The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-31
s. G.
Sunday Morning. December 81, 1871.
'1e71-ls7a,
1e51-1sya.
LET our just cenaures

1651-1812.
''-Let our just oenaures
Attend the true event, and put we on
Industrious soldiership."
We have some words for the country
and some for ourselves on this oocasion.
To-day. the year 1871 dies. Tomorrow.
the year 1872 will dawn upon us. It is
not unusual at this transition period for
journals to indulge in deep reflections on
and long reviews Of the PAST. We shall
be brief; for brief we must be when the
duties of the PRESENT and the oonsidera-
ton Of the FUTURE press so heavily upon
us, especially in this stricken State. The
PAST is gone. with its gains and losses,
its hopes and fears, its victories and de-
feats. its good and evil. We cannot re-
call 1t. it we would. It is our duty,
however, as individuals and as citizens,
to review 1t fairly, to draw from it the
lessons OF experience, to hold fast to all
that is good and true. and to depart
from all that is vicious and false. AS to
the PRESENT.. this is what we have mainly
to deal with as respects our active ener-
giles. We hold that our duties are
obvious. It is to deal squarely with the
circumstances that surround us, to make
the most Of them, and, as much as in us
lies. to mould them to our just purposes.
Whilst thus doing, let no unworthy sacri-
fees be made of principle, or personal
or public integrity. Let US rather hold
our heads, if possible. yet higher, stiffen
our knees. and march ccolly through the
walks of life in the line of our private
and public duties.
And here let US put in word for the
Counties lately subjected to the invasion
Of their rights, their liberties, their in
dustries and their peace, and to all the
State more or less affected by the disas-
trous results of the twin war, waged upon
us by corrupt State Government and
by powerful and prejudiced Federal
Administration We regret that Dor
tion OF our people, as respects Ku Klux-
ism, were 80 provoked as, in their ex-
tremity, to take false position. But,
feeling that they have been more sinned
against than SHINING, our reproaches are
thereby affected, and ne, at least, do
pardon something to the spirit of out
ragged humanity. But the question is,
what shall now be done2 1t is this: to
take warning by the political capital
made out of Ku Kluxism, not again to
take position that will prove untena-
BILE, and not again to adopt any policy
that will not bear the wear and tear of
time and accidents, and that will not
stand the test of Heavens searching eye
and mans highest and best ethics. Mi
norities must keep plainly In the right,
and observe the letter of the law. Ma.
jorities may do much that is wrong, and
auccess seems to dignity the acts, how
ever monstrous.
We are in minority, but if God be
with US, and the enlightened public
opinion of the world be on our side, We
will prevail against the strong battalions
OF ERROR and WRONG. Let our people,
then, take heart. and on the occasion of
new year, go on bravely and hopefully,
and make the most of their industrial
and other pursuits. At the same time,
let us not forget our public duties. In
every County in the State. let the people
rally and organize for the redemption of
the State. and for the overthrow of the
ruling dynasty of thieves and swindlers.
Let these public enemies be pursued
under the forms of law, and brought be-
fore the courts of the land. Let stern
public opinion be formed that will,
with electric force, ecorch and blast the
brazen crew of land pirates that are
lording it over q fettered Slate.
AS for the FUTURE, that is with the
Almighty Ruler of men, States and ma
tions. If we take care Of the PRESENT,
We feel aure that the FUTURE will take
care of us as individuals and as COM
munity. forming portion of Gods peo-
pie. We contemplate it with hope and
firm resolve. Never have we felt more
determined or more confident than now,
when the waves Of disaster are rolling
mountain high over our State and the
tears OF our women are mingled with the
rolling waters. Robert e. Lee said:
Human 0irtue ought to be equal to human
calamity" AS for ourselves-as respects
this Journal-we are seeking to redeem
the promise made when, on November
18th. last, we indicated the service to
which we had resolved to dedicate our
energies. the kind of warfare we are
waging, the public have seen. We OK.
peot to keep on the same road, trusting
that the light which leads us on is slight
from Heaven Ao 10 +oo,r1or,