respecting the territories are
beginning to be agitated, and alto
gether there is an unmistakable dis
position of the people to avoid the
deadly upas of sectionalism in the fu-
ture, and to drift back to the good
old national questions, whose discus
sion is beneficial and not injurious to
the welfare of the Union.
Neo York Sun.