The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1879-07-09

as it docs tho Importance Of props
erly selecting associates, and ot
individual education and influence
that Roman civilization owed its
advancement ut this time to IL youth
fnl Swiss foreigner, who first infused
these ideas Of improvement into the
mind Of the Czar.
Thobes owed hcr greatness to two
of hor Observation-Disclosures and
Pelopidas-and whilst Epaminondas
remained her glories continued AMI
Spartan character was alone attri-
butable to the genius of her single
law-giver, Lycurgus. But coming
to times moro Immediately under
our observation, we find history
still abounding in opposite illustra-
tlons and still prone to repeat itself.
Washington assumed tho duties
of tho presidential chair ut tho close
of ono Of one of tho most Important
rebcllions Of modern times. Bloody
fratricidal war, with all it's diro
influences upon liberty, right and
morality, had swept the bosom of
this fair country, with varying sue
cess, for seyon long years. Corrup-
tion, anarchy and want, concomit-
ants as they ever arc of strife,
stallled abroad in the land. The
presidential Office was no sinecurc,
no bed Of roscs promised that
reposo naturally to DO desired by
ono who had long boon subjected to
the cares and vicissitudes of camp
life. But supported by those high
toned, chivalric traits as much adj
hcrcd to in private rs thoy wore
rosplcndcnt in his public career, and
which alone constitute true great
ness, he, with q patriotism broad
enough to look to the veal Of his
whole country, and with q desire
only to perpetuate the genius Of
civil Liberty, established real peace,
mado the country happy and con-
tented, and fostorcd thlt material
prosperity which, with tho sword of
truo genius, he had carved for his
people. And he is recorded in his
tory as Il grand soldier, q profound
statesman, and, better still. as truo
gentleman. Tho tomb Of Thoscus
ut Athens was u protection to the
liberties Of tho people twelve hun
dred years after his death, and in
like manner will remain forever tho
humble grave at Mount Vernon q
reminder of the halcyon days of tho
American republic, and q beacon to
light up the path Of those who shall
desire to return to the pristine sim
pioit5' ""d purity Of constitutional
liberty. But horo ..l,,u o''o 'No..N,'
shift and hictnry, Ivy an ordinance
more inexorablo than tho laws Of
the Modes md Persians, is obliged
to reenact itself. Buffoons, sots and
political hucksters occupy tho chair
of Washington, and Immediately
learning and worth give place to
Ignorance and infamy; statesmen
and patriots aro supplanted by dem
agogues and partisans thieves arc
selected to fill positions Of state
vile scoundrels are chosen to wear
tho sacred ermino of the judge;
the ancient landmarks of liberty are
ruthlessly obliterated for party
plunder, and tho worship Of God
abandoned for the following Of
Mammon.
Men ore the most initiative of
creatures, and it is a deep-seated
principle of humanity to hide our
own faults behind those in higher
spheres. Can it be wondered ut
then that individual decentralization
is rifo in tho land, md that the dis
position to honor the obligation of
contract is on the wane in private
spheres, when the highest magis-
trato in the nation holds his office
by bare faced fraud, and when chief
ministers of government steal and
plundor with impunity? Muddy tho
heads of your streams and you inva-
riably have filthy, turbid water /;
domoralize your citizen and you
lower the standard of public opinion,
and national degradation ensues as
inevitably as night follows day.
Here under our own eyes and in
our own country history has re-.
peated itself. We note it not in
ulSoI Dut Ill 5OIIo", dult atllultc W
it in no improper spirit of political
criticism, but solely us to legitimate
historical data illustrating Il case in
point. Like the Roman under Tibe'
rius, the American name has become
contemptible-the synonym of op-
preston and by-word of reproach.
Our government, no longer founded
on tho consent of the governed and
built upon the corner.stones of lib.
erty, equality, fraternity and hon
esty, but distorted by the evil genius
of q fow of it's rulers and ministers
into tho meanost Of dcspotisms,
like the fabric of Dyonisius of SYRIA
cuse, leans for support upon the
arms Of it's soldiery.
It is comforting to know thai
when tho eventful career which has
marked this republic from it's incep-
ton to tho present moment, shal
be written by tho unbiased, unprcju-
dicod historian of tho future, who