Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-06-17
A Lesson for our People.

The editor of the Memphis Appeal de-
duces from the recent celebration of one
of their principal festivals by the Israel.
ties the following moral:
The lesson hat we deduced from these
sacred services and to which we invite
attention, is that these people, for more
than two thousand years, have "carrled
down through the ages" and preserved
amid relentless prosecutions and bigoted
malsnity, the ark of their covenant-th
bond of their hope,-and that they are to-
day inspired by the same faith, and their
hearts filed with the same fervor as, of
old, signalized them among the nations.
They have preserved themselves as re-
ligious national body. under varying cir
camstauces, and while passing through
the most trying ordeals, have never wa
vered. Turning neither to the right nor
LETT, not deviating an iota, from the faith
of Abraham, withstanding obloquy and
the rage and passion of religious fanati
cism to which in the. past they have been
subjected, they yesterday celebrated the
great event of the Covenant the day of
their selection by Him as the chosen
means OF the perpctuation of the promi-
ses of God.
Now we have Il Covenanant" only in
less. degree sacred as compared with, that
of the Children: of Israel. We have the
covenant of our fathers. whereby our in
dependence as people was guaranteed
an independence which, Just no% imper
illed, demands all of our effort and skill
to save from worse than Babylonish
captivity. Beaten down and trampled
under foot, the great charter OF our rights
has for seven years been ignored, and
lawlessness had loose reign. But perse
cuted by a triumphant Radicalism, we
have never lost sight Of the ark of our
political copenaat, which, taking heart and
hope from the example of our brothers
of Israeli let us resolve to revive and
perpetua;e in purity, unimpared of any
of its guarantees, unsulied by Radical
interpretations. In the unity of the Chill
dren Of Israel and their singleness of
purpose, we have an example of what
may be achieved under circumstances Of
more aggravated evil than has yet befalen
us. 1t must not be lost upon US. The
great struggle in behalf of the Constitution,
which has recently ended in the full JUS
tiication of the President, should inspire
us to closer unity and more thorough
effort in behalf of3the party and princi-
pies through whom and which alone we
can achieve Our independence. What
has been accomplished of national and
religious unity by the Israeltes through
SO many years, should inspire us to that
continued and unintermitted effort without
which we would be unworthy the results
We hope for. The cause for which the
South fought was the integrity of the
Constitution. That cause is yet dear to
US, and may be, nay is, nearer its con-
summation than at any time in the mourn
full past; if We are but united and actua.
ted by a single resolve to. bring all differ
ences and forget self and selfish consid-
erations... Let 10 eliqaes arise to disturb
the harmony tbat should pervade our
ranks, but with faces once more turned
towards the altar Of our common country,
unite in the labors that will give US vic
tory over our enemies, and regenerated,
restored and "more perfect" Union. This
is the lesson. Let US all lay it to heart.