The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1878-06-20
Letter From Liberty.

W "0tt hO uouDG LOr Cne human tamil
ly, and particularly that unfortunate
portion Of it who are addicted to the
common vices of gossipping and tat
Ting, If that mans example was more
generally followed.
But the question is, what is ones
own business? We find ourselves in
q civilized condition, so bound up in q
community of interests, and the line
of our several duties and obligations,
as individuals, members of society,
and citizens of the State, running
through and interIaoing with the re-
spective lines of each other mans du~
ties and obligation to such an extent,
that it would be very hard to tell ex-
actly what each individuals business
is, apart from that of every other in
dividual in the neignborhood or cons
munily. In other words; my private
business or interest, (and the words
are synonymous as understood here,)
is 80 blended with and merged into
that OF tho public, tho one is so depon>
dent upon the other, that it would be
exceedingly difficult, if not an absolute
impossibility, to draw q precise line of
demarkation between. them. The old
adage, that "what's everybody's bus
iness is nobody's business" is as false
in theory, as it is untrue in fact.
So, kind reader, when as a public
journalist, or newspaper scriblcr, if
you prefer tho humble title, call your
attention to matters Of public interest
the Importance of having good gov
ernment and honest mon in Office,
both in the County and State-tho
necessity of maintaining and perfect>
ing our system of public schools, and
extending their usefulness and ef1i>
cheney, by permitting mono to oxer-
else the arduous and responsible du-
ties of teachers in our public schools
except those who are found, after due
examination had, to possess tho re-
quisite montal and moral qualifications
for tho office of instructor Of the youth
of tho country--and tho Importance of
carefully abstaining from any act Of
lawlessness, ourselves, or encouraging
such acts in others, though we may
be sensible of the fact that unjust and
oppressive laws arc enforced among
us in an offensive ard illegal manner
by officials, so>called, of the United
States-when l call attention to mat
ters of this kind, [ say, feel that l
am strictly minding my own business.
70 say nothing now Of tho great
importance of fostering and prescrv-
ing n sound and healthy public mo-
rality, and of maintaining the good
name and reputation of our country
abroad, let overy good citizen romcm-
bcr that disregard of the law IN one
particular invites disobedience to and
disrespect for it in another, weakons
those restraints which arc the only
sure protection of his life, liberty, and
property from the assaults and en-
croachments the wicked and unscru-
palous, and breeds spirit that is
dangerous in the highest degree to
the public peace and good order, and
the safety of the State. Let US res
member that there IS an identity Of
public and private nterests-that we
are all.embarked on the same boat,
and that if there ia leak in the boat,
every man on board Is interested in
stopping it. 1t is grand error to
suppose that we can hibitually violate
and disregard any law of the United
States, and at the same time continue
to maintain a proper respect for and
obedience TO the laws of our own
State. Acts of lawlessness never fail
to demoralize and deprave the indi~
vidual that commits them, and they
soon prepare him to despise courts of
justice, to feel resentment towards
those whose business it is to enforce
and administer the law, and to trans
pie under his feet all laws both human
and divine.
It's, therefore, the duty ofevery good
citizen, nay of every man who has any