The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-17
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Sun lay Morning. Janusry II. 1889.
We Still Live.

Dot"" " We C0WN, L EatDer Ityan paper
1t should be universally read, and its prog
nostications borne in mind, by those of our
people who feel cast down at the condition
of the country The dark cloud is begin
ming to show its silver lining:
There is very pretty classic fable, which
aptly illustrates the present condition of
the South. It is related that Antsenus was
giant who gathered new strength in his
combats every time he was dashed to the
earth. The earth was his mother, and as
her son tripped upon her bosom, she in
fused such strength in his veins that he be-
came lnvincible to every foe. So with the
was levelled with the earth, but the earth
that grows the sugar cane and the cotton,
gave her fresh power; and, to-day, thanks
to the dear old mother, her youth is re-
newed like the eagles and she rises from
humiliation like Anteus of old.
$500, 900, 600 in cotton; sugar crop such
as has not been known in years; yield of
tobacco that is something surprising; are
the jubilant notes of that tiding which
reaches us of what has been done in the
South in the year just past. Starting with
no debt, or but very little, working literally
from the ground up, the South is to-day
rearing her head anew among the peoples;
and, as her brow greets once more the sight,
all men can see that the chiefest stars in her
diadem are yet lustrous with hope, with
glory and with power. Who says she is
powerless? Who whines we did wrong over
the sOds that enshrine the departed brave?
Who now is ready to abase his face in the
dust and his hand to his mouth ? If such
there be, let him depart out of Israel; for
in this revival of glory, there is no part nor
lot for the weak knee and craven, and sneak.
In the wonderful prosperity wherewith it
has pleased infinite mercy to bless US, in
the past year in the noble prospect there
reaches us of further bountiful harvest in
this; in the rush that is now making of our
quondam oppressors to invest their means
in this land; in the pledge these invest
ments give that every man who makes them,
or is interested in them, will henceforth,
though only from mere sel6shness, cast his
vote against further anarchy, despotism
and wrong; aye ! and in the almost solemn
hush that this bound, as it were, of the
South into promise Of wealth and power
has brought about-in all of them, are writ
ten the lesson that was conveyed in the
motto of the Southern Confederacy, Dec
Vindice; for, though it pleased Him to
abase the good cause, it was only for mo-
ment, and now, in another way than we
thought, in way that we knew not of, 10
look you, He is indeed our avenger, our
sustainer, and our guide to speedy future
where the stoutest of the enemy will not so
much rs dare to wag his head at the rebel,
but shall rather seek to take him by the
hand, and swear by that mustard seed, his
soul, that he, IN good truth, never hated the
South, but loved it in his heart, and was
ever inclined to think it had the right
Is this picture overstrained? Let us see.
Just twenty years ago, Hungary fell before
the bayonets of Austria and the Gar. Men
said its hope was gone, and, doubtless,
there were many snug fellows who advised
acquiescence, and accepted the situation,
even as one of old accepted of thirty pieces.
But others there were who spat at and dcfied
the cruel tyrant, and hid deep in their hearts
the memory of the past and the purpose of
the future. Twenty years passed, and now
we see, no later than this very last past
month. that the Emperor of Austria propi-
tlates Hungary, and, to secure the assistance
OF her people, gives Hungary her own.
Look to Italy. How short time since was
it, scarce ten years, that the Austrian sabre
ratified III Venetian palaces, and Austrian
grenadiers stood guard in Lombard cities
Now cast your eyes there; the banner Of
Austrian dominion no longer is seen, and
Venice Is mistress of herself Circum-
stances, you see are too strong for tyrants.
The earth loves her children, and, when the
strong hand hurls them down, forthwith
she sets them up, strength in their limbs,
courage in their hearts, and fire in their
eyes. ,at
What has happened to Hungary, what
Venice saw come to pass. is now enacting in
the sweet South Eight years since the
war-drums throbbed their warming, and
the trumpet called the valiant to play the
man. -Four years since, the smoke
wreaths melted away into thin air on the
field Of battle, and now in turn, the dark
clouds of treacherous oppression begin to
break. Not one of the ''lo:!" but, when
he hears the marvellous wealth of the
South, yearns to put his money there, and