New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-20
"cOr tho Right
By FANNIE A. BARRIER.

By FANNIE A. BARRIER.
T..,s Et.5- .ri,s Ss'0 N,''cac! Bro aaa c.a..en:
0u, Of the intricate chain which binds hu-
ran cn!cayors and for;1s human divisions,
NC dcs:gHa,e in every link different phases
d: nature cmbodying abilities for labor,
,t-angth oC thought and perseverance Of aim.
which, issuing from every department OF life,
and, influenced by every kind ofcircumstance,
III, IN the stream which, rs it becomes con-
rrept with the common tide Of existence,
generates noblene~s, virtue, and strength. or
,5.:cr, mcanncs>, misery, and vice, thus
,oakir- ~ The sum Of life.
When We recall all that has been accom-
r,..baf. AMI from il concludc what can be
done il the way Of reformation and advance
ncr:. w rejoice that to no station in life is
n-o-ro., limited. aud that to success is IRE
scntcd 10 appeal o! former degradation.
\ people i;nmu-cd in bondage two hun
bred and fifty years, with sel!-respcct tram
Ped upon, faculties deadcncd, hope hanishcd,
ard surrounded by darkness, have emerged
tn.o the light OF 4 nineteenth century civili-
.ation. and the deeper gloom Of a nineteenth
century moral darkness; into their hands
have been placed tho rcns Of sclf-goYcrnmcnt
AID tho sccplcr Of moral power By the WELD
ing o. these. tic destiny Of their lives are 10
be shaped.
And from thc heights 10 which some
have attained, and the goal to which thous-
ands are fastening, we do believe that the
height brings out the stars" and that to
every cxpcc;ant and ambitious one there is
pyoiIcrcd all that lac Will seek, and even from
the wounds oG a darkcncd memory encour-
a-cmcn; Turks in aspiration, and strength Of
purpose creates victory. Many n scuiptured
agate shows n clear. white figure on field
Of black: SO, from the midst OF perjury, vice,
and dependency, the fine, sharp chiselinS
g, life and circumstances brings out in bold
relief 4 noble character; and as the cold,
gray strata serve to make more apparent the
brighter hue Of the design, so TOO often stands
forth some powerful intellect, some trans
ccndent genius from the dull atmosphere of
the commonplace workshop Of effort.
But to all this success which awaiteth,
there is a second part, another side to this
never-cnding drama. From earliest history,
the great struggle between freedom and des-
po;ism, Justice and injustice, purity and i'm
purity, has been in progress. The dazzling
tints of martial fame, the splendid achieve
ments OF successful enterprise have too often
hid from the view of Justice her uneven scales
until, in obedience TO eternal laws in the
day of unholy victory, the ayeusng Nemesis
appears.
In the palladiuns OF art, the temples Of
wisdom, and amid the affairs OF praise, even
in these proud lights, revenge majestic walks
an hOnorcd guest. Avarice sears and in
cri!,ts the heart till there remains no resist
less power. Envy smiling and fattering, pre-
sents the fruit of temptation, and scandal
marshals her hosts to defile, from whence
then is to spring the light OF TRUTH
Consciousness is the measure Of life, and
through il VIC realize that not indeed to the
uncertain record of rulers and conqucrors of
tie past, can We turn; for all over the pages
Of history it is written in blood for the
warning OF nations, "Power, without prin-
ciplc, must fall" the deeds Of genius, for n
tine NAV dazzle, but, Invested of its gilded
covering, disintcrested truth records their
virtues, their follies, and their crimes. All
along carth's pathway wasted lives arc there
On the RIGHT hand and on the left, drifting
with the hurrying tide Of life, wrecked on
rocks and shoals. 1t is the burden OF the
last despairing cry that ushers in deeper
waste, a darker gloom. 1t is the sad refrain
Of lives wasted in ideness, dissipation, and
crime.
Since then, no: in the light OF nations
or individuals Of the past or present, can we
draw the dividing liuc between good and evil
then, only as an emancipatcd people, can
establish themselves on a firm basis of right
thus warned by examples, and accepting
the subjective mode Of living which will
enable them to reach ont for labor which shall
accrue only for good, and claim citizen
ship which shall be theirs, not only by right,
bat by diyinely appointed seal, truly then
shall ''thc right come uppermost, and ever
be justice done" For, from youth to age,
the scenes are shifting, varied rs the cllmes
IN which they have their birth; tropical ter
ror and frigid severity freely minglc; every
form Of impulse comes forth in its appropriate
robes; petty schemes and noble plans jostle
each other; broad-faced humor and tender
c,ed grief pass each other unnoticed; every
faculty Of mind and soul is wildly portrayed.
Life is shaped by the choice of these imper.
.onations and this is for the actors to do.
eide; the virtues invite the vices, fiat
terry, speaks from the lips of the one, can.
dor from the other; vice deludes with fail
exterior virtue rewards with noble heart
ricc offers much, but never fulfills; virtue is
faithful 10 all her promises.