The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-27

anu IaIcastTlans, DaS HeI .peeoinS
what she Is to-day, peaceful, prosper
Gus, united, and POWERFUL
There are other considerations
which should not be altogether over
looked. 10 generous natures 1t is
more agreeable to indulge the kindly
than the r~esentful emotions. Bclevo-
lence is wisdom. The wise man said,
keep thy heart with all diligence
"for out of it are the issues of life"
The revengeful passions often recoil
upon themselves. A chronic state OF
suspicion, jealousy, and d~issatisfac-
ton is not promotive OF happiness Or
prosperity in the case Of an indlvldual,
Il family, or q nation. Unhappyls the
condition of that people whose duty rs
citizens is ut var with their sentiments
as men, and who cannot without III
sincerity speak of their political asso-
ciates as friends and fellow-citizells.
THE SOUTH NOT UNCIvIL.
IF these precepts of good citizenship
are violated, it will not he done by the
Southern pcople,-whosc excuse lors SO
doing would be greater than could he
urged for others. 1t is sometimes
charged, however, that the defeated
section, sensitive and proud, is lncllll-
cd to he exclusive and wanting in that
hospitality and comfy to persons from
the victorious section, SO becoming IN
associates and equals. This we de-
clare to be Il misrepresentation. we
desire and welcome all respectable
persons who come among us really
and truly as immigrants with their
property and household gods to cast
their lot here for veal or woe. we
need assistance in building up our
waste pIaces-Iaborers in the field, the
workshop, and the liberal professions.
All such are kindly welcomed, Il II
they work their way up to honorable
distinction it will not be denied them.
Our people have always been remark
able for their admiration of tai
ent. They delight to honor 1t
for in so doing they honor
themselves. They appreciate it aud
appropriate it. They yield pre-
cedcncc to no people in honoring their
adopted sons, who have fairly won
their distinction. This is a%bundantly
proved by history, and many living
examples attest il. But they do he
licvc that they are neither less able
nor less deserving than others, and
they arc unwilling to have all their
offices monopolized by strangers who
come here temporarily to obtain Office
by appealing to rae %prcjudices and
stirring up bitterness, and then return
whence they came to boast the ll0nors
and enjoy the riches thus acquired
here. No people could he justly eX.
pccted to afford assistance to 50 humil-
itating u process of spoliationand deg
radiation. Generous hospitality is part
of the character of the Southern peo'
pie, whose umenity of is but
the index to the Kindness of thcil
hearts. That noble virtue belongs tc
them by every title, by birth, tradi'
ton, education, impulse, and long
practice. May it never Il to be the
distinguishing trait in the character o.
these souls of fire and children Of the
sun"
''TIIE SOLID SOUTH"
1t has sometimes been charged as
matter impugning the good citizen
ship Of the Southern people that since
the war they have been Identical in
political opinion and action. Th,
complaint rs made takes the form O
! an arraignment of 1.-The Solid South
Whether the unanimity of II peoplebt
q Just ground of rcproach against
them depends entirely upon the prin'
ciplcs on which they are united. 1t /:
hoped that all are united for virtue il
the abstract. If by this complaint it j:
implied that the people of the South
erii States. morbid from misfortune
are united in opposition to measures
right or wrong, and for purposes O
! obstruction and revenge, it is u greaI
injustice, and one calculated to pro
ducc the very state of affairs it de-
! plores. A tcllow-feeling makes Il!
! wondrous kind. The calamities anl
sutterinSs of the Southern States be-
ing the same, it would he strange i'll
deed if they were not unanimous il
seeking relief, and upon all question:
touching their common condition
There is nothing Notwithstanding
inconsistent with duty as good citi
zens, in being united-"solid," if yol
pleasc-for deliverance, for 'equa
rights, and for honest government
aud "solid" too against all opposed
th"reto-against injustice, eXtortion
oppression, and especially against al
that make it their business to preacl
the gospel of hate, and to pcrpet
uate strife between the sections anC
the races.
In support Of just, liberal, and broat
views and sentiments, ! invoke thu
name of Washington. He has lont
ago departed from us, bul he has lief
US the example Of his life. We are
perfectly familiar with the pitch ant
tone of his character, and from then,
l feel sure that if he were present will
us in the flesh to-day, he would now
us in the olden time counsel rccOncil
~iation, justice and peaee,-reconcilia
ton between the sections embitteret
by the late war, Justice and kind feel
ings between the races in their ley re
~iatiol@, and peace OIL earth, goot
will 10 men,"
DUTIES TO OURSELVES.
We " duties to ourselves. O,
these the first in importance is t
cherish a modest self-respcct. Defeat
ed lis we have been, reduced to power
ty as I'VE are, nothing has occurred fol
which We should be ashamed. Defeat
is humiliating, but 1t is not always dis
graceful. Success in battle is no bet
ter test of right than the inability tc
walk I'VE red-hot plough-shares is {,
proof Of guilt. The arbitmment o,
arms does not reach the essential quail
ity of right; but, there being no ap'
peal, it is practically final. History is
full of such judgments rendered BY
the sword.
External right, though all else fail,
Can never be made wrong"
In our political structure the obliga'
tons to the State and the general gov
eminent arc so divided and so shade
into each other that in case Of con
flict the position of the citizen is one
of embarrassment; and in that case
obedience to his State. which protects
him and has q right command to him,
has in it nothing of the treacliery, inf
deity aud moral dcpravity of treason,
Loyalty, like charity, begins at home,
It's most sacred obligations originate at
the tireside for wife. children, and
friends, and then expand until they
embracethe country. When the State
rears her standard and commands the
obedience of her SONS, it is a solecism
in terms TO call the rightful obedience
she cxacts treason in any odious sense
This principle was recognized by
; Euplnnd. so tenacious of the LOYALTY o