The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-01


gusted and dlsheartened, have abandoned
their homes, to begin life anew in the dis
tant West.
All this is blue enough. Aye! black and
blue; but there is more cheerful side to
the gloomy picture. The solid gain Of the
State, agricultural and commercial; the
thTiftier habits OF the people; their persist
ent and plucky wrestling with grinding
care-these cannot be stolen by the Ring in
one year or fen. The fraudulent public debt
will never be paid. All that the Ring can
extsrt is an exorbitant tax during the few
months that they remain in power. Their
crimes break them down. Before long, they
will be driven forth, with the brand upon
their forehead, condemned alike by Repub-
lican and Democrat, by white man and ne
gro. 1t is as certain as anything in this
State can be, that he Legislature and the
public officers to be elected this fall will be
better men than those who, these four years,
have lorded it over the State. There is no
dogged obstinacy to stand in the way OF re-
form. The conservatives are ready to march
side by side with their old opponents to
achieve the triumph OF intelligence and
honesty over ignorance and vice. Nor can
the reign Of terror in the up.country long
endure. That section of the State is full OF
vigorous life. As soon as the heel OF the
soldier is removed, the upper counties will
again move forward And when the civil
law is rigidly and impartially enforced,
neither white nor black shall want that full
protection and security without which no
community can flourish. The refugees will
be glad enough, ere long, to come back
home. 1t will be the story OF Mexico and
Brazil over again. The frugality and the
perseverance which are demanded OF them
if they would succeed abroad, will, as thous-
ands have learned, make them even more
successful among their kiDsiolk in their ma
tive State
Charleston has had both the crown and
the cross. The efforts OF her people to
purify the Municipal Government have been
Unexpectedly successful. This city has
vigilant and progressive administration,
instead OF one in which the leaders were
knaves, fanatics or fools. There is new life
in the streets and on the wharVes. The
railroads, Of which Charleston is the termi-,
nal point, stretch out their mighty arms
farther and farther towards the West and
South Even the pestilence, which for months
made Charleston city OF desolation, has
not seriously Injured commerce or trade.
There is every cause for encouragement and
no reason for despondency. Charleston isi
mnripg onward. Her business is larger
year by year, and next New Years day who
ever may, iu these columns, review the his
tory Of 1872, will tell glad tale OF Difficult
ties overcome and dangers past-of activity,
and content.
Let us put behind us all Of the dreary past!
that is gloomy and displritiOg-pick gthe
wheat from the chat, and never look back:
except when we would make light Of coming
peril by remembering that greater troubles
were met and overcome. This State is hard
to kill. All the rogues and rascals in Heath
enesse cannot destroy her beyond hope OF
1t may seem that she is in
The chuckling crew may declare
that the great heart beats family, and the
rattle is in her beauteous throat. But as
sure as her sons are steadfast and true;
steadiast in working, and true and loyal in
spirit; their mother, South Carolina, will
rise again-pointing with pride to the honor
able scars Of ill-deserred affection, and
wearing, in honor, the diader which they
only can win who have borne the brunt Of
battle, and who, from among the thorns of
anguish and suffering, have. plucked the
blushing rose Of prosperity and peace.