The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-14

tue nOuI VI aOIOutnmone.
INDEpENDEScE.- word. in our Ian.
guage has been the theme of more essays
among Southern people than this. It is
grand word, and appeals to all the true
manhood Of people, Political inde-
pendenco was the dream Of the Southern
politician Tor generations, and the topic
OF lmpassioned oratory on tho stump.
Commercial independence was another
great boon to be dreamed OF and talked
noout, ana TO discuss IN conventions for
the ttliatlon OF tho public ear and henrt.
The idea of depen lenco of any sort was
always CALLING to tho Southern mind.
lndgiDg by more expression OF sentiment.
Yet probably no people, until the out
Dreak OF the war, ever talked more and
did less In the way OF asserting true in.
dependence. The war itself, and the
wonderful heroism and endurance dis
played by the South in her struggle for
political Independence, was an eloquent
proof OF Southern enthusiasm on the
subject. But until then the South had
been practically the most dependent
civilized community in tho world upon
other sections and nations. Her poople
showed, when thrown Oh their own in.
genuity, remarkable capacity to develop
scif-sustaining power. and create re-
sources from almost nothing. But thew
then practically learned for the first
time that the true road to commercial
and financial independence is through
hard work. self-denial, the determination
TO make before you spend, and to spend
less than you make. This course steadi-
~ pursued will make people financially
independent. 1t will place them COM
mercially on footing Of equality with
other people, and mako commerce with
them profitable.
1t is useless for the Southern people to
repine over the mistakes OF the past.
But, looking to the future, the true road
to pecuniary independence and a fair
SHOW Of prosperity is above indicated.
Each State OF tho South may, by this
course, attain as much of true indepenl-
ence as IS possible in our political condi-
tlon: Each can then shape it's separate
destln1es as State. through it's Legisla-
tnre, 80 far as is consistent with the
rightfui authority of the central power
at Washington. That central power will
be moro apt to respect State, and alb.
stain from encroachments upon it's rights,
which thus practically asserts the spirit
OF self-rcliance. 1t is the condition of
he!plessnoss aud dependence that invites
aggression.
There is another species Of independ-
enoe 1t behooves the Southern States to
cultivate. It is independence of politi-
Gal thought and action. It is the habit
OF Judging things having political bear
ing according to their Intrinsic merits.
not according to some formula OF politi-
cal themes, or according to the arbitrary
6ehests OF party leadership and opinion.
ihere has been. heretofore, among us
too marked lack of political independ-
enoe OF thought and action. Men have
been trained in politics according to the
discipline of the camp, and to take opi.
mons as subordinates take orders-to be
obeyed, not discussed. The party lash
has been an veritable an instrume ent of
authority as the overseer's whip in times
OF yore, and woe to the voter who dared
to bid it defiance. Nothing in the bigot-
ry OF religious faith and discipline was
more Intolerant than this spirit of party
diotation.
Livery intelligent reader can trace out
Tor himself. in the history of the past,
some OF the disastrous consequences of
THIS mode OF shackling the mind and ac-
tion OF the citizen, and putting inde-
pendent thought under tho bann. Se-
cession itself, as practically carried out,
by State after State, was the direct fruit
OF this desrotism of public opinion. It
Is much to be doubted if the civil war
would ever have taken place, or at least
would have taken place when it did and
ms it did, had the true Split of indie
pendence, in thought, in expression and
In actions been properly asserted and
cultivated
Tho past, with its misfortunes and
errors, is beyond our control. It is gone
forever, with the ages beyond the flood.
But new era is upon US, and new and
great questions are before ns for solution.
They are questions us to the rights still
reserved to the States, and ho r to main
tain them. They are questions as to
how each State shall protect its own inte.
rests, guard its credit and advance its
prosperity. They are questions rs to
how the great subjects of education and
tho equal civil rights Of citizens shall be
handled. To these subjects we would
invoke, in Georgia, at least. the exercise
of untrammeled thought and the freest
discussions. This is true intellectual in
dependence.-Augusta Constituiionalisk