The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-28

providence, the political power Of this
State is in our hands. Ten years ago
without vestige Of political power, we
are to day the absolute masters Of South
Carolina. Such change is without.
parallel, not only in its rapidity, but in
the monientous responsibilities it i'm
poses upon us Are we SO ignorant as
to imagine that God and the world " i'll
not bold US to account for our use of all
these rights? Never was there a people
on whom the eyes of the whole world
were fixed with more interest than on
the people of South Carolina to-day:
This proud State-mothcr Of statesmen,
numbering among her sons the brightest
and bravcst hearts that our country can
boast- has been cominittcl to our keep
ing. Our former mast rs have predicted
our failure. Admitting las many ofour
slave holders do, our capacity for i'm
provement i'll many directions, they
lave declared that here, in the highest
test, the negro would fail ; chat he would
be tho victim OF the cunning aud uu
scrurulou> white man, and tho base
slave Of his, own greed and dishonesty !
| wish | had ten thousand voices with
which to proclaim the great ,flct that
they, the colored men Of South Caro-
lima, are mow Q" trth b.forc Mc ,chohc
co""hy. The question is now to be
dccided-can tho colored people Of this
State maintain and administer tho
government of this State upon the basis
of self government aud unrestricted suf:
iraSe? This is the tremendous re
sponsibility which we arc to meet The
power we have will be our condemnation
unless we arouse ourselves to our re
sponsibilitics and resolve to be overncd
by constant and profound regard for
thc public welfare. Remember, my
fellow. citizens, that no fact is more
deeply engraved OH all the tablets Of
history than this; that individual pros
pcrity can only be secured by an IN
selfish devotion to the good OF the whole
community. That State or community
is Fastening to destruction when its
citizens are no lon.er bound to each
her by the great moral liglmcnt of il
constant re gard for the welfare Of the
community as wholn. Selt-prcscrva
ton demands unscltiSh patriotism If
We make Of the machinery of govern
ment anything else than means of pro
noting the common good, we remove
the very foundations oil all our civil
liberties. The former slave holder, who.
pe:chance, still denies your right to
freedom and sullenly opposes every
civil right which you demand, is not
half SO dangerous an enemy as he of
your own party who teaches you to re
gard the functions Of public officer rs
the means of merely securing your own
personal aygran dizo nent. Moth ing can
save that people who have come to con
slider public position as a source Of pr
vntc advantage or gain. Your liberties,
yourcivil ghto all that you now hold most
dear will be dust and ashes, unless you
use them undera sense of ynlr RESPONSE
blity for good government and the gencr
al public veal
To-day the North doubts whether we
can maintain decent government in
South Carolina. TO day our friends
blush for us. To day they lrok to see
whether We are capable Of shaking off
this monstrous 5urdon Of NAL admins
tration, and rising to IL tolerablc degree
OF regard Tor our common public inter
cs's. sNllstakcs, many aud gricvous
may be made without impairing the
confidence OF our generous friends aboad;
but it Is not our errors and incxperiencc
which threaten to ruin US ; it is the pre-
sent reckless disregard Of public inter
| ests. the prostitution of the machinery
OF the Governmental personal ends, and
the total lack Of responsibility on the
part Of some Of our public officers.
e rise our demand for complete
civil rights, and tho answer is, show u
thnty you are capable of approaching your
rights, restore good government to South
Carolina, Use hor revenues to public
ends; build up her material prosperity:
vindicato your right to full citizens Of