Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-11-14
The Future of our Country.

The growth Of our country 10 population
and power is wonderful Before tho oloso
Of this century, if our progress goes on at
exceed eighty millions. It is just source
of pride that We have not become great by
arts of diplomacy, or by oonqucsts gained
BY wars. Tho oaptives wo have taken are
not those of force, but prisoners of peace
drawn to our shores by the desire to enjoy
with us tho liberties Of the land and tho
plenty which Plovidonoo has given u.s..
While the different nations of Europe watch
with jealous and hostile eyes the compare.
tive progress and power of each-whlo
peace in the minds of its statesmen means
armed neutrality always threatening war
we have drawn FROM their population BY
bcncficent influences more thun the most
| successful in arms have been able to capture
from those into whose territories they have
carried death and devastation. We have
taken by immigration from Germany greater
numbers than that cmpiro wrcstcd from
France in the last war between those
powers.
But at this time, when so many facts
tend to gill our hearts with rIidc and graft
tude, VIC arc perplexed by the general dc
preston Of business, and the distress of
large classes Of our citizens We now feel
the full cost of the late civil war, and the
force of the reaction which springs from
wild speculation. Our desire for wealth
has outstripped the swift growth of our
country, and grccd for gain has tempted
US to disregard tho laws of prudence, n.
dustry and economy, and to grasp at wealth
by schemes which in the ond have plunged
MS into many public and private disasters,
We find that habits of extravaganza are
more easily acquired than cast off. We are
not yet ready to admit the truth that We
hnvo brought these evils upon ourselves,
and that VIC must 60 back to tho tried path.
way by which our country reached its great
ness. This state of affairs gives birth to
wild and conflicting sohomes about finances,
social order, and the policies of govern.
ment. These discordant theories range
from tho doctrines Of tho communists, who
would overturn our social structures, to
those of the timid, half hearted believers in
our government who wish to 60 back to
restraints and powers exertcd by the mon
archs of Europe. Many fear that grave
evils will grow out Of these conflicts Of
opinion. But those who have studied with
caro- tho principles and workings of our
political institutions look upon them as
sources of good rather than evil. They feel
that our system is not only more oonscrva.
tive than all others, but that it has loss TO
fear from wild theories or from party pas
sons
Distress always makes discomfort, and
men who ere in trouble turn with intorost
and hope to every proposed remedy. 1t is
our duty to treat their viows with respect,
for whIo their theories may bo false, thoir
sufferipgs arc roaI. 1t ia we'll that wo are
taught by popular agitation the existence Of
evils. 1t il necessary for those who havo
charge of public affairs to learn what mon
have 10 their minds, what viows they hold,
at what ends they aim. We can gain many
truths from those who may hold MIC
taken opinions. Ono Of tho advantages
we enjoy under our form of government
is, that we can let false notions cure
themselves. It is not necessary for tho pub
lie safety to restrain Freedom Of speech
1t is striking fact that while tho mon
arebs of Germany and Russia, with vast
armies under their control, arc disturbed
and endangered by the theories of socialists
or other revolutionary associations, wo listen
to them without fear. Wo aIlow the utmost
freedom of speeoh, and wo rely upon the
good sense Of our people to make harmless
all appeals to prejudice. Elsewhere tho
violent passions orinsane egotism of a theo.
Irist may lead him to shoot o monarch and