The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-07-06
~ Intelligent but thoroughly c0nSricn-

only Intelligent but thoroughly conscicn-
CO Another Thought I'm connection with This
subject and one worthy OF your tg,rnrst con.
sideration liz the preparation which this rule
and disconragements Of IN active life. So
long hs duty and interest harnoniAc, who
could not be Jealous, blatant euloxist or con-
stances to claim and receive hnnors wo do not
deserve. But when disappointed. opposed
constitutional energy; sheer obstInacy and
f1rse OF Will can nerve us only to n sln,sn,"dic
this invincibility of character rxcc;t us it
proceeds from profound moral principle. The
history Of our race furnishes but few exam
pies or a courageous resistance to oblouuy
when wrlthng under the rcbmkcs OF a vlo-
lated conscience. or ali of these prc.erninemt
| Full OF titles, tla,tcry. honor, fnne; beyond
desire, beyond ambition, fuli-hc died. Died
hand there is not n hamlet, nor IL community
In all Christendom which cunnot point with
pride TO some who with heroic pnticncc and
cheer iulness met every form of trial.
(D This suggests that the principal motive
which should induce you to adopt thi, rule
Is because that only thus viii you net worthy
or yonr moral nature Conscience puts the
widest distinction between man and the
ing akin to the moral faculty. 1t was Given
~ the nrbiter OF conduct and The guide or life.
Let It never be snid Of my one OF you thnt
ance-that you have elevated to supremacy
those impulses whose rule Is tyranny, wliuSr
loun. gentlemen, society will justly expect
; something from You ~ scholars You have
i"r years been drvoiing yourselves exclusive
~ to study. You ought to understand that
every year in this Southland tn. demand for
y broader. deeper scholarship Is increasing.
Those institutions aud those students who do
not appreciate thi. will find their influence
ana their usefulness steadily winning. But
while this IL true. and an important truth, iL
Is not SO impo;t tant as tlnt yonr lie he rcIu-
intec by the rules Of II rigid morality and IL
Vftf f1O ,i,,,r
II your intelligence will he tested much more
viii your virtue 3e put to the proof
| n lowering Of the whole moral tone of our So
ciety: Whnt are deemed political neccssitic
thnt know no law, either civil or moral. are
| csty, and all the kindred virtues OF Il fearless,
self-lenEinY integrity. Our young men are In
| special danger of an excess OF party spirit.
s Ed to refer to this peril this srnn upon
| of one with whose political mith we have no
sympathy: ave know" says he. "how this
party domination sometimes takes on an inl-
periousnrss that viii brook no question OF It's
methods and appointments. Let that mad
ness sprend far enough nnti ach men enough
| 80 that our party right or wrong shall be tie
needed to foretell disnster. When party lead-
ers presume upon the hold they have OF the
Christian convictions and conscience to fling
| an insult from their platform In the facc Of
those convictions and that conscience, they
need to be put in a wholesome fear OF II very
decided independency. The endcavor to
by the hue and cry or something worse he
da,Hpg ~ 1g,,s ~ 4 We , refuse, ought 10 have wide
Place you, self at once with those who honor
conscience In all things and who are battling
! against fearful odds. Each year will widen
your influence. do not sny 1t will add to
|your reputation (though that may come az n
minor blessing) but 1t will make your life u
blessing.