The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-08

Planted at the opposite polos OF human de-
velopment, the North at the social and the
South at the indlVldua!. our contrary systems
strained the bond of union and would have rent
| It asunder, One-half century ago the separ-
| alton would have been inevitable, but the
Characteristic of the present age is unlfication.
We have seen all the ancient principalities Of
Italy brought together into single nationality;
We have seen the great Teutonic Fatherland re-
stored to unity and common destiny; we
| hear from afar the murmur OF pan-Sclayonic
| aspirations; we have seen the combined power
| OF Europe invoked to keep down o little longer
| the uncomfortable yearnines Of Grecan con-
sanguinity. Our late opposing sections, too,
| have felt the hand of Providence constraining
us to draw closer together, and having in the
past been severally spinning the web and the
woof, we are to-day uniting them in the firm
texture of common and uniform nationality.
AT the North government and society have
been approXimating the Southern type indi-
yiduality has been emancipated from common
ism. the rank license OF thought and speech
has been restrained within the bounds Of de-
corum propriety has become more influential
than extravaganza, and dlstlnctlon ls no longer
conferred by wealth alone.
at the South similar and correlative changes
have turned the current Of our future de-
yeopmeut towards the Northern ideal. Here
authority mas been deprived Of its prerogative,
personal distinction is being eclipsed by repre-
sentative prominence, expediency shares the
influence which used to belong to sentiment
alone, reason is more consulted than usage,
inducement is used rather than uompulson,
public advantage prevails over private preten-
sion.
All the clements of character and society
whict formerly were bent in one direction are
now strainlng in that which is the opposite,
and vet the one as much as the other will bear
us onward in prosperity. When ship, which
seeks her port against an adverse wind, with
all her sails aslant, has nov the utmost limit of
her tack and turning sharp athwart her former
course, hauls round her yards and spreads her
science knows that her progress is still on
ward; and so may ne, If we look to principles
and not appearances, be assured that the
South is moving still onward to the haven Of
her hopes-whether her PROV points north
wardly or southwardly.
Much as we may rejoice in the evidence OF
general progress, we are nevertheless not free
from apprehension as TO the future of individ-
ual interests; we look back upon the crude
communism OF the North as we remember it in
the past, and cling still more fondly to the pro-
lection Of our ancient safeguards. This ls
natural, but it is not altogether justified by
reason-we are approaching their civilization
from the opposite side to that ut which they
entered it, We are moving to meet them, we are
not following in their steps. When once these
currents shall have mingled, neither can flow
back to the point OF its departure.
Apart from reason and interest, many of US
are still held back by sentiment which all
must respect, but to which none ought to
yield :; our destiny is not our own to make or
mar as we like, but we must conform 10 the
requirements Of our times and move to the
cadence Of the great march ct the world.
The feudal barons built lofty towers to shield
their tenants and their herds in lawless times,
but now those empty strongholds ut md in pic
turesque decay upon the hills that look
down on the peaceful Rhine, untenantedby by man
or beast, serving no purpose but to adorn the
a thousand humber dwellings, give the shelter
and security of home to more numerous and
happier people.
So it is with us. Our castled crags OF in
dividualsm have become obsolete. He who
still abdes there chooses solitude and proud
ponury; those who descend to the vineyards
below will fn1 libort5 and prosperity, peace
uud cumpantOnsnip. p.---------
Let US not imagine that they who join this
cesfors whose efigies stand in the inches OF
the ancient walls. The institutions, the laws,
the manners OF the past, subserved their pur--
nose and fulfilled their destiny. God imposed
them. God has changed them. "What is man
that he should contend with the Almighty 2"
For us it is left only to explore our new cir
cumstances, to discover their resources, anu
to appropriate their benefits.
To this task We must bring courage and pa,
tience. minds unfettered by prejudice, and
ewes undazzled by authority; we must be in
trepld enough to give offence to ignorance,
we must forget to defer to senility, we must
learn to respect energy and to make use OF
youtb, Let the young and the bravo lead our
van. let the true and the wise direct our ooun-
seis. let the infirm and the timid follow safely
in the rear. Thus and thus only can We i'd
vance, thus and thus only can we achieve.
With common ends in view, and common
objects to attain, our energies must be united,
and O common sentiment peryade our minds.
II is easy for men to be combined under the
constraint OF authority. The influence OF po-
siIion. the prestige Of fame, place sceptre in
the hands OF distinction by which unthinking
minds ere swayed, and indolent dispositions
directed. Such union constitutes the power
of empire. 1t copsolidates energy; it represses
selasEuess But this is not the combination
we should seek to maintain-our new condi-
tion must be republic or it will he nothing;
no single mind can solve it's varied problems;
no SINGLE character can prevail against its dif-
ficulties. The solid front Of voluntary oombi-
nation, the irresistible movement OF inteli-
peuce freely massed and understanding lts
aims, are the only forces that can avail against
the obstacles which habit has built up, or
WHICH lRuUlhuCo VIII WA eSs 49, >-~ 'Ns - .>
Look abroad upon tho world and contrast
the two systems. See Asia staguating and Con-
tinental Europe wildly heavlng under the power
of empire, while England has renewed the glory
OF her history in the last great triumph she
has given to public opinion. The vast globe
itself is not too large to be filled with the
reyerberatlon Of Englands mighty. shout as
the statue ofllbertyi is raised above the ancient
seat of unjust privi sge and. oppressive proro-
gative.
derive their sanction from their useful
ness; under the common law OF mod .rn clVil-
Zltiou each may be summoned TO the bar Oh
the public opinion OF the world and put upon
the vindcaiion of it's existence. We who have
learned only lately what it is to have govern
ment over us, in which for the moment VIC can
to ke no mart should feel tho utmost interest in
tho sovereignty Of the great public opinion oil
civilized mankiad. 1t is the only tribunal to
which VIC eau appeal, the only po Ser strong
enough toprotect us.
Tho disabilities under which the South once
stood in that high court arc now removed; the
world is growing moro just to our past, and is
warnl;- drawn to US in sympathy for our l'res-
ent condition. To-day VIC stand among the
other civilized communities OF the world
wearing the court dress Of free labor which
the &c pre- scr lbcs, no longer obliged to plead
our right to equality end respect.
The present age has brought oil mankind
very near together; through tIe rapldity o.
communication it has multiplied the reciprocal
ties between distant communities, and has Gu
Iarrc6 tho interests which are in common
anon. widclv-sprcadng populations. Human.
ity hps become the prevailing passion OF oul
time: the brotherhood OF map, Which Christ
preached eighteen hundred years ago. IS only
now beng practically accepted by tue Worio