The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-30
Our Duty in the Present and
the Future.

HS'ei Si'eu W duy pcople W uEIul
than was pressed to our lips. But W
drank it. And We have borne tn,
consequences, whether patiently or i'm
patiently, our lives must testify. 1
IS not in human nature, nor was it il
ours, to bear the working Of such (
bitter draught without many contor
tlons Of countenance and efforts t.
resist or evade it's effects. Some ef
forts We made; they were feeble, fu
tile, vain. The power that overcame
us in the FIRST place, was still present
and still more powerful to crush any
efforts the victim might make. We
have acquiesced. We have accepted
the situation. We write with loath.
ing horror of the expression. But we
have accepted the situation. The
cause so dear to the hearts of so many
brave and noble men, who died for it,
is dead. Virginia, the mother of he
roes, sleeps in nameless grave. Her
sister States lie dead and buried around
her. Their phantoms still linger
around AID haunt the places of their
graves. They, too, will vanish after
awhile, and what images or powers
will take their place We know not.
What duties are for us whose mo-
thers lie dead and buried in the soil
beneath our feet? Them We can
serve no more. No longer with ten
der reverence we can wait about their.
steps Carolina, our mother, is dead.
We have mourned her. We reverence
her dead, perhaps more than we ever
did whilst living. But grief must be
laid aside. Tears avail not, and death
is better than hopeless sorrow. We
live, and life's duties press upon US
with a stern demand for performance
which cannot be resisted or evaded.
Let us turn from the past, which can
never be changed, to that future which
is yet ours. We believe that our first
duty is to lay aside our grief. We
must turn from the grave where our
dead mother lies buried. She is dead
we can never revive her. Were she
only sleeping there might be some
hope that We could awake her, but she
is dead. Dead. Can she never awake?
No, never. Other States and nations |
before she was born lived and died, |
md their names only survive. They |
come back no more. We must, as |
best We may. lay aside our grief, and |
90 on resolutely to do that work which |
he present and future demand. What !
ire those duties and what are the de-
hands Of the future?
We, for one, believe thar our first
,reat duty in ths facure is to give our |
Whole atteAsfdh to the development
nd increase of the material weslth of
he country. Political power has pass
d from us, and we can never regain
otherwise than through the power
t wealth. Oar exposures of the cor
aptions existing in the local and gen.
raj governments are utterly vein and !
nproftable We are laughed at and |
espised for our pains. But let us T.
OF by peculation or speculation, Ans
y the steady and peaceful purssashs of
sriculture and commerce, grow rich =, |
t US make our fields, and cities and
illages teem with real and Is sting
the result of our enterprise,
ld you need net doubt that we will
len have a due share Of political
over, if we desire it. LET intellec-
ial and religious educ'.tion go ha1d
, hand with our industrial pursuits,
nd We may have a future that need
OF be ashamed to be placed side by
de with the illustrious past.
Our views may be thought low and
)rdid, but they are far otherwise.
here is desire for wealth which is
ulgar and mean and base. When it
sought for the splendor 1t may give,
r for the luxurious ease it may yield
5 possessor, or the power it may give
indulge in all mere sensual pleas
res, or for its osn sake to satisfy a
liserly greed, which always proves
lsatiable. When it is sought for any
these reasons, the fine gold has al
ayS a dim and tarnished lustre But
hen sought that it may be means
good; that it may be instrumental
l the regeneration of a great people ;
zen it becomes sancti6ed to the high
It service and is worthily sought
uch We would have it. We would
., 49, lo.+ o,oro;os of ibo ,oon1o |