Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-08

matfars Oh puDIlC uOCOTI6Ly
denied, so far as we knew, we must decline TO
make tho 'retraction dem anded. And that was
the end Of the matter. Tho gallant carpet-Gag'
ger has been in this region since, but neither
cowhide nor pistol has been employed to force
from US the desired satisfaction
The Way to Pecuniary Independence anu
Political DeIivernncc.
That the government is best that gov
erns least, is proposition which, says the
New Orleans Commercial Bulletin, however
open to dispute as one of universal appli-
cation is certainly true in the sense of as
serting the eligibility of the least govern
ment that will satisfy The absolute needs
of social order and integrity. AS men ad-
vance in intelligence, IN morality, IN self
control, in self sustaining habits OF work
ing and thinking, they proportionately
diminish tho occasions for governmental
action. The moro they learn TO look to
themselves, the less they will look to tho
care of government, aud the greater will
be their deplecation of It's gratultous inter
ference Self help, whether for a comm
nifty or an individual, Is. after all, the only
help that can lee Of solid worth and perma-
uent avail. Civilization is growth, net
an accession or o donation. So is genuine
prosperity. 1t cannot be impaired 1T
must DO evolved. Il Is not the creature Of
legislation, good Or bad Laws never did
and never can create anything. If, as is
we'll said by modern writer, the uses Of
government are in inverse ratio to the de
velopment Of society, it follows that those
people only arc in The path of real progress
who study how to improve their general
position without invoking the intervention
of government and oven ID spite of It's I'M
wise and unjust impositions. We have
reasons to believe that, under the severe
tuition OF experience, tho mercantile and
agricultural classes IN tho South are gradu
ally learning this invaluable truth.
After four years Of political discussion
and agitation, they al length realize the
utter barrenness for substantial good of
the tragical farce into which American
politics have degenerated. 1t has proved
game in which one side has deliberately
grasped all the chances, and in which the
defeat of the other has been invariably
is concerned, every trial of it has served
rs a pretext for still further despoiling the
weak and still further aggrandizing
the strong. In view of this, no intelli-
gent merchant or planter can afford to
complicate his enterprises, his prospects
and his hopes inextricably with political
schemes and contests such az have here
tofore, however well-meaning in their
aims, only ended in discomftures that
made calamity heavier and oppression
more bitter. Tt devolves on him to do one
of two things: He must despair of the
situation, and give up all effort or he
must resolve to get along and make
steady advance towards independence and
prosperity, let the disjointed world of
politics wag as it will.
But despair is out of the question. It
remains for him to have as little as posi-
BILE to do with politics consistently with
the imperious duties of a patriotic citizen.
Let him cultivate this abstinence, and
along with it industry und frugality, and
n spirit of indonlitable yet cheerful perse
verance. There may the Southern agri-
culturist especially look for the secret of
his safety and his triumph. He has land
under tillago, and this gives him On honest
title to unlock the inexhaustible storehouse
of nature, who never does betray the
heart that trusts her. Stated moro in
detail, this plan would include at least
these injunctions for the observance of
planters in tho cotton producing parts Of
the South
Never stake everything in a single sta
pie. Therefore diversity your agriculture.
Aim to make home productions the source
of an assured subsistence. Be content
with small crops rather than larger ones
obtained at the cost of loans aud mortSa-
ges. Remember that, unlike a muscle
which decays with rest, credit degonerates
the more it is used Keep yours quietly
at home uDdeS ordinary circumstances, if
you want it to serve you effectuaiiy abroad
In any extraordinary emergency. Within
the limits OF tho conditions produce cot
ton of tde best quality to the utmost. Pro
duce it for sale. but not for the forced sale
which it will undergo if it were pledged
for advances or wore tho sole means of
providing subsistence. You can then
command the market, instead of having
the market to command you. You can
store your bales in your Clubhouse, if you
choose, and abide your own timo for sell
iDr for +La notwithstanding world in con.