The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-27

ana our puDllc crealt QallJ SINKING. Inls iS Ho
jeremaid. 1t is simple, sad statement OF
facts. Anxiously have pondered the subject:
I can see no remedy but the Introduction Of
foreign capital and skilled labor Poor as we
are, if it be necessary to spend money to secure
this result, spend it. 1t is wise for the poorest
man to spend ten dollars, if he has it, to secure
one hundred dollars. Public representative
bodies who expend money, however wisely, IN
unaccustomed directions, are always subject Of
cayil by the Ignorant or quarreous. -ai-
When the Legislature of New York, under
the lead of Dewitt Clinton, determined upon
the construction of the Erie Canal, a camor
was raised against this wasteful expenditure Of
the public money Those who clamored have
been forgotten, but the name of Dewitt Clin-
ton lives, as one of the greatest benefactors OF
that great State.
When the Georgia Legislature passed the
bill to construct the Western and Atlantic Rail-
road, it was stigmatized as mad scheme. TO
build road which "began nowhere and ended
nowhere" What would Georgia be this day
without it? 1t is now, an honor to be able to
say: was member of the Legislature which
created that road.
If the BODY now in session would adopt mea
sures which shall bring to us foreign capital
and skilled labor, in short time the murmurs
of discomfort will cease, and, as the fruits be-
gin to appear, will be followed by the plandits
of an approving and grateful constituency.
! Before the convention of the Georgia State
Agricultural Society rises, 1 hope that in the
| warmest and strongest manner the members
will pledge themselves to sustain the noble
spirits in the Legislature who are deyoting
themselves to this great purpose: IF the bills
fail now let them be introduced again. Let
their motto, and ours, be agitate agitate ag-
itatel until these great wants are supplied
After these dry, and perhaps wearisome details,
| indulge me in a moment OF sentiment.
Georgiais the child of immigration. Many
years since, as | stood by the tomb OF NOgie-
thorpe, the founder of Georgia, accompanied
by two of his servants, each more than ninety
years of age, the thought occurred to me that
could that great and good man rise from the
grave, cross the Atlantic and revisit his little
settlement at Yamacraw, with what delight he
would witness the result of his labors-a beau
tiful city with every feature of his original
| plan religiousy preserved q stately Common
wealth, with population healthy, virtuous,
intelligent and refined, happy in their homes,
happy under wise and equal laws.
But since that day there has been change.
i The State has been swept over by an enemy,
who, rs weapon of war, preferred the torch
to the sword-burning dwellings, churches
and school houses carrying on cheap contest
with women and non-combatants, in which
starvation was the chief implement of torture.
The tranquil scene of former years is chang
ed into one of deep anxiety. Without our ac,
customed labor, without money, with impaired
credit with increased responsibilities, with the
heavy hand of the Government bearing rs
down, we stagger under the burden.
Would that another Oglethorpe might arise;
who, in this our hour of necessity, should
bring again the capital and muscle of Europe
to assist in our defense. Defense against what
and whom? Not as of yore, against the beast
of the forest-they have disappeared as the
forest was laid low. Not against the merciless
savace-he has passed away in the dim and
distant West. Not against the Spaniard-he
has lost foothold upon the Continent. But
against men of our own race and religion,
speaking the same language, living nominally
under the same laws and the same government /;
against the finger of scorn and the encroach-
ments of power with which might is right
Assist in our defense? How and in what man
ner7 BY the arms and munitions of war! by
shot and shell? BY cannon and musketry 7
Oh, no Far be the day when grim visaged
war shall again show his horrid front among
us. But by the omnipotent arts of prosperous
peace, arts omnipotent as is the sun, whose
genial rays melt the very bolts of Winter,
! penetrates and warns the frozen earth, viyify
! the torpid seeds, paint their leaves with the
emerald verdure of the Spring and then the
golden yellow of the harvest. AS is the sun
who disperses the pelting, binding rain drops
into mist, drives it into its fantastic home amid
4 the clouds, and lights up the darkened earth
with its noontide rays AS is the sun who by
his silent but restless power Overmasters rude
Boreas, consigns him bowling to his cave, and
bids the frightened denizens of earth walk forth
secure in the peaceful light of day. All hail
bright, beamy, balmy, beautiful, bountiful
Peace alma mater of unnumbered blessings to
mankind. BY her arts we propose defense
By the white sails of commerce, by the tireless
muscle of the iron horse, by the teeming pro-
ducts of the soil, by the busy hum of machin.
cry, by the hammer and the saw, by the tlres OF
1.-The forge the furnace and the rolling mill, and
above ali, by a numerous, busy, intelligent,
law-abiding and virtuous population-the
|,crowning ornament of a great State.
The arts of peace-agriculture commerce,
manufactures. The triple cord which binds
together each in its place the well compacted
members of the Commonwealth. The triple
wall of the building of the States which nei-
tber totters nor falls. The triple munition of
defense impregnable against external assault, a
fortress at once and a tempc-fortress against
foes from without temple from whose altars
within there arises to Almighty God the
thanksgivings Of a grateful people.
When by the arts of peace the South is
made great and prosperous and powerful, the
simple majesty of her presence will disarm or
oyerawe hostility. She will be courted, not
spurned. Her alliance will be sought not
sighted. Those who now point at her the
finger of scorn, approaching her will bend
the "hnges of the knee that thrift may follow
fawning." Adventures and traitors will have
outlived their opportunity. There will be no
more dragonnades. Enforcement acts will no
longer insult us. The rule of the bayonet will
cease, and law, the civil laws, Gods vicegerent
upon earth, will reign supreme.
Among the States of the South there has
beeu a sisterhood of sorrow and disappoint-
ment. We have wept together over the grave
| e a.x xararad father and chief The eldest