The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-14
Past, Present aha Future.

In these days, Esop's fable of the wolf
and the lamb is receiving thousand appli-
cations. The Southern armies, when the
war ended, disbanded and went quietly
home. The Southern people, oppressed by
the general bankruptcy aud threatened
with starvation, resorted 10 tho arts of
peace. The Southern Legislatures applied
to the President of the United States to
know what they must do in order to satisfy
the demands of the triumphant North, and
did what he required. They sacrificed
thousands of millions for peace, only to be
denounced as rebels still.
And ever since they have borne humilia-
ton upon humiliation. They have seen
their best men disfranchised and some of
them driven out of the country. They have
been oppressed by worthless /adventurers,
By cotton agents like Callicott, and by Gene
rals like Sickles and Butler. They have
had contracts made for them and taxes i'm
posed upon them by aliens, renegades and
menials. Their property has been rendered
well-n;gh worthless. Their pride has been
trnmpled under foot. Realizing the pre-
dic,ed fate of Egypt, they have been sacri-
feed to the ambition Of the meanest Of the
human race. Yet nothing but new elanders
have been the reward of people who have
endured SO patiently and so long. They
are criminals, simply because they do not
willing gly, yea thankfully, accept debasement
and ruin.
The Republican organs industriously
manufacture history for us, and carefully
conceal from the Northern public the nature
of the conflict in which the people of these
States are engaged In questions of gene
raj politics we have very little interest.
We have no personal objection to Grant as
President. We trust that his great exccu-
tive ability may secure to the country an
efficient, economical and peaceful admins
tration. We cherish no hostility &c Cover
nor Scott, who, Notwithstanding his present
affiliation with the Republican party end
his former connection with the Freedmen's
Bureau, has displayed commemorate mod
GRAFTON and public spirit in the discharge
of the duties of his high Office. Nor, on
the other hand, do we approve the efforts
of evil. disposed persons to disturb the es-
tablished order of the State. We look
with unalloyed indignation upon ku'k
Klans and all such bodies of conspirators
and assassins. The race which will rule
this great, rich country will rule it BY
policy, by intellect, by heroic and self'sac
rifcing resolve, not by the bullet or the
midnight torch. No man and no party can
help us which propose for oar acceptance
the philosophy of despair.
There are two things especially which
the Southern people need TO attend to, and
the whole country is Interested in their
success. The first is the parity of the local
government. We eaauot afford TO be ruled
by men who have Io interest in our social
welfare, who, on the contrary, are seeking
10 effect general Decentralization. We can
not afford to be taxed by men who them
selves pay no taxes. We cannot be ruled
By on ignorant or inimicai self-will. We
Cannot submit cheerfully to any sovereignty,
military or civil, which will not guarantee
the security of person and Of property, or
permit US to maintain our civilization.
While our political traditions and just
consciousness of what we are able to con-
tribute to the welfare of the country will
prevent us from rclapsng into Indifference
in regard to public affairs, We cannot, just
now, exert any direct influence upon them.
At home, in the bosom of cur own society,
those elements conflict, control over which
is the first requisite to our liberty and pres
perity. Under our feet, and not in cloud
land, is the ground OIL which we must begin
to rebuild.
Another requisite is industrial restora-
tion. The resources Of the State are abun-
dant. The recuporative energy Of cur peo-
pie is wonderful. Tasir patient fortitule
aud even hopefuluess IL ca!emity, and that
noble self consciousness which no disaster
or humiliation have yet degraded, already
add new lustre to the heroic annals of the
State. This country is ourS-a magnificent;
heritage which We mus. net, Cannot, will
not, resign to barbarism and desolstion.
Like the wine in certain favored regions OF
Europe, our blood is tinctured by the soil.
Honorable industry, thoughtful, cheerful
adventure, uses o. fertile arts and sciences,
hospitality to immigrant wealth and sinews,
all commercial enlargements and financial
improvements and industrial applications
within our power-are sacred duties now,
flial duties to her who has nursed us on her
bosom, aud whom in our hearts we bear.
Whe, the outer walls of q city are taken,
the city is yet safe if the central fortress,
which commands all the others, remains in
the hands of the defenders. And We are
safe, if we refuse to surrender the soil and
| The municipalities Of South Carolina.