The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-07
WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
1.-THE DANGERS AND DEMANDS OF THE
TIMES"


can Arms--.Corrupt Political Prac-
tices-..Fears for the Fnture-..Thc
NegrO---The Life of the Republic
Endangered. The Duty Of the
Hour.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
the Rev. John T. Chalmers, Of Winnsboro,
Sc.
w. O. Bradley, ESQ, Of Abbeville, the
Alumni Orator was then introduced and de-
livered the alumni address with fine effect.
The Importance of the issues, and the beauty
Of expression arc such as to commend 1t to
the attention of the public. Mr.. Bradley said: !:
My friends, we live in an age of intense ac-
tivity, Of wonderful energy and OF marvellous
progress; and it is our fortune to be citizens
of u country that stands forth pre-emnently
the most progressive of all. AS citizens OF
this great Republic we arc daily having pre-
sunted to our minds great questions affecting
our social as well as our political well-belns
These problems must be calmly and impair
TALLY considered, In order that they may be
disposed of I'm a manner that will conserve
the rights of all apd at the same time main-
tain the supremacy Of the law and the inteS-
ritz Of the Constitution.
We have arrived at a crisis in our national
life which demands that the politicians be rel
esated to the rear and that statesmen seize
the relns OF power. We cannot afford to
place our reliance for good government upon
mere politicians who are always trimming
their sails to catch the popular breeze. ana are
ever ready 10 shift their principles In order to
attain an ephempral popularity or evaneSccnt
nutoriety. At such II time we want men VINO
have convictions and the courage to stund to
them; who are ready and willing 10 enact
laws that will secure equal and exact Justice
to all classes of citizens regardless OF their So
cial and financial status; men who would
rather fail In an honest effort to advance the
true interest Of their country, than achieve
success NJ the sacrifice of their manhood -;
whose principles arc as fixed as the stars, and
who would not be sWerved from what They
conscicntiously believe to be their duty on ac-
count of its eXpcdiency or incxpediency,
whether IL tends to make or mar, tO advance
OF retard their prospects In ltle.
We want men WHO take u high stand and
move upon an exalted and dignifed plane !;
seeking with unseltlsh devotion and unfalter-
ing courage to discharge the duties OF true CIT
liens. Such was The character OF our ioref,-
theirs whose wisdom, justice, moderation and
vaor accomplished 50 much for human lib
erty.
When the mother country attempted to i'm
pose tax upon tea, tho great principle as to
whether 1t was right and just that the colo
nics should be taxed without representation
presented itself To the minds Of our liberty
loving ancestors. They did not take time TO
consider the eXpedienccy OF resistance TO Bfll-
ish oppression; they did not walt to calculate
the chances of success or failure; they did not
seem TO consider that it Was apparently In.
sane folly, for s, ,50O,G 600 people, without money
or the munitions Of war, and almost encircled
by hostile savages, to fling down the gauntlet
Of battle TO a nation on whose dominion The
sun never sets, the mistress OF the seas, pos
scSscd of trained and disciplined armies, an
overflowing treasury anti fully equipped for
waging successful warfare. but in the sweet
deirium OF romantic Thought they declared
themselves free and independent: and
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their
OF independence was. under the circum-
stances, enough to elicit the admiration or
mankind as Il display Of heroic courage and
an unlllnching devotion to the cause of llb-
crty.
by heroism unparalleled in the annals Of
our race; by unmurmuringly submitting TO
the privations and hardships OF the unequal
conflict; by the matchless courage or our sol,
dicry and The genius of our leaders displayed
alike in the field and In the forum, for eight
long, weary and trying years, victory was ut
last achieved and independence won.
Then was formed q government OF the peo-
pie, for the people and by the people, and the
constitution then adopted has ever been con-
sidcred one of the nOblest achievements OF
human genius MS well as one OF the greatest
triumphS of human cftort.
