Wilmington journal., 1876-08-25
00(ilminqtm yolunal,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1876.

WILMINGTON, N. c.,

TEsINe9S HARD 80 UNDERSTAND
Centuries ago the author of the book
of Proverbs was compelled to excIaim
that there were some things even In
his day that he cOuid not understand,
and in those times enlightened pro-
gress had not made such gigantic
strides, as it has within the past few
years.
It was then the era of quiet, of o
nonotOnoua propriety in almost every
thing. Men were content with the
'scanty proceeds OF their daily toll,
lived only in the present and had no
thought of the future. Affairs of
state did not concern them, nor did
they ever neddle in politics; nor, let
rs add, as far as our knowledge ex-
tends, in the domestic concerns of
their neiglIbors. Everything was calm
and serene. Solomon, III all his glory,
occupied the throne of his fathers and
was distinguished throughout the
known world as the greatest, wisest
king that ever held a sceptre. We are
told that even the Queen Of Sheba
brought costly gifts to hlm, to listen
TO his words of wisdom: and yet even
III that day, when society was COM
parat,veiy nucontaminated, and he
lived in Oriental splendor and ruled
all empire of vast proportions, this
wisest of men had to acknowledge that
there were some things even he could
not understand.
If he had only lived in this nine.
teenth century of the worlds history,
We rather think he would witness
= things which would not only puzzle
him beyond measure, but to such an
extent Indeed that he would be COM
peliei to echo the Queen of Sheba's
exclamation "that the half had not
been told him." To say nothing of
the wonderful progress of the material
world, the numberless inven-
tions by Which space is,annihiiated and
the very clements made subservient to
the wants and capricns Of man, all OF
which doubtless would astOnish him
much, he would yet find in his study
of human nature in this enlightened
epoch of the worlds history mnch
more TO surprise and amaze him.
He would see merit neglected and
chicanery triumphant, virtue kicked
into the gutter and vice resplendant in
He would witness in the mad struggle
for success that is daily going OF
around MS, how all the finer and nOblel
impulses of our nature dry up and
wither beneath cold and calculating
seifshnes4. Should he turn his eyes
from individuals to governments anO
peoples, what an exhibition of the
fraiIties and weakness of poor human
nature would be opened to his view!
He would behold the chief execu
tive of IL powerful people using his
high Office as II means of persona
profit, to reward his friends or to pun
iah supposed personal enemies, hl'
intimate AS az :iates convicted felonl
and Inmates of the penitentiary; he
would see one Cabinet officer impeache(
for crimes and misdemeanOrs no revolt
IIg as to,>cause a blush upon the
cheek Of the most hardened criminal
he would see other Cabinet officers
seeking safety from exposure by pre-
cipitate resignation of their positions
oh ,I %Ia of n11t
ragged public opinion by the broat
aegis OF executive endorsement. Ii
every branch of the government, from
the highest to the lowest, with n few
honorable exceptions, he would fine
corruption the rule, and bribery th'
passport to position.
But though time and spac,
fail us this morning to enumer
ate all the panoramic views
which would astOnish and be-
wilder this Scion of ancient days one
other may not be omitted. He woul(
see a brave and proud people, after
contending for four years with gal,
Iantry unsurpassed, and which com
PEELED the administration of the world
yielding at last to Overpowering mum
bers, aud accepting in good faith th,
results of defeat, and he would thel
see what the world has never befor,
witnessed, and to which history fur
nishes no parallel, the eager hast'
with which their former brethren
sought to degrade them by the eleva
ton Of ignorance over intelligence, by
making their former slaves their mas
t RS. But if this would not be sufficien
TO cause even Solomon to open hi
eyes in wonder, most assuredl,
the climax would be reached when h
beheld Southern mon joining hand
with the oppressors and doing thei
utmost to rivet upon their own peopl
the cruel chains forged by fanaticisn
and hate. History gives no account o
such things being done in his day ant
generation; it was reserved FOR thi
enlightened era of the nineteenth cen
tury to exhibit such refinement o
cruelty.
Solomon was unquestionably wis
man, but this generation could Civ
him odds and beat him. It would no
require an experience of more than al
hour or so in Wall street to send hin
futtering ont, as lame as duck a.
one would care to see; even the ga
Minis of the streets could teach hin
things he never dreamed of, and il
regard to political economy or tn,
philosophy of governments, the bril-