Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-01-15

ink has been spilled over the Republi-
can party during the last few years,
owing to the reluctance far morc than
inability Of President Grand to make
speeches. The pcctasters anl h umor-
lists, tho sntirists and logiciars, have
all .alikc united i'll affirming his unfit
ness because Of this fact for the high
administrative duties of aposition
which requires only that its incum-
bent should acritc, not verbally deliver,
lis views, and Recommendations.
Most American Prcsid dents have been
polished takers, but no one Of them
was elected to that high position
simply OIL account ofhis possessing
such talent.
Af;chapge has come ovcrtho criti:.
cal dream. Mr.. Speaker Kcrr's ap-
pointmcnt as2s;leadcr Of the House" a
man who having served for four years
in that body without opening his lips,
either inc colloqrial debate or set
speech, must of necessity be presumed
to be especially well qualified for a
post which is commonl.Esupposcd re-
! quircs i'll {. prc-cmincnt degree the
capacity to think on ones feet, and
to speak readily and clearly at all
times and to the point Mr.. Kerr is
praised for doing this by the same
pens and tongues thet have heretofore
found no vocabulary copious enough
to abuse the Republican President,
who has never pretended 10 be
spccch-makcr There is distinction
with difference don't you see?
Mr., Morr son, Chairman of the Ways
and Means, ought to be able to speak,
and either can't or won't, while the
President ls not required to, and hav-
ing neither taste nor inclination there
fore, imply avails himself Of his pri-
vilegc and refraina.
We have now entered on the year
which is to signalizc the, completion
of a century Of Independence Of one
Of the grandest nations TINT have ever
existed. With all our faults and, ,
like other peoples, we havca greatcr
| quantity than is good for us-we
stand out to-day, Mt the end Of a hun
drcd years Of solfgoycrnmcnt, more
independent, noble, manly nation
than anywhere else can be found; as
prosperous rs any; and with prospects
"neuu winch cast into deep shade
those Of any other race whatever.
What the genius of cur people has
accomplished has taught humanity a
lesson whose effects arc revealing
themselves everywhere in Christen-
dom and far outside Of it. Our sue
cess has been powerful aid to those
who have strivcn against dcspotism
and class arrogance in, countries
whose inhabitants were wont to be
used rs mere political tools; has de-
mons:ratcd The fallacy Of "diyinc
right" doctrines; and has led to re-
cognition and respect Of plcbian merit
in quarters where hostility to "com-
moners" was once rampant. We
have done for ourselves what we have
reason to fc rcioiccd at but we have
brought about that for the outside
world which far transcends any home
gains. The wide propagation of that
grand principle that virtue and merit
alone are worthy Of honor and reward
We have been greatly instrum entail in
carrying out, and some Of the pro-
ducts Of it are to he seen in the re-
public in France, in vastly increased
liberty in Great Britain, and in n
growth Of public opinion in Ger
many such rs promises to some day put
put an end to the tyranny which there
converts men into fighting machines
and toleratcs no protest.
AS a people we have fulfilled our
grander duties nobly. Washington
himself could hardly have hoped for
more; and Heaven grant that in tho
coming century our course may be
onward; that patriotism may gain and
sclfishncss diminish; that the tcndcn-