The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-05-29
For the Herald .


is presented as model of the virtues of the
statesman, without the policy of states
man. Well to this we do not object
We like fair criticism, m,-would rather praise
than blame, and NE abhor abuse, even in
newspaper. But pray what has Gov. Perry'S
patriotism, consistency, or even sentiments
however lofty, to do with the question which
evoked these epistles from his scornful pen?
Patriotism without discretion, sentiments
without sense, and consistency without rea-
son, would be yer: poor gnides in these
sad, diSjointed times. Out Of these qualities
you might manufacture a political zealot,
but nota statesman. We have no doubt
that Gov. Perry loTes his country;
nor do we distrust his fidelity to the Union.
That has been the great object of his wor-
ship through life, and I suppose that he will
prove true to it to the last;
CAS- the sun-Aower turns to her God when
he sets,
The same look which she turned when he
rose"
The late Provisional Governors love of
the Union, in days gone by, amounted to 81
passion. We we'll remember that the feel
ings of JOY which were exhibited at his
gi$ing in his adhesion to tie cause Of the
late Confedcracy, were exceeded only by
the surprise which some felt that he should
have taken that step. His was considered
a most important accession 10 the secession
ranks, not because Of any high esteem of
his political knowledge or statesmanship
which prevailed, but because he was believed
to be an honest, but, before that time, mis-
guided patriot, and that having been the
most prominent Union man in the State,
his influence would tend to reconcile his
party to the policy which the State had
adopted Hence it was also that he was so
much honored his antecedents were
known far and widc,-his claims were rec
ognized at Richmond. He became the re-
cipient of Executive patronage, the two
highest appointments in the State which
the President had the power to make.
When he was invested with the robes Of
Office, little did tho country or the Governor
imagine tia; Davis was putting on him the
shirt of Ne 81. The Confedcracy in those
days was looked upon as fixed fact, not
as now, bubble bursted. Any one even
an old Union mana modest man, could
then afford to take office. We had not
then reached the point where Gov. Perry told
the lauentcd Gov. Means the State was 60
ing-ve had not then "got to the devil"
But things have turned out differently from
what was then expected. The Governor,
however, has got on the fatal tuuic ; and BY
the way, the part he is acting under it,
bears a striking resemblance to the conduct
of Hercules, who, when he discovered that
the fatal poison was penetrating his bones
laid down on his Nemen lion skin and m::dc
tuneral pEFe VI HtluHeH'
It is hard, we admit, for the Governor to
be thus overtakeh, and so soon, too, a fter he
had descended from the high place he late
" filled under the second Washington" to
be translated to still higher position By
the provisional legislature Of 1865, to fill
with Mr.. Campbell, in the 9. S. Senate, the
seats in which Calhoan and Nc Dufie once
sat.
After having been Union man all his
life, and with this prospect ahead, to be
visited with the terrible consequences of a
few short years Of political sin, falls very
heavily upon the Governor. In all candor
we must say, that he is entitled to our
warmest, tenderest sympathies. These re-
hections, with the thoughts Of the future Of
our beloved State which trouble his mind,
are sufficient to arouse all the latent feelings
of indignation which he has lately ventilated
through the press. No wonder that his
feelings of patriotism mingled with that
high disdain from sense Of injured merit"
should prompt him to give utterance to the
language of passion and invective against
those who are responsible for the present
state of political affairs, that they should
dictate the fine sentiments for which his
letters have been commended.
But this is not what We want to hear
from political leaders. Itis no advantage
to US to be told that Gov. Perry prophesed
evil TO Gov. N~"ns years ago, and that that
prophecy has Geen fulfilled, or is about to
be fulfilled. The gift 0! prophecy,-r
propt ecy, such as Isaiah and Elijah possessed,
is very exalted attribute. But their maa-
tie has not come down TO our times. There
are however in every community, and at
all times, ld-be-prophets, and they gene
rally prophesy evil and if it docs not come
to pass, they are in the humor that Jonah was
when lie asccnded the hill TO sec the destruc-
ton Of Nineveh but was disappointed.
This seems to he natural with a prcphet-he
wishes his prophecies to be fulfilled, whether
they be OF good or evil and whom the
! event comes, he
'sNods his wise head, and cries,-I told you So"
We have no doubt that this prophecy of
| Gov. Perry which is now held up to the
State in their desolation and sorrow, as an
evidence Of lis far-seeing sagacity and
| politics! wisdom, WAS made. by thousands,
| both North and South, but Of course chiefly
by those who hoped to sec that calamity
hefall US. Itwould simply be vain conceit
TO base a claim of merit upon so weak a
| foundation as this. One who was in favor
! Of the Union, at all hazards and to the last
extremity: who believed that secession was
not only delusion but crime, if he had
kept his faith after lighting the good fight,
he might be excused for manifesting feelings
of pride at seeing his prophecy Of evil full
filled. But for one, who can say Of the late
revolution, "magna pars fui )" who had
staked his all " pom the issue,-upon the
experiment Of secession; after its failure, to
cry out 81 told YOU So" 10 remind US Of a
prophecy made years ago, that "the State
was going 10 the devil" if it be not very