The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-06-07

Extract from the Address Of \. II
Whitfield, Esq, Delivered
at Aberdeen.

In the philosophic mind there
fore the common view that victory
is with our friends across the
Tweed finds no place but real vic
tory is seen, in the light of the tri-
umph of our principles, to rest with
us. Nor this, only, does philosophy
reveal; its solemn teachings also
whisper US that the future destiny
of the South will owe its splendors
to that very gloom which settled
DER US, in the humiliation and agony
of apparent defeat, like a night
without star. True, Southland,
+ "From where Potomac's waters lave
The tomb of Washington,
To Rio Grandes distant wave
Beneath the setting sun"
is scarce else than vast cemetery.
Too true, that funeral Grape floats,
in every breeze, from the marble
front of the palatial mansion, to the
gate Of ''the cottage by the sea-"
Yet it is ours to recall, that what
ever is sublimest in the annals OF
Christianity looms DER the ocean
of time like the Northern lights,
more Respondent for the surround
ing shadows of relentless persecu-
ton. Whatever is most glorious in
the achievement of military heroes
will be found to be the triumphs
of minds, whose granite mould and
resistless genius were Graded in
storms, and schooled by adversely
Whatsoever, in the high, pure realm
of literature, is truly immortal, IN
varying history proves the ripened
product of intellects that lowered
to the regions Of perpetual sun
light through atmospheres dark
with clouds and tempests F! See the
opposite of the Gentiles," in chains
before Agrippa! Behold Bonaparte
on the Corsican shores in commu-
Mon with oceans eternal roll or the
wrathful sweep of the storm-cloud
/ Contemplate johnson and DeQuin-
cey pacing in solitary anguish, at
/ midnight, the silent streets of pop
ulous London, friendless and home
less! And tits as true of nations as
of men. What brighter, in Prussian
annals, than Frederick's deathless
victories over banded Europe, in
her hour of gloom! What more
| splendid in Scotia's history, than
! the sun burst of Bannockburn dissi-
pating her long night, as:
Coward still the Scottish lion bore,
! And still the scattered Southr0n fled be-
fore,
1t is grief which makes great =;
tits gloom that imparts grandeur.
What, then, though we stand amid
| the wreck of desolated and dis
mantled homes, with the bright
relics of princely fortunes strewn
ruthlessly about US: the endurance
of our all-unconquerable people
shall take on the qualities Of the
eternal granite; their tremendous
energies quicken with the vitality
of q power scorning impossibilities ;
and their proud Will be clothed
with the lofty sweep of inevitable
Fate-the imperious resistiessness
of destiny itself! What though the
lowering shadows and shrouding
gloom of apparent national defeat
hang, like gathered mists, around
the SUBMITS of our mountains the
craftsmanship of the future, born
under these auspices and trained in
this hard school, vested with the
perfect selfcommand, the exalted
purpose, and magnificent capabili-
ties such training can alone give,
will loom. amid its triumphs, from
the loftiest summit of the intellect
ual world, like