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

| revolution was more lOan hclOrM
it was unwise because it was with
out bead, and because multipli
cation of ignorance never makes
wisdom. Yet, that good was ac.
complished, Republican France to
day attests. And, if the grea,
Burke could see no other reason
to feIicitate France, he might have
given her a word of copgratula.
ton that she had rescued hersel!
from the despoLism of priest-craft
and feudal customs. On au o.
tober afternoon of 1895, young
artillery officer stood ty park Of
ARTILLERY about which surged &
mob Of dusty, ragged, hungry
Frenchmen, and shrieking, dis
heveled women who trampled in
the dust the modesty of their sex.
The artillerist was as steady as
steel and quick as lightning. Sud.
denly bis stern lips opened for the
word Fire !'-there was roar, a
crash, and the French Revolution
had gone up in wbiff of smoke.
That young artillerist was after
wards heard above the din Of
Leipslc ard Waterloo. He was by
nature revolutionary. EInbittered
| by iron fortune, his youthful
cheek famed by the not breath
Of revolution, be never bowed TO
custom, but treated existing in.
stitutions with kiugIy scorn. To
what was the popularity of this
little great man-this mysterious
mighty being due? He was
never caught listening at key
holes--but he was mean beyond
expression. He did not hesitate
to cheat, steal, SANDER, poison or
assassinate. He was intensely sci
fish-he was treacherous--he was
an INSCRIPTIONS gossip and liar-.he
intercepted letters, and cheated at
cards-he interfered with the cut.
ting of women's dresses and
never spoke d well-turned SEN
tence to i lady. Whence his mar
velous influence Wh"~c ce the
amazing magnetism of thls'Scamp.
Jupiter In the imminent dead
ly breach be never finched his
cheek never showed the white
flag of fear-and soldiers applaud
ed. His code Of morality was
Nothing succeeds like success ;
and Frenchmen blindly accom-
panied to the death. The essence
of his mathematics was crystal
lied in the axiom the shortest
distance between Two points is d
straight line; and brave men fol.
lowed though he led through
blood. But when he mounted TO
the sublimest reach OF his rhe.
toric and proudly called himself
the Nan Of Destiny, the nation
clapped its hands, and hailed him
as the great innovatcr and leader
of the people. When reproachsd
tor spllling the precious blood OF
due d'Enghien, be pitched his re,
ply TO the popular tone, and said :
Neither is my blood ditch water.
He was the embodiment Of the
popular wilI--he absorbed the very
genius Of this leveling nation
above all he was never conssrva.
the to this the surrender into his
hands Of the popular judgment
was largely due.
Innovation OF whatever kind is
no longer viewed With suspicion
and dislrust. Our age is peculiar.
Iy one Of disillusion, disencbant
nent aud disbelief. No change is
too radical TO find supporters-no
reform too pare to meet bitter de-
nunciation and opposition. We
are 10 longer sentimental this is
a matter OF regret, for sentiment
elevates and retiGes the heart. The
earnest spirit that alters habits Of
thought on al! subjects-poIiticul
social aud religious, is inconsistent
with the growth Of seutiment.
We are told that the noble Ro-
man never said, | came, | saw l
conquered, but that this is ictlon
Of Suetonius that the Iron Duke
neger spoke the noble sentiment,
England expects every man to do
his duty. The sword Of Wallace
must no longer CLEAN among the
healhered hills of Scotland, and
we must believe that the liberty.
vibrating voice Of Tell never float
ed across the still waters of beauti,
full Lucerne. For this sentiment
we are too practical-we 60 to the
truth OF traditions. 1t is ques-
ton, how far this spirit Of inves;i-
gatlon-this search after truth,
should be encouraged. Conserva
tism is commendable when it seeks
to insure the prevalence of wise
and bene6cent institutions; but
it is contemplate when it advo
Gates usages that are plainly more
honored in the breach than the
observance We should study the
past; we should honor our ances-
tors and respect demonstrations es-
tablished by their wisdom ; but we
were not put here to work mira
cles with dead mems bones, it was
Ii. yer intended that we should
live and die by precedent, we must
live IN the present and for the
future. Conservatism teaches con
tentmcnt, contentment means
staguation. We thirst and hun
ger as do the birds and cattle bat
the birds quenc. their thirst, fly
away to shady groves and waste