From that time the history Of our country
has been the history of progress; under our
genial skies and our splendid system or gov
ernment the march OF events and inventions
has been rapid, and the only serious check
wns the war between the States, when for
four Years the North and the South were ar
rayed against each other In fratricidal STRIFE,
and the soil of our common country was IN
carnadined with the blood Of some OF our no
blcsL and bravest citizens. The valOr, genius
and her0iSm then displayed challenged the
gaze and admiration OF the Worlu, ana dehl-
Onstrated that with our country united there
is no power on the globe that can safely pro-
woke her hostility. Since then the changes
have been many and radical, but amid all the
disadvantages consequent upon confllct SO
eXhauStng both in mean and treasure, the
cause of our country mas been onward ana
upward; its progress during the past twenty
years daZZc us with It's SplcndorS, ana To-Day
we stand nation OF over 90, 0,t0OoOo OF people
actnntcd by common aspirations. working
tor the accomplishments Of common purpose
- the development of the resources OF our
common country.
There Is no nation more wealthy, more
powerful or more progressive than this land
of ours, hence no nation better fitted to ad-
vance the highest and best interest oi The hli-
man race. This is proud boast and one up
on which we have just cause to pride our.
selves But, my friends, the very lact inaI
Our country occupies such a conspicuous po-
sltion among the nations; tha, 1t 0utShineS
them a!l in the elements Of greatness ana
grandeur, as far as the constellation or ORION,
"which flames its plume mid the emoattiea
stars" OutShineS other considerations Whlch
sit rcsplcndent on the rbOn brow OF night.
This very prominence which our country oc-
cupicS In the estimation OF mankind increases
the responsibilities OF our citizens, and forces
us to exert our energies In order that we may
maintain the position we occupy and adnrn II
us well. Our efforts should tend not only to
conserve our strength and influence, but also
10 advance and dcvelOpc our almost virgin
resources, to lay deeper and flrner I nc fouII.
datiunS and build higher and with falfcf ana
more symmetrical proportions the structure
of our government. To allow this lmperill
republic to lose her proud prc-emlncnce by
our failure TO meet and discharge the reSpon-
Sibilities imposed upon us ;lS Ill e dcsccnuahts
Of an heroic ancestry, the cuStodllns OF the
honor and interest Of so great y country, I,
the splendid heritage we enjoy. 1t would bc
IL burning shame. Let us try and emulate,
even though we can not hope to rival The flr-
tues OF the fathers of the republic.
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and 9th
crS are illustriUuS names and worthy OF our
highest admiration and emulation. Let us
accept them aS cXanplcrs and cndcavor 10
follow in their foot steps, even at distance.
If we cannot be great, let us at least try To DC
coed. Let us not willingly barter our BIRTH
right for d miserable mess OF pottaSc. Let
no temptation to short lived and ephcmcriIl
greatness allure us from the path Of duty
which is the path of safety. Let lis not waste
our time in the vain effort To crafty Il Hua!t-
Ing ambition, but let It's remember, that
"I[ind hearts arc more than coronctS,
And simple faith than human blood
Let us with correct appreciation OF duty
and our danger try so To- conduct ourselves
lllill VIC MAY WI iISl S'N-
rrnncmi. No rcliecting man can fail To see
that the siabiliiyOi our government IL threat
rEctl, and il is not the lGllt OF wisdom u close
our eyes to the fact ana lull ourselves into The
belief of perfect security. let Us recognize
the dangers which threaten us as Il nation
and set ourselves to- work 10 meet the ISSUES
presented with coming 1"rtltule, and deal
with lurm with Wisdom, Justice aud mod
Grafton.
When TiIdrn was dcfiaudrd Of the Prcsi-
,lrnry hy the chiclmrry Of tic Electoral Com
mission by Il ai;ict pH'ly vote" IL WIS urInun-
SlTaird to the satisfaction Oi every thinking
.aan that, patriotism WAS on The decline and
That paitlSan spirit ruled the hour. That
WIS Ihr first scrOuS iMNicailNn Of the dam