Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-23
Centuries and the Hours.

1EEQNItneT SO clearly, IOrclUly anu duIulTdpy eA-
presses our views that we adopt it and present
it thus prominently in lieu of what we may have
written ourselves upon the same subject. We
hope that the length of the article will not de-
ter any of our readers from giving it careful
perusal. a,
1t was Ralph Waldo Emerson, we think, who
said: 'The lesson of life is practically to be-
lieve what the years and the centuries say a.
g gainst the hours Let us profit by the sug-
gestion. Let us heed the lessons of the CEN
A, turies speaking against the teachings OF the
hour Let us draw wisdom and take warning
from the former It will inspire us with for
titude and hope to disregard the threats and
alarms Of the latter IA
The lesson of the hour is indeed dark and
dispiriting one. 1t tells us that hope has de-
parted, that effort is vain, that we are conquer
ed people, and must accept what terms capri
cious conqueror may impose. 1t tells us OF the
dark clouds that lower, the dangers threaten,
and advise us to avert destruction by bowling to
the storm. This is what the hours say
But what say the centuries :? They tell us
that though Truth may, for time, be trodden
down; though Might may temporarily triumph
over Right; though in the conflict for Freedom
superior force may conquer-yet no people euer
permanently lost their liberties except through
their oicn recreancy to principle. And the CEN
turtles further say that whenever and wherever
people have lost their liberties by their own
voluntary surrender of principle, they hare neUer
regained them. When people put the yoke
on their own necks and thrust their own hands
into the manacles, then indeed is their future
without hope.
Hitherto the South has not proved recreant
to the principles for which she fought Vir-
ginia is Scared all over with the testimonies of
her deyotion Shall she now lay down all she
retains of her glorious name sin the brave old
days of old" and voluntarily assume the livery
not of her conquerors, but of her conqueror
camp followers? We have yielded the conflict
in arms to overwhelming odds, but when Gen
eral Lee surrendered his sword, it was to grim
Necessity, not to Grant. When the States
repealed their ordinances of secession it was only
formal expunction of what was already dead
letter in law When they ratified emancipation
it was only acknowledging that the war had left
them too weak to 2. reserve the institution OF
slavery any longer. Do the advocates Of go
operation" think that necessity compels US to
'co-operate?' Can it be shown that we are
obliged to enlist in the Black Republican party,
and march with them to the accomplishment
Of their ends? Shall we presume the necessity
Of it before exhausting all means Of escape or
resistance? Have we, indeed, exhausted all
such means? The sword has failed-we would
not again draw it from its scabbard. But Is
there no weapon mightier than the sword?
There is 1t is the patient tortitude OF a heroic
geople. The courage to endure is greater than
the spirit 10 achieoe. In many stern clash of
arms we have displayed the heroisna of action
let us now display the sublimer heroisna Of s,y-
teriing. Suffering becomes holy, and is robbed
of it sting when incurred in behalf Of high
principle. 1t is this which has cheered the
martyr at the stake 1t was this which came
with soothing presence to the "earlier Virgin
JAMS" and enabled Washington to give to Val
ley Forge the grandest page in American his
tory. Devotion to principle has sweetened the
scaffold and smoothed the edge Of the eKecu-
toner's axe. 1t has gilded poverty with a
lustre which wealth could never boast. 1t has
given the peasant grace and dignity richer
than the diadems of royalty. Suffering for
principlei 1t is the baptism of fire, through
which God purifes his chosen.
We may be compelled to stand by, while
others STAY Truth but why dip our OWN hands
sn her blood? Let others bear ''the deep
dananation of [herl taking off, - not ourselves
Unless slain by US she will assuredly rise again.
not like BanGuo's ghost to shake her ''gory
locks at us, but as rsjuvenated and smiling
goddess Venus to point the way to Hespe-
rian cline of fate. Well may she say though
my enemy STAY me, yet will rise again" But
alas, il slain lin the house of her own friend"
she falls to rise no more.
Our refusal to cooperate" may continue
our exclusion We may suffer from it. But
let not the hour provoke us to iiapatience. Let
us remember what the centuries say: The
patient endurance Of suffering for the sake of q
great rfscpe is ataoays REGARDED By the triumph
at last OF that principle. Freedom draws her
lutrlment from the breasts of none but heroes
and if people are willing to barter principle for
sgnoble ease, she takes her indignant flight never
more to return.
Lie CeILuTleS teach AUOCn6r lesson, tOO
When people are seduced from principle by
the promise of advantage-when they close
their ears to the voice of the centuries and
hearken to the syren of the hour-they not only
lose the principle which they barter, but fail to
obtain the promised price. Too late they find
that principle dies in the hands of its purchasers,
and absolves them from all promises
Better listen to the centuries. They have a
voice of hope for all who know how to "suffer
and be strong They say that the madness
of the hour must some day yield to returning
reason. The breath of passion is transitory.
Violent excitement soon exhausts itself. Action
and re action are proportionate.
But what if, by our own act, we deprive our
selves of the opportunities which lie hid in the
lap of the future? If we sanction the Injustice
Of the hour by cooperation = if we endorse
and adopt as our own, what Radical legisla.
ton has prescribed for us-how shall we escape
the consequences of or oecn action We will.
ourselves, have destroyed our legal remedy, and
the verdict Of the centuries will be against us.
No. Let US possess our souls In patience