The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-06-22

pure and fair as the llllcs OF
France, left Austria amid the &C.
cIamations Of a devoted people
giictered above the horizon like a
morning star'-and knelt to the
cleaning blade of a French gull
lctine. Was She mistress Of her
fate?
Three roses, wan as moonlight and weighed
{ down
Each with its loveliness as with crown,
Dropped in florists widow in a town,
| The first a lover bought. 1t lay at rest.
Like snow on snow, that might, on bsauty's
breast,
The second as virginia. and fair,
Shrunk in the tangles Of a harlots's hair,
The third window with new grief made
wild,
Shut in the icy palm of her dead child.
There is your mysterious some
thing that we Gail destiny, and of
which we are sometimes masters.
A garden was created and man
was told to keep and dress it.
The manner in which he dis
charged the high trust, leads US
seriously to think that creation is
easier than conservation. Now
! that divine creation has ceased
: now that life is q fact, we must
accept the conditions it imposes,
and try to guide it safely through
the changes that make up its des-
stiny. Acknowledging th at
There's a, Divinity that shapes
our eDds-and yet feeling that
our destiny is the result Of num-
berless changes, and that we
create the changes that most Sc
riously affect US, let US notice this
controlling influence Of change
which in its best application we
call REFORM. Emerson says
The castle that conservatism is
set to defend is the actual state Of
things-good and bad. Conserva-
tism goes for comfor:-Reform,
for truth Whether you accept
this definition as true standard
of measurement or not you must
admit that Emerson has right to
be heard on this subject. Our pre-,
ferences and our habits of thought
are strongly Influenced by educa-
ton. We oftenest incline to con-
ventional usageS that were formed
we know not when-and prefer
systems Of government to which
We have been accustomed from
earliest childhood. We often yield
to the imperious sway Of custom
because OF want of independence
OF thought, : because Of an Orien-
tai indolence-or because, like the
toad that was embedded in sand
stone, we are too we'll satisfied
wit. our present condition to take
III lch thought Of the future. Re-
form touches the rigid body Of
conventionalism and imprisoned
principles, noble but blighted,
spring into figures ofliving beauty.
Conservatism says, whatever is,
is right,-Reform advocates no
such miserable precept, but says,
whatever is right, should be.
Conservatism asks-what is the
custom ?-Retorm asks-what is
the truth ? In It's extreme ap-
plication, Reform becomes Revolu
ton. 1t remodels--Revolu tion,
while claiming TO act on just con-
ceptions Of right, goes to the roots
Of existing institutions ; it is cs-
sentially radical: because it is pop
ular. In it's beginning it aims at
the redress of real or imaginary
grievances but hurried on by its
own enthusiasm, it not untre-
qnently becomes fanaticisrn, and
advocates the dangerous doctrine
whatever is, is wrong.
I::-e people know little and care
less about distractions. Glitter
ing generali.ies may please them;
the DarWinian theory may amuse
them; but to almost all purely
speculative reasoning they are in
different. They may be listlcss
while you reason with strong
logic and stronger lungs about
duties, and duties Ior revenue on.
ly; but seek to infict upon them
an iniquitous system Of taxation,
and they organize tea parties Of
the most serious nature. They
are always restless, but not re7o-
lutionary till they feel the weight
of expressions hand. The great
ocean beaves and sobs like a restless
living thiug-it ebbs and it flows
it follows the changes Of its ever
changing mistress = but only,
when lashed by the fury of the
winds does it rise in majesty, roll
foam. crested pillows to the beach,
and dash the pride of mighty
Armadas. No event Of modern
history is more startling in its oc-
cnrence and more interesting in
it's results than the French
Revolution. Its aim was TO up.
root tares set by injustice and
guarded hy Conservatism but it
went to the wild extreme Of de-
stroying the wheat because it con-
tanned tares. It broke up the
foundations Of society, govern
ment and religion. The trenzied
nation, without bread--without
brceches-and without wisdom
wildly shouted Liberty, Equality
and Fraternity. Change set It's
crimson seal on tb> Ia Of mon
arcby, and when tae messenger OF
y IA