The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-22

IuSiy Ihx e&oo6ueO tn6t IN the southern
States; and while at the first census the
population Of the South represented one.
half of the totdl population of the coun.
try, in 1850 it was less than -one-third.
The population of the great State of
Virginia, in the early days of the repub-
lie, almost equaled that of any two
Northern States, while in 1860 she
ranked fifth on tho census list, and she
averaged only twenty-si1 persons to tho
squire mile; whereas Massachusetts ave.
ragged 157. Our material progress, then,
from year to year, was not what it should
have been, and in that respect the result
was continuous loss of power and in
fuence upon the part of the South. This
fact is .indisputable, whatever the causes
may have been, and it is useless now to
inquire whether it was the result of false
staeesmanship and an unfortunate pre-
Judlce against commerce and manufac.
lures, or the effect of our peculiar fnsti-
tutlons. The causes, however, no longer
exist, and our present condition and
opportunities are such as should insure
us, If true to ourselves and to the lessons
of the past, our full share of prosperity.
The losses. hardshipH and suffedinos that
nave befnlten our people are we'll calcu-
lated to make them iappreciate now the
Importance lof developing. iall) our re.
sources, Anf will. no doubt eiiurnte
them not only to realize the necessity a
tabortn dH its forms as the means 6f mn
terial success, but also to honor it as An
essential condition of social progress.
There could be no better schooling for our
people in this respect than their recent
experiences, and they already understand
In all its force the true meaning, as we'll
as the philosophy of the Divine decree: J:
"By the sweat of thy brow thou shalt
earn. thy bread" It is an interesting
mot IN this connection, said to be estab.
hshed by statistics, that the health OF
coionists IN not climates is in direct pro-
portion TO their habits of industfv.
Those colonists, for example. who lahSr
habitually, secure health, as natures RI.
ward for their work, and leave a hardy
progeny behind them to inhabit and
possess the land; while those who are
inert, or whose habits Of life are seden-
tarys are more subject to disease and
transmit to their descendants enfeebIcd
constitutions, as natures curse for the
violation of her laws. ''''
"Cheeted with the Wow, man went to till
the ground 80.
From whence he rose; sentenced. in.
deed, to toll - =
AS TO Q punishment; yet (e'en in wrath
90 merc1ful Is Heaven) this toll became
The solace Of his woes, the sweet employ
VI many hvelong hour, and the surest
Against disease and death"
Inc ordeal, it is true, to which our
people nave been subjected since tho
The sorrows and horrors of waf we're % az.
ceeded by the evils of reconstrn ct;on.
(Which, under the humilintinU tvranny
OF corrupt officials, surpassed anything
That was. ever before inflicted upon q
people OF the same culture and ciyfIiza-
ton, and there Is nothing we have to
deplors more bitterly than, the eject
upon those who. were unable from ACE
TO accommodate themselves, to the nev
circumstances, or to change, with imnu-
nifty, their habits. The youno Can
change their mode of life. AS NAV 8e ne
cessary, and can meet and outIiye losses
and troubles. but this is raroly possible
with those advanced in years. How many
OF our most respected and honored have
succumbed to untold trials, losses and
humiliations, who would otherwise have
liveo 70 Q good old age! This is, indeed,
one Oh the saddest features of the sad
picture, and should be included with
tnose memories of the past that claim
SPooS oJ APutuy.f
subject, it may be necessary to meet the
objection, that the recent tendency to
centrailzatlon &c t,altlon Will end in imperialism,
and that, accordingly. the. future Of
our t republican government Is uncertain.
% There is, however, no just cause for ap-
prehension. The American people will
neither be defrauded of their inher;tonoa
Of Of liberty nor forcibly deprived of It.
They are too intelligent to be deluded.
and TOO brave to be overawed. The pas.
slons and prejudices Of the hour NAV
temporarily cloud the truth, but the sun.
SHINE OF returning reason will soon dissi-
pate the mlsts, and public opinion will be
again heard on the side of constitutional
government The republic has been
termed "an experiment" but it has now now
weathered the political storms of almost
2 a century, and the people are not only
fuiiy lmbued with the spirit of freedom.
and deeply attached to their inst;tnt;ona
but, what is equally Important. thav