Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01
1874.

To-day we commence anOther year. III
some respects the prospects are gloomy but
we must consider that there never was a time
when all was bright and propitious The
year through which we have just passed was
hard one, and it is scarcely possible that we
will be able fully to recover from all its re-
tarding and prostrating effects in another
twelve months. Many and grievous calami-
ties have befallen the American nation during
the past ten years. Some of these could not
be avoided others we have brought upon our
selves by imprudence and miscalculation.
Droughts, floods, blights and distinctions of
crops by insects, are calamities which no hu-
man foresight or skill can prevent
Many of the calamites in which we are at
present involved did not have their origin in
uncomfortable causes, but in others of far
different nature. AS people we have at
tempted to do big business on a small cap
ital. The motive may have been good, or it
may have been bad-the result in either case
would have been the same Men, in all the
avocations of life, from the humble smith at
the anvil, to the banker behind his counter,
have attempted impossible things. They have
tried to accomplish as whole, what only oc-
casionally succeeds in the individual. They
have attempted to make fortune in few
years, or in one year, with no capital and in
many instances without judgment, experience
or industry. Hence, for the last six years
there has been, in all the operations and un-
dertakings of the country, kind of sham
work which had surface but no solidity. A
large number of our people have been living
in earnest expectation that something favora-
BILE would turn up in a short period which
would relieve them. In this they have been
deceived. They have been trusting in
dream and leaning for support upon vapor.
Another source from which our calamities
have sprung, is found in the fact that very
considerable number of our people depend
upon legislative enactments for all kinds OF
relief. 1t seems strange that all enlightened
and intelligent people would do this. No
legislative enactments can make an indolcnt,
prodigal and thriftless people industrious,
economical and enterprising. Reformation
must commence with the masses of the peo-
pie. Legislators and legislative enactments
are usually only an index of the body polite
We will look in vain for relief from our trou
bles by anything that legislators may enact
Legislators are generally, at present, charged
with being corrupt. This, no doubt, with
few exceptions, is true; but it only argues
that the masses of the people whom they rep
resent is corrupt.
Notwithstanding the undeniable fact that
the future is not free from gloom, there are
many encouraging prospects. The calamities
with which we are now struggling will teach
US some very important practical lessons
Experience is dear school, but the lessons
are always we'll taught and easily reduced to
practice. In the future our people will be
more cautious than they have been in the
past. It is favorable omen that all parties
have discovered that there is something wrong,
and are calling for reform. The darkest hour
in the whole night is the one that precedes
the break of day. So it may be with regard
to the present condition of the country. 1t
may be that light is about to break in upon
US at least we hope that such is the case, and
we can see no bad results that can attend the
cherishing and fostering such a hope. Just
now our country expects every man prudently
to do his duty. If this is done, we feel con-
vinced that the darkness will soon fly away,
and the light break in upon US. We want
less talk and more work.