Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-31
POLITICS VERSUS WORK.

Previous to the war, one of the favorite topics OF
conversation with everybody was Politics. Gentle
men spending social hour together, or casually
meeting each other were sure to exchange their
views concerning the political situation. The mer-
chant, while selling to his customer the cheapest
goods in the market would point out way to save
the country, and would probably getfrom his hear
er another receipt to effect the same cure. Even
the boys had their party and favorite states
man, in whose unerring wisdom they placed blind
confidence, worthy of better cause. Politics was
subject that never failed to interest the crowd,
when everything else was stale and not few be-
came so fond of it, that they neglected their bust
ness to discussit Thehabit once formed is hard to
overcome, andconsequently many men can be found
now, who are as fond as ever of bewaiing the con-
dition of the country But, while there is now
more ground forlamentations 1.-THE prospect, there
is less sense than ever before in keeping up cease
less dirge about it. As long as our opinions had
any influence over the destinies Of the country,
there was some excuse for ventilating them on eve
ry and all occasions. But that time has past
The views and wishes of the South affect the gov
ernment no more than the complaints of a halfmas-
ticated rat would affect the conscience of the skill
full mouser who has captured him. We made a
pretty good fight for the privilege Of ruling but as
the fight went against us, we lost that privilege
and we must learn to do without it. Our laws,
like our boots, are manufactured at the North, and
it is waste of breath to grumbe ifthey don't fit.
All we can do is to try and make them answer the
purpose hoping for better luck next time, if they
are not exactly what we want. Talk will not help
us so we had better let the subject alone and turn
our attention to something that will pay better
But though we cannot mend the condition Of
the country as to politics. we can help it out to
some purpose, BY goingto aoork. There are great
many things to be reconstructed in our midst, and
perhaps exclusion from politics will benefit the
South, by shutting up her people to smaller
range in which to employ their minds, not to say
their hands. A profound thinker once said that he
who makes two blades of grass to grow, where but
one grew before, is benefactor to mankind Now
there is many an oldacre in this State, and some
may also be found in this district, ON which this
kindness to the race could be performed with profit
to the performer, if some of our ablebodied young
men could be persuaded to try how well they fit in
to pair of plow-handles. Such an experiment
would probably soil their hands, and damage their
shirt-collars to some extent. But it is more hon
orable employment than loaing and more useful
than ''d-ning' the Yankees, or grumbling about
the laziness of the freedmen, while it certainly
pos better than riding about to support themselves
and their horses on the interest of what they owe
At this time, any form of labor which yields sup
port to him who works at it is not only honorable,
but desirable to our citizens and serviceable to our
country In considering this subject, it should be
remembered that white men must now do many
things for themselves, which were once done for
them by negroes This is one lesson that must be
learned by our people, and the sooner it is practi-
cally comprehcnded the better it will be for them.
The free American citizen of the African scent is
too important parsonage, both in his own eyes
andthose of his Northern brethern to be relied up
on to make support for himself, much less to help
in supporting his former masters Even if he were
willing to do this his race is going to seed too fast
to become permanently useful in this way.
But some are waiting for Congress to place the
South in the possession of her rights; under the
impression that energy and industry will avail them
nothing IN our present depressed condition. There
never was greater mistake than this While
there is good reason to expect a change for the
better at some future time, when the Northern
mind shall have emerged from the fogs of the ne
gro question, no man can tell how long period
will elapse before that good time comes. He,
therefore, who delays to commence working in the
hope of more favorable circumstances, is losing
time that he can never replace. But whether the
country is ever set right not the man who brave
ly goes to work to free himself from the difficulties
in which the war has involved us ALL will probably
succeed. Ifhe does not he will deserve success,
which good authority has pronounced to be better
than to obtain it.