The farmers' vindicator. (Jackson, Miss.) 1873-1???, 1874-06-19

mounted-its errors plainly marked
and its achievements of solid merit an
substantial progress in the arts an
sciences of life's great and small indu
tries, should be with us a living streal
of pure water, to enliven with the
purling music, the waste places of life
And in summing UP the results let L
judge its issues without prejudice {
evil on the one hand, or unwise fave
or enthusiasm ON the other.
In scanning the past, or as we COL
suit the sentinels upon the watch tow
ers Of national, social, or business life
we are invited to a field on whose broa
plain are displayed every interest cor
nected with our present or future
The limits of an address do not ADM
Of an extensive exploration of its va
ried qualifications.
We must leave to the statesmen tn
great issues connected with nationa
affairs. Its questions Of reconstruction
of financial policy, of internal improve
ment, of International diplomacy, O
civil service reform, and the thousand
and one measures that rise, in all the
mazes of partisan confusion, must be
referred to those who WELD authority
in high places Of trust and RESPONSE
bility. We must, in religious, secta-
rian; or theological concerns, leave to
the wisdom of the pulpit and the priest
hood, matters pertaining to the church
of God. Science, literature, educa-
ton, and all the grand movements in
the drama of human elevation and pro-
gress, we must defer to those who pre-
side in academic halls.
IT is TO THE ORDINARY CONCERNS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE
that we should direct our attention,
and deduce therefrom, wise and just
In viewing the past, we
are especially attracted by the change
that has occurred in our domestic affairs.
Never, in the history of any people,
was there so sigllal, so complete and
radical revolution as has occurred in
the habits. pursuits and business of
Southern life, within the brief period
1t but little more than ter years, and
The whole structure of our domestic
fabric has crumbled into massive ruins,
md out of the dark waves of heart
ess revolution has sprung new systems,
strange ideas and novel processes, alike
unintelligible and incom pat
BILE with the teachings, training and
habits of a lifetime.
The present generation commenced
heir career under circumstances, in
very particular, favorable to happi-
ess and prosperity. Our forefalhers
established institutions they vainly
bought were based upon principles as
as the granite of their ma
We hills. They erected a superstruc-
ire whose foundation was laid, as they
'usted, broad and deep upon the rock
eternal truth and consummate wis
ON. But, alas for the frailties of all
uman calculation, their toll was in
ain, their wisdom proved but the
ream of the enthusiast, and their
opes failed of fruition; submerged in
lie fog, and destroyed by the malaria
laA arose out of that poisoned fanati-
SIN which rioted for years throughout
e length and breadth Of our land.
nd we find ourselves, to-day, the :
gatees of bankrupt systems, instead !
the inheritance of that peace, wealth 9
ID prosperity they labored and strug- :
ed to establish for us. 7
IT, THANK GOD! OUT OF THE CHAOS +
OF A SAVAGE WAR,
D have much left that gives an earnest Q
genuine hope. That wild fanati- t
I'M that finally deluged this fair land |
blood, and swept away much of the S
and splendor of the ante i
Tam period, eradicated its time.hon- t
ed institutions and destroyed the i'm, f
ense value invested in a peculiar t
ecies of property, could not, and did o
t, rob us of the strength Of our man. r
cd. Nature, with her golden shield, a
eserved our sunny skies, our gentle a
ms, and our fertile soil, from the o
asping venality and avaricious Gu O.
lily Of a maddened revolution, and p
d, with a voice of authority, Thus Of
shalt thou go, and no farther" III
If homesteads, shattered though they st
and dismantled as many of them fl
}, around which bright associations tn
ger and tender memories gather, are K
| our own, and our God-given en- T
les and unconquerable natures, sur. al
ing the wreck of crushed hopes, hi
ppling for years with almost insur. m
untable difficulties, still assert their of
sgrity and bid defiance to the hatred
ealous conquerors, untoward circum- ST