Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-17
For the Whig and Tribune.
Thoughts at Random strung.

For the Whig and Tribune.
Thoughts at Random strung.
Where are our fathers and the
early patriarchs? They are sleeping
beneath the quiet SOD of the valley.
Do we ever hear their voices! Only
when we look over the golden pages
of their past history. Then the
blaze of country's love, Christian
charity, neighborly kindness, the
welfare of others, the culture or
morals and the high regard for civil
and religious liberties, all blaze in
the face of a wicked and perverse
generation. Have we anything that
should prompt US to reformation!-
Surely we have. Where are the
fair fields of fertile soil? 1t Is ours.
Where is the sunny cline? 1t is
ours. Where is the garden spot Of
the world? 1t is the sunny South
and the Western States. All these
/ look us in the face with their prime
val beauty, and beckon us to press
| forward to the culture of their rich
valleys. Then may laudable emula-
ton spread over her beautiful bo-
som, until we shall make ourselves
a place and name upon the pages
of a nations history, that shall be
as a beacon light to guide the feet
of our wandering sons to take shell
ter under the banner of our high
moral and religious liberties.
Who will first take up the line of
march? Where is the "Mill-boy Of
the Slashes," that was raised poor,
learned to endure hardships, and
undergo privations, but who by
honesty and integrity has called
around him bright constellation OF
friends who have stood for him like
brothers? Where is his influence!
| Is it being directed to the upbuild-
ing of the morals of the youth and
middle-aged? We fear not to the
extent that it should be. Perhaps
his light is now "under a bushel"-
in the wine glass, at the billiard oI
card-table, the public races, shaving
or oroppressing the poor. Oh! wretch
ed We are clamorous over our op
preston. This is hard tits true; bu
are we dead? Wemay be chastened
but not killed; poor, but we cal
make many rich; sorrOwful, yet W.
have abundant reason TO rejoice
For we have the most fertile coun
try in the world, the most pleasan
climate, the best water, the pures
air, few good schools, some goot
churches, and a number of goo
ministers. Can we not build up ou
country's interest and the morals 0
our once happy land with such
foundation as this? Then if Go
has cast our lots in such a land a
this, ought we not to feel almost q
the peculiar and once loved Israel,
) favored people of the Lord! Is
} not time that we should be one pee
pie in action, going heart and han
. to the pulling down Of the strong
holds of vice by building up tn
morals of our youths and the IT
3 ligion of our ancestors? VIII W
, not rally to the bequeathed an
r b!ood-stained banner of our father
9 who struggled for civil and religion
I liberties, gained the victory an
handed to us the laurels of freedom
e Now will we, with the advantage
e of which we boast, in the glare
c the nineteenth century, do honor
{ the names and memories of OF
d fathers, and to the name of God OF
@ Creator? Or will we forsake Il
e God ofour fathers, and revelin eyel
! grove, and sacrifice upon every h
: of vice, aud finally become trib
Ie tarv to others who viii laugh at ol
n calamity and mock when our fe
l. cometh? Now let the past suffice
d have wrought the viii of the fies
n Let us say to the dark clouds of vi
and dissipation, "Roll your turb
bilIows back to the sea-" and let {
" watchword be onward and upwa
be to the high cultivation of morals a
tn enterprise for our country's goo
ed And to do this effectually we mt
llU turn our backs upon every pla
Of that deals out vice by the dime
dollars worth, and admonish, wh
Is convenient, those who keep saloo
"a particularly in the neighborho
nd and at the cross roads, to aband
To- that life and follow some other Il
he will give more peace in dying no
NJ Then persuade some of our n
of Young men to obtain a good edu
ton, others 10 the farm, the wo
nat shop, the printing press, the cler
Su desk, and every branch of busin
ice that would accelerate our countI
nd, good. Leave off kid gloves, hi
eS, heeled boots, smoking fine Gig
49,. and tipping glasses at the salooI
he And before the close of the pres
be century the light of nations 81
md will penetrate the darkest corne
mas mas Then the once over-ridden
old down-trodden people would becC
ery the Queen of the South and of
= parental home, where the oppres
nat nat could find shelter, the Christia
90 safe retreat-our churches crow
hat with attentive hearers, and
ible grog-shop left desolate. w
AN places would then build up, railrC
: in would be constructed where
lich are much needed, school-hOuses
on churches erected, the INDECENT
phan cared for, and the poor
neglected. Then our light W.
hies truly shine to all around, and
be- lamp to guide the footsteps of
Ings sons to the high moral and Chris
IN IN duties which are a nations q
, as and honoring to God. For
The will soon have to fill our place
dom we do the places Of our forefatl
liho tLa How important it is for US tC
such examples of piety and !
morals before them that they
be qualified to fill the great dl
of life that will soon rest upon d
ad- for our legislative and congressi
euu u halls must be filled with the
she'd trained minds as well as the eN
d 10 tive chair of the Q. S. y. We ;
K of much of national coFruDtion AN