The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-02-05

ivered before the Staunte LyceH, Friday evenint
81 BY units to-day Dwiug TO my absence from my OF
ice urgent engagements, which will
Allow me to thank YOU for this appreciation of my lee
tre and many Of my frienas and fellow citizens, by
written request have manifested IN anxiety for its pub
cation take great pleasure in forwarding it to you
subject to your disposal.
With sentiments Of high regard,
Sir, am, very truly your friend,
ToA. NJ CARRIER Jr., Editor of the Valley virgnian
ADDRESS OF DR.. G. Il. HARRIS,
Delivered before the Staunton Lyceum,
JANUARY "a, 1888
Mr.. President, gentlemen of the Staunton
Lyceum, and respective auditory. The subject
which we propose to discuss is NATIONAL ADvER-
sITY; or an inquiry into the effects, which will
probably result from the present state of thecoun-
try. No one will evidently deny, that it is one
Of adversely.
The evidences meet us on every hand, and reit-
crate in ears painful truths, with which we are
already too well acquainted, and which we would
fain drive from our minds. Rejecting men, too,
seem to have settled down under melancholy
consciousness that the sun of our prosperity has
been Qbscured by clouds whose murkiness and
gloom hang heavily around and about US. It il
not our purpose to swell the catalogue of evils
they are written in the consciousness ofeyery heart
and meet the gaze Of every eye. To inquire into
the details of the various causes. both proximate
and remote, is not our purpose now. Leaving,
then, the causes of our present unfortunate COM
dition,. to shift for themselves, the interesting
and important inquiry is: What is to come next,
and what are the probable results.
Are there still deeper depths into which we are
to be plunged? And are our days of mourning
and dependency, long to continue |? Watehman
what ofthe night
| ~. l. IL.
parison of our calm reflective hours, but perhaps
allured by the deceptive whisperings Of Hope, we
have arrived at the conclusion: 1.-The mornin 6
cometh''; and that although there may be darker
scenes still to pass through yet, the nature of tho
effects which are to follow our present adverse
circumstances may ultimately be beneficial.
l trust, my friends, you will not startle at the
seeming Paradox. We are all well aware that the
common attendants of the times, do not well ac-
cord with the figure which we shall picture to
ourselves, perhaps, Of our future national wel-be
ing But, let US remember that he who contents
himself with reading the first pages in the book of
adversity will ad nothing written there but tales
of sorrow and DISTRESS of Rafed projects, blight
ted hopes. ruined fortunes and broken hearts,
But let us pass on to etler leaves and pages. and
we will find, perhaps, pleasant, cheerful stories,
growing more cheerful and pleasant, as we adyan-
ced, which will make us forgetful of the woeful
past, and teach us, though we shave sown in tears
we may yet reap in joy
However much we may regret the difficulties
which environ us, as nation, and however much
we may wish they had never been, yet since they
are here, if will look hopefully into the future,
we may long come to the belief that the decla-
ration of Holy writ 'blessed are they that mourn
for they shall be comforted, is true in more re-
spects than one, and is, well the sentiment of
Philosophy as Of Christianity
Strong in the belief of this sentiment, we pro-
coed to specify some Of the benefits which result
from National Adversely in general, the particu-
lars whereof to our own country and times, will
naturally occur to our minds, and, consequently,
| need not be specially noted. The fret beneficial
result which we shall notice, is the expulsion Of
| some Of the evils engendered by long prosperity.
| What are these evils?
| little thought will show US, that of the peo-
! pie who compose nation, some catch the spirit
like unto that of the man in the scriptures, who
| ssaid, sssoul thou hast goods laid up for many
years, take thine ease and be merry others who
continuing in the walks of business become in
hated with vanity and pride, indulging in snowy
! pomp, and ridiculous extravagance. others be-
| come pr6figate, licentous and corrupt. Others
make trade of filing their pockets from those Of
the vain and luxurious, and become narrow mind
| ed, ayaricious and miserly. Indeed, where the
series of prosperous years are long continued las
was for instance, in one period of ancient Kome)
society becomes divided into scarcely more than
two classes: the luxurious and corrupt on the one
hand, and the narrow-hearted and ayaricous on
| the other.
! Under such state fittings selfshness assumes
almost universal sway. Philanthropy and Patriot
! ism are banished, "a condition more to be dreaded
| than any we can well imagine, and one, too, in
which free institutions must perish. Now If such
period arrives, and nation becomes impover-
1 shed by adversely, rather if her superfuities
| are thus retrenched, the evils we have enumera-
! ted will be, in measure, greatly removed, and
! their baneful consequences prevented. Nor does
| the benefit stop here. The people learn to prac-
tice the humber virtues they before despised-
Parents educate their children for usefulness
! than for show--there is return to habits Of in
dustry, frugality and economy, living within onei
meaps-constant actiyitY-cAeerful labor and I'M
firing perseverance. The result is, things begin
to brighten-every day adds to the little store Of
comforts and consultations, and, as years shall roll
| on, those who were, in measure, overshadowed
by the darkness of night are cheered by the bright
ness of morning, and ultimately in the full sun
light of peace and plenty, they will arrive at the
sensible conclusion that, by the aid of good and
kind Providence which He will extend unto all
there may be many Job, '3more BLESSED in his lat
ter end, than in the beginning. "
| 1t will easily be perceived that, where the in
dividuals of aState or Nation, (under thenfuence
OF what are called the NUM- YET 4Qnler Virtues
must advance steadily on ntilfhey obtain q com
Portable and Observation-Disclosures not q showing
and gorgeous wealth. In the same ratio, too, must
| the nation itself advance to high rank amongst
| the Empires of the earth.
! With these recollections still on our minds, lei
US glance, by way of pleasant and proud retro
spect, at the courage, endurance, industry, fru.
eality, and other virtues Of these noble men whose
posterity we are; and Of whom are 30 proud
and we will cease to be surprised at the high RAM
| which we had once attained as a NATION. VIZ
too plainly see now that if the virtues Of noble
ancestry, could have been entailed upon thei]
children, without the possibility ofsectional alien
alton, there would have been LIMIT prescribed tt
our national strength and greatness; But we neee
not stop with our own country, II we wish to dis
cover how the humble but sterling virtues have &C
companied the rise and growth Of all nations, ant
the Snowy but degrading vices their decline an.
Ifall. History teens with illustrative examples
all serving to establish the truth Of the opinion
set forth, that the strength of nation consists
1 not SO much in Ia possessions and pecuniary re
sources, as in the sprit, truth, and virtue Of it
members. HAese, from the natursl tendency o
mans nature to be lulled to sleep, or to becom
corrupted by the existence of great prosperity
h.,, hoa, bon;shod tAnf ;Aneuce IL eerfniZ,I hene