The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-09-18
From tho Charleston Nows. I
Radioalism is Destination.

Io''' "''iSi lholc can DC no diversity OF
opinion. Every candid mind will admit
that The object Of all good government
IS TO promote the happiness and well.
beng OF tho governed A part of the
liberty OF each is surrendered, so that
5.2atcr l'borty TO tho entire community
may be obtained. AS division Of labor
"rrcAscs The amount OF work that each
"t 1an 40, so tho union OF men in
dnitlcs increases tho amount Of
mort to all. United in communities
~ ntorcss apparently clashing, tic
c9@et OF all good government is to
Al&Nc each interest suIscrvient to The
"Ihcfs, an aid to every member of SO.
1cIy Ii this werc not The object OF the
government thcn it would DO visor
and better that man should live in a
state Of nature, independent Of his fol-
Iow.man, Tree TO carry out !hc dictates
OF his own will, unrcstraincd by law IN.
icltcrcd by society.
II the object Of good government is
to produce tho happiness Of all, or raLh.
or to produce tho greatest amount Of
happiness TO all, then !; follows that all
governments should be tried by tins test
and they arc good or bad, as they
lu!hll Or fail to fulill lhis require.
met.
In all governments there must ncccs-
sarily tho parties differing widely in
their views Of !hc policy wI,ch should
be pursued. Clash OF opinions is the
only means OF producing truth. Move.
mcnt is necessary Rest is rust. I'm,
fortunate would DO that people among
whom could DO found no difference Of
opinion on political SUBJECTS. Without
party difference there would be political
death No new thought could be do
vclopcd. No old thought would be
successfully elaborated.
Parties being necessary in State,
they should be tried by Tho Same test,
winch s applied to the government
itself. They are good or bad as they
arc able or unable to affect tho objects Of
government. Can any radical party be
good? Can amy radical party accom-
rl'sh The objects Of good government ?
Can any radical party govern tho coun-
try successfully? These questions,
grave and important TO us all, should be
carefully considered. They should be
approached, not in spirit excited by
party zeal controlled by party hate, or
blinded by party prejudice. Calmly
coo'ly, deliberately they should be
weighed, i"r on the answer depends tho
happiness or misery OF tho people Of this
l'road continent. On their solution
depends tho question Of libcrly or dcs-
poii3m.
The thinking man who looks beyond
the surface OF Lhing, knows that slavery
was not tho real cause of tho war. That
.:----~-: =: -:--...... .... ,ho ,>rov.,;
deeper. 1t can DO found in tho hcn', conyen. 'm.
ton that framed tho Constitution Of tho
United States. 1t can bo soon in tho
debates on that Constitution. 1t can DO
traced to tho first party differences that
nEI'ntcd this country. Tho war was
purely and simply contest between
The Two extremes Of the then two bar.
ties; q contest between federation and
a centralized government q contest
between The Crock and Roman IDEAS OF
government. In that contest radical
ism on The one side clashcd with radical.
Ism on the other. Collision took place,
and with tho clash Of idcas came The
clash OF arms, and with the clash of arms
came the overthrow Of tho Greek idea.
w Nhatcvcr questions may hereafter
arse, that question is now dead u lies
buried IN The same gravo that contains
our sons, brothers, friends. On this con
tmcnt IL is y thing Of the past, left only
~ our memories; no longer even sub
Jcct lor discussion.
Our fathers were too wise TO clash,
Thoy had read history with profit
they know that man is not inlallible,
ana they recognized that middle
ground might be, and probably was a
proper point at which their object could
bo attained They compromised whore
they differed, and under thor compro.
muses., IN peace and in war, tho country
which they had wrcstcd from George
III. grew and prosporcl, until tho DO.
G'nnnS OF the lato war. a disregard
1or their teachings. unwillingncss to
compromise, brought on that war, tho
result of which has been tho crushing OF
ono radicalsm and The marked develop
mcnt Of another. That radicalism,
flushed with victory, is determined to
u. .IE'"''S ''' I"hSl ullu uCCClNC It's
followers with tho name of progross.---
Many arc willing to accept namo for
thing, shadow for substance, but
nc who thinks is obliged to ask himsclr|
A. any radical idea can be progress
The history Of radica,sm has been uni.
iorm from tho earliest days Of history.
Powerful it is 10 destroy, but totally in
capable OF building up, and for an oh
vlous reason. From the very nature of|
man, he must be imperfect. Perfection
belongs alone to God and humanity
must have hnman weakness, human
irailty and human passion. Tho samo
feeling which induces the party in pow
or % keep ton States under tho iron
heel ofmlitary authority for ycars after
arms have settled the questions in dis
puto, has from the beginning OF recorded
timo all radical parties to porsecuto
those to whom thew have l,ccn onnosnd |