The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-25
Stand Together.


Thers is more pleasantness by far in look
ing on the bright side than in busily foretell-
ing disaster and tribulation. Neither the
public scarecrow nor the private skeleton is
joyous thing to see; and, if the sky be
clear to-day, what matters the possible
storm OF the morrow This at all events,
is the drift of popular thought, which is slug
gishly averse to end, by opposing, an ex-
pected trouble, and declines 70 heed the
voice Of him>w who shouts from the housetOps,
or whose dreary oracles are painfully fashion
ed in the mysterious recesses Of q printing
Office. And where is the harm of it? Trou-
Bile is bad enough when it comes. Why go
halfway TO meet it? Lachrymose looks and
knit brows help little in the weary work Of
battling with adversity, and conquering evil
fortune. Cheeriness and confidence are all
unlike the blind carelessness which will not
recognize the possibility Of danger. A deep
line divides both foolhardiness and rooted
melancholy from the blythe, sinewy strength
which knows its task, and is ready to strive,
with will, when playing time is over.
Pluck and perseverance shall climb over, CT
burrow under, the rock which bars the way.
One slip is not ruin. One blow is not defeat.
A fight half lost is fight hall won. And,
if what is sought is meet and right and
worth the having, a partial failure should
provoke lustier blows when the hollow truce
is past and the struggle again begins.
This Is the temper in which we desire to
see this people. They were unwilling to
learn the whole length and breadth of their
public peril. With fast-closed eyes and
sealed ears they logged adown the broad
straight way. And when they drowsily
awakened to the conviction that insolent ex:.
travagance and hesotted ignorance were was.
ting their substance, andplacing in jeopardy
their every liberty, 1t was hard enough to
convince them that the cure lay in their; own
hands, and that they who would be free, in
pocket as inperson, themselves must strike
ssthe blow" At last they huckled on their
armor of proof, and began the contest whose
result, in oil It's naked truth, will soon be
known to the State. Already it Is clear that
the people have not gained las much as they
hoped or needed, and many may be dispos-
ed to moan Of. wasted effort and useless
labor. But, taking things at the very worst,
the people have proved their power, and
have shown that Honesty; and Intelligence,
with more thorough discipline, and more
equal effort, can, whenever the occasion
offers, obtain control Of the Government Of
the State. 1,,, -.
:. A little more than two years ago, General
Scott was elected Governor Of South Caro-:
lima by more than forty thousand majority.
Two years ago the Conservatives were de-
feated in Charleston. In the last General
Assembly, the Conservative element lad no
power Now the Scott majority is cut down
to about one-third, and it has been shown
that this city can; whenever the Reforners
choose. carry the municipal elections.
There will be, moreover, compact body ,of
intelligent men in the next General ASSEM-
bly,, who, II properly led, can save the State
from other measures like those which blot
the legislative record of the past. The
colored people have, in measure, given us
their trust, and they will not be deceived,
Had we stood two years ago where We stand
to-day, the elections Of 1870 would have
ended forever the rule OF the Sect clique.
But the people were slow to act, and that
we have not been, in the fullest sense, sue
cessful is only another evidence that a minor
lily cannot in one campaign become major
ity, and That there is an intermediate condi-
ton OF limited success which is, in reality,
the first step to certain, if deferred, victory.
The cause OF Reform is moral triumph.
All that we need is TO stand squareiy up to
our principles-to, keep a close grip on: the
weapons which have served US well-to
draw closer together-so struggle on, inch
by inch, until the glorious work OF redeem
ing the State is finally and happily accom-;
iplished. -. -: 9. -'