Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-08
Honor. Dishonor. Degradation.

After the disastrous defeat In the pattle DIT
Pavia, Charles l. of France wrote to his moth
er: "AH IS lost saUe honor" The mother could
still feel pride in her son, for his "honor'' was
still safe-thot was not ''lost." In the late
war, the South, like Charles [. at the battle OF
Pavia, ''lost all save honor and that cannot
be lost save by the culpabilty of the Southern
people, for honorwith men, like virtue with
women, cannot be robbed from them by vio-
lence-it can only be lost with their consent-to
violence it yields not, to force it is invincble;
it can only be lost by being giuen or throaon
away. Honor is the most precious jewel in the
diadem of virtues. AS long as that is retained
in its purity by any people, their character COM
mands respect, however great the. misfortunes
which may af1ict them. AS the Southern peo-
pie haye "lost all save HONOR they should
cherish that only, though priceless possession
with fond devotion, and guard it with ceaseless
vigilance, against the seductive wies of their
own hearts. Honor is to national character
what the Palladium was to Troy. 1t is to ma
tional character what the keystone is to the
arch With the loss Of honor, s'all is lost''-
them. But, fortunately, honor cannot be lost
save with the consent of the people. AS long
as the people are true to themselves, neither
municipalities nor Powers can deprive them
of the priceless jewel of their honor-that is
within their own keeping. and cannot be stolen
by stealth nor wrested from them by force, how
ever great-it is as secure against the strength
of the giant as the weakness of the dwarf 1t
is a citadel which cannot be taken by siege or
captured by ASSAULT yields only to the sap
ping Of consent. We earnestly hope that the
Southern people will never enact treason against
their own characters by yielding consent to the
sacrifice of their cherished honor It should
be steadily borne in mind, that no people can
be dishonored or degraded save by their own
act. They may be overrun, they may be con-
quered, their Government may be overthrow,
their armies may be defeated, hostile banners
may wave in triumph over them, their lands
may tremble beneath the steady tramp Of con-
quering hosts, their fields may be rendered des-
olate by the sirocco of war; their dwellings and
barns may illumine the heavens with their lu
rid flames, want, woe and gaunt famine may
stare them in the face, but save against them
selves, their honor is invincible-their charac-
tiers are safe, and they cannot be degraded ex-
cept by their own act. If the people are true
to themselves, they will preserve their own self
respect, and will secure the respect of the peo-
pie of all other countries even that of their
enemies, and that, too not for day, but for
oil fba of +ha fb nc
time Of sore trial and strong temptation, be true
to themselves, and preserve their honor un-
tainted and their characters unsoied, their fair
fame will be secure, and their just merits will
be recorded in the annals of history, and their
glorious virtues be embamed in the hearts of
admiring posterity. This is not all, for if the
people be true to themselves and persistenty
faithful to the right, they will, in time, regain
their lost liberties, and their now impoverished,
desolated and blasted country will again TEEN
with wealth and smile with prosperity. Per-
sistent fidelity to principle and selfreliant ener-
gy will in time effect these desired results
These views, which we have so frequently en-
deavored to impress upon the minds of the
Southern people, are sustained by the histories
OF other countries, and are sanctioned by the
conclusions of philosophic investigation into the
principles which control the destinies of nations
In support Of the views we have entertained
and expressed, we quote the highest recognized
authority-Henry Thomas Buckle, the author
of the History Of Cirilisation in England. -
LIN 1873, Charles LII. of Spain, an able and
wise King, died, and was succeeded by the
weak and bigoted Charles ". who discarded
the able advisers of his father and conferred
the highest posts upon men as narrow and in
competent as himself, and brought misfortunes
thick and fast upon his country. For the con-
sideration of our readers, we quote the philoso-
phic remarks of Buckle in this connection -
That able author says:
Such was the condition of Spain late in the
eighteenth century. The French invasion ouick-
ly followed and that unhappy country under
went every form of calamity and of degradation
Herein, however, lies difference Calam;t;es
may be inflicted By others but no people can be
degraded except By their oaon acts The foreign
spoiler works mischief; he cannot cause shame.
With nations, as with individuals, none are dis
bonored # they are true to themselves. Spain.
during the present century, has been plundered
and oppressed, and the opproblum lights on
the robbers, not on the robbed She has been
overrun by brutal and licentious soldiery: her
fields laid waste, her towns sacked, her villages
burned. 1t is to the criminal, rather than to
the victim, that the ignominy of these acts
rou.t haoDp And even in q material po;nt &c