The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-26
VOLUME 1v-No. ss


ment, popular vengeance was not
satisfied until their bones were ex-
humed and cast out of the oo untry.
as unworthy to repose in the soil Of
Greece. History, we are told, is
constantly repeating itself; and, if
parallel should ever, unhappily, be
found in this country, to the broken
faith of the rulers of Athens, let us
hope that there will at least be public
virtue enough left among us to set
the seal of eternal infamy on those
who thus bring disgrace on their
country. The ,heraldic motto OF the
Father Of his Country, was, "enitus
Fcta ip''o0ds How nobly the event
proved the deeds in his case, the
world knows, and it should be your
study to transmit to posterity like
untarnished record. ..yI ,.o5 u.
It is. true, that Heaven grants to
but the favored few to be great, but
it mercifully places it in the power of
all to be good, and to do good, each
in his allotted sphere. -t,,
"Who noble ends by noble means obtains.
Or, failing, smiles in exile or in chains, :,
Like good Aurelius, lei, him reign or
Like Socrates, that ,,,d, is great indeed"
Whatever, may be that sphere in
which your lot shall be cast, you will
there find appointed duties and re-
sponsibilities. a wide field for the
useful employment Of every, talent
committed to your charge will soon
be open to you, and the prosperity,
OF your State in the future will de-
pend mainly on the manner in which
those talents are used. How you
may best restore her lost prosperity
is question that will demand your
earnest and patriotic consideration.
You cannot look back to the expe-
rience of your predecessors for the
solution of this problem, for you will
be required to inaugurate new sys-
tenn which revolutionizes the entire
political and agricultural economy of
your State. Of the political aspects
of this system, it does not become
me to speak, nor would this be O
proper occasion for the discussion of
this topic; but I may be allowed,
without impropriety, to adjure you,
by every memory Of the glorious
past, by every hope of the future, to
dedicate your lives to the sacred duty
of vindicating the fame, sustaining
the honor. and protecting the rights
of your State. It is to make this
lesson sink deep into your hearts
that [ have dwelt SO long on the
obligations of patriotism rs the para
mount duty of the citizen. Let me
enforce that lesson by recalling to
your remembrance the most sublime
example of this virtue recorded in
the history of the world. When the
great leader of the Jews had brought
his people out of the land of bond
age, as they were approaching that
promised land which he was to see,
but not to enter, he was called up to
Mount Sinai to hear the command
ments of Jehovah, and to receive the
tablets whereon they were inscribed
by the finger of God himself. Re-
turning to his people, be found that
they had in his absence not only for
gotten him, but their God, and they
were worshipping tho golden calf,
which they had ilnpiously set up-
With heart full of shane and Of
sorrow, he sought again the presence
of Him to whom he had always gone
in the hour Of trouble, and he cried:
ooh, this people have sinned great
sin, yet now, if Thou wilt forgive
them-and if not, blot me, pray
Thee. out of the book which Thou
hast written" Many men have died
willingly for their country. but
Moses. alone of all mankind, Moses,
the friend of God, the man who ad
seen His glory. who had talked with
Him, face to face, amid the thupders
of Sinai, offered for his people an
immortal soul. Standing before
Him, who could read every thought
of his heart, and in whose preseaes,
no hypocrisy could avail, he prayed
if his people had sinned past re.
demption that he might share their
fate, even should that fate blot him
forever out of tho Book of Life!
Could patriotism lay on the shrine of
country a nobler offering than this?
No such costly sacrifice can be asked
Of yon, and you will fulfil your duty
to your country if you dedicate your
lives to her service. When England's
great admiral led his fleet against