The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-08
servative tenacty and intrepid courage OF the
South, will all become interwoven, and form
one substantial and we'll defined American ma


South ut the individual. 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 unifcation.
we lave seen all the ancient principalities of
Italy brOug ht together into single nationality:
we have seen the great Teutonic Fatherland re-
stored to unity and q common DESTINY: we
hear from atar the murmur Of pan-Sclavonic
aspirations; we have seen the combined power
OF Europe invoked to keep down little longer
the unconquerable yearninss Of Grecian con-
sapguinity. Our late opposing sections, too,
have felt the hand of Providence constraning
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 q common and unsform nationality.
AT the North government and society have
been approximatng the Southern type; indi-
vlduality has been emancipated from common
has been restrained within the bounds of de-
corum, propriety has become more influential
than extrayagance, and distinction is no longer
conferred by wealth alone.
AT the South similar and colrelative changes
have turned the current Of our future de-
velopment towards the Northern ideal. Here
authority has been deprived OF it's prcrogative,
personal distinction is being eclipsed by repre-
Influence which used to belong to sentiment
alono reason is more consulted than usage,
inducement is used rather than vompulsion,
public advantage prevails over private preten-
sion.
All the elements of character and society
which formerly were bent in one direction are
now straining in that which is the opposite.
and yet 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 now the utmost limit of
her tack and turning sharp athwart her former
course, haSls round her yards and spreads her
canvass for a changed career, the IS seaman's cam us
science knows that her progress is still on
ward; and so may we, 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 pEoW points north
wardy or southwardy.
Much as we may rejoice in the evidence of
general progress. we are nevertheless not free
from apprehension as to the future of indlvid-
ua interests; we look back upon the crude
communism OF the North as weremember it in
the past, and cling still more fohdly to the pro-
lection Of our ancient safeguards. This is
natural, but it is not altogether justified by
reason-we are approaching their civilization
from the opposite side to thataat which they
entered it, we are moving to meet them, we are
not following in their steps. When once these
back to the point ofits departure.
Apart from reason and interest, many of us
are still held back by a 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 to the
requirements OF our times and move to the
cadence Of the great march Ct the world.
1u0 16uual O6TOuS DulL lOIty towers 70 shield
their tenants and their herds IN lawless times,
but now those empty strongholds stand in pic
turesque decay upon the hills that look
down on the peaceful Rhipe, ,untenanted by man
landscape while on the level plains below
a thousand humber dwellings, give the shelter
and security Of home to O more numerous and
a happier people. EES
dividualism have become obsolete. He who
still abides there chooses solitude and proud
penury; those who descend to the vineyards
below will fnd liberty and prosperity, peace
and cOmpaniOnship. f1as
Lot not imagine that tl,ey who isin this
movement are doing any wrong to their an
Ssstors ts whose ,sges s;sna ihM inches Of
the the nncnen. "s % sh Inc nh tne laws,
pose and fulfilled their destiny. God imposed
them, God has changed them. ''What is man
that he should contend with the Almighty ?"
For us it is left only to explore our new cir
cumstances, to discover their resources, and
to appropriate their benefits.
To this task we must bring courage and pa
tience, minds unfettered BY prejudice, and
eyes undazzled by authority; we must be in
we must forget to defer to senility, we must
learn to respect energy and to make use OF
youth. Let the young and the brave lead our
van; let the true and the wise direct our conn
sells; let the infirm and the timid follow safely
in the rear. Thus and thus only can we adj
vance, thus and thus only can we achieve.
With common ends in view, and common
objects to attain, our energies must be united,
It is easy for men to be combined under the
constraint Of authority. The influence Of po-
si,ion, the prestige Of fame. place seeptre in
the hands Of distinction by which unthinking
directed. Such union constitutes the power
Of empire, it consolidates energy; it represses
seldshness. But this is not tue combination
we should seek to maintain--our new condi-
fiOn nnnQk ha r0nnhiIo III will ho nOth nrys
no single mind can solve It's varied problems;
no single character can prevail against its diff
6cultes. The solid front Of voluntary combi-
nation, the i'm eeistible movement OF intelli-
gence freely massed and understanding it's
aims, are the only forces that can avail against
the obstacles which habit has built up, or
which ignorance will thrust in the way OF true
Look abroad upon the world and contrast
the two systems. Sec Asia stagnating and Con-
tinental Europe wildly heaving under the power
Of her history in the last great triumph she
has given to public opinion. The vast globe
itself is not too large to be filed with the
reverberation of Engiand's mighty shout as
the statue Of liberty is raised above the ancient
seat Of unjust privilege and oppressive prero-
gative.
Governments and oil social establishments
derive their sanction from their useful
cation each may be summoned to the bar Of
the public opinion of the world and put upon
the vindication Of it's existence. We who have
learned only lately what it is to have q govern
take no part. should feel the utmost interest in
tho sovereignty Of the great public opinion oil
civilized mankind. It is the only tribunal to
which we can appeal, the only po Ser strong
The disabilities under whica the South once
stood in that high court are now removed; the
world is growing more just to our pist, and is
warmly drawn to us in sympathy for our pres