Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-06-18
The Value of a Good Government.

security. On this rests the protection of life,
liberty and property, without a certain degree
of which, thorc can be no encouragement to
industry and economy. Upon the laws and
institutions of q country also depend that
disposition and rectitudc Of character as we'll
as encouragement to cxortion, Which main.
tain and increase a country's wealth and de-
tcrminc it's nature. The truth of this MAJ
DO illustrated by q comparison of Modern
Europe in respect Of wealth with Modern
Asia lnthc former, tho rightcf property is
clearly defined, and good laws faithfully ad-
ministcrcd, protect every citizen in the full
enjoyment Of the products Of his labor, both
from the cxtortions Of Government and the
robbery Of individuals. In tho ~lattor, q ty-
ranny has~always existed. Tho consequence
is, that whilo ID Europe there is a great show
of wealth, VIC find little money in circulation.
All the property consists in tho clements of
real tangible, productive wealth, such as
goods, wares, merchandise, manufactures, aud
shipping. In Asia uearlylall the little wealth
is composed Of gold, silver, diamonds and
other precious metals, which tho ownors can
easily conceal from tho hand of the p%illagor.
How different the financial and commercial
importance Of the two countries, and equally
different are their future prospects.
Tho Same causes crippled the industrious
enterprise of the ancicnts. The Roman,
who cultivated his fertile acres know not
but that some devastating conqucror
or ruling nobloman would reap the fruits
Of his labor. IF he should be so fortunate
as to gather one crop, he carefully boarded up
the surplus, fearing to invest it in productive
capital, lest tho whole should be lost. Whom
a people lose confidence in thoir Govern.
mcnt, there is an end of its wealth and power.
Labor and production arc as sensitive as pub
Ito credit, and are nearly related to it. Both
dissipato on tho appearance & Anapely as
mist before tho morning sun. The true val
no of a good Government in promoting wealth
is seen in tho uncxampled prosperity Of the
United States. Our ancestors encountered
unparalleled difficulties. Nature opposed
them with intcrminablc forests. Commerce
crippled thcir energies by its infancy and ina
bility to supply their necessities. The
Tomahawk and %war.whoop of tho savage con-
tested every step. In tho face of all these
difficulties they perscvcrcd with q will and
energy, which SGT failure at defiance. Soon
forests disappeared. Their folds blossomcd
with rich fruits. Cities sprung up as tho
magic palace of Aladdin. They were a wise,
p%irt'ious and Industrious people, who trusted
IN God and their own strong arms to build
up'for themselves q name and habitation. In
fyty years after our independence, VIC became
the greatest people on the face of the earth.
In military warfare, in agricultural and me-.
chanical industry, in intelligence aud morality
no people surpassed us. How is it now A
small spcck appeared in the political horizon,
which growing, ovcrsprcad the entire hcmis-
shcre and poured out its walls Of wrath on our
people. 1t left us broken and bleeding, but
still able and willing to recupcrato our shat
tered fortunes by industry, if let alone.
Though oppressed with a load Of private
Indebtedness, and groaning under a Federal
and State tax, which swallowed up our ~prplus
earning, We faced tho evils fcarlcssly, until
we saw the Government turned over to rude
and incompetent hands. What hope could
thero't then be lcft7 Ignorance held her car
nivals in high places, while wisdom was ostra,-
cised from the councils of tho nation. Vice
strutted the land in cloth Of gold, while viz
was at home mcnding hor rags. Every
thing was reversed. Society was uphcaycd
and thc'era of social and political unrealitics
began. This is tho evil, and what is the
remedy. We answer a wise and frugal Gov.
crnmcnt which while it protects all, robs not
tho hand Of labor of its hard earnings. This
can only be attained through tho ballot box.
Mover think Of resistance to tho laws and con.
stitutcd authorities, but while you support
them got "as many good mon into Office as
possible. Increase this number every year,
until you again get the rcins into your own
hands. Pay no attention to disappointed
politicians and n,ad;oaps. Their %counscls arc
ernbittercd By prejudice and disappointment.
After tho late Presidential contest We heard
it recommended by men Of prominence that
our Democratic clubs be changed into farming