The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-22


Another evil, and one which l hope The Goth
century will sec corrected, Is the Love and
Power of money. It's love Is prOrcrbally the
root OF all evil and America Is IL striking il,
luStration. There Is In this country an "Aris,
tocracy Of Wealth" and society Is almost sub,
Ordnuted and dominated by the Almighty
Dollar.
am not one to stand solely on birth.
hold Ii Il great privilege TO be born gentle.
man, and to that extent one has an advan.
lage, for Il gentleman can safely shy and do
what one doubtful Of his position would II OF
venture but think every man has the right
wanting, and lowly birth his on y drawback,
then he should have the right to take his po-
siiion as Il gentleman and should be so con-
sidGred.
"Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faith Ghnn Norman blood"
But I scorn that society where wealth is the on
ly test, where "cvcry door Is barred with gold.
and opens but to golden keys and u mans
power and importance measured only by his
purse. This is the tendency of to-day. Per-
aristocracy. That whcn the money Is made,
culture and refinement will follow, us in the
city Of Boston. hope this lis true, but ut pres
cnt the greed seems inSatiate and tho lnhu
euce OF money unbounded.
Prohibition.
Another question that is fast looming into
national importance Is Prohibition, That
whiSkcy drinking Is one Of the greatest evils
in our land there Is no doubt and its corrcc
tion W is question Of supreme importance, but
doubt If 1t is wise to make 1t political Ques.
ton. Cocrcive prohibition rarety prohibits.
The remedy, it seems to me, lies In the cuitl-
walton of high character and high tone. Re-
fincment and public sentiment will do far
moro than volumes Of statute laws. 1t Is q
work for the Church rather than the state
Temperance societies, and, above all, the per-
sonaI influence Of high Christian character
will do more towards the formation OF O
healthy public opinion than scores Of prohi
hilton candidates, or even st. John Prcsi
dent.
This IS bound to be- prominent question o
the cath century. There are others, my friends
that might discuss, but time will not per
nit One word us to our native land and
have done.
Our Native Land.
Yours is n great country. From the Allan
tic to the Pacific, from the Lakes 10 the Gulf
the majestic waters bound Oh all sides q coun
try, the raStncSS Of which Is almost incOn
ceivahlc. Lofty mountain ranges and mag
nllicent rivers give n.s varied climate and fer
Lille soil. The very bowels OF the earth are
rich in mineral and in ore. We have strong
and healthy population. Our institutions The
most lasting. Religious liberty, and q Cousti.
tution which is the admiration of the world
Into her lap Is cInptied the horn Of plenty
and all nature ''db solo usqne az cGlmh, con
spires to make America "of all the lands, thu
you. In exact proportion To the possibilities
of your country is your responsibility.
Did you ever think or what country you
ito live in? Did you know that the single
State OF Texas is larger than either the Ger
man or Austrian Empires. and more thar
twice as large aS The United Kingdom Of Great
Britain? Did you know that In fifty years
from 1851 TO 1881, the population Of your coun
Try Increased from thirteen TO fifty millions ?
That in the same length OF time France gain.
ed five. England ten, while our Republic gain
ed thirty-sevcn millions. And that In thirty
years the wealth of the nation bounded from
eight to fOrty-nine billions of dollars? Think
Of these facts, then measure your responsible
ity.
Since tic infancy Of the human race, era
died amid the wild and rugged mountains o
Central Asia. the star of Empire has ever
pointed to the Frightening West. AS Bishop
i,rrlilcy has beautifully said and with proph
ctic ken,
'Wcstward the cnurs, of Empire takes its way,
The four fist ncts slrcady past
4 fifth shall close the drama with the day,
Times nob!vst offspring Is the last"
The pilgrimage Of that star has ceased. II
now stands, fixed and rooted in the bending
heavens straight above us, IN everlasting bca
con to those who Scak life and liberty in tht
ncw-found world. !,he hope all nations, 1ht
eyes of the civilized world look to America
to-day rs the land of hope and promise still
III that awful drama. the crash of matter ant
llc wreck OF worlds" tho four first acts are
already past, that is to say, the empires thai
have or must pass away forever. The AsSyr
"a fifth shalI close the drama with the day.
Tca verify, Times noblest offspring is tho
last"
America is the land OF Hope, and of Amer
ica, the South is the land of Promise. just
passing through the transition STATE. Just re
cuperatinG from the ills and horrors that civi
war entails upon conquered people; weight
ed down by the incubus oil negro suffrage anu
| t,,,r, ,nYit,, hnrn
sion, the South begins to give liiint promise
of the future that awaits her. Just budding
FORTH the 20l II century will see her bloom ant
blossom into that glorious destiny which VII
make her first of this foremost nation.
Can mortal imam find words To depict thu
possibilities Of his 2lth century? five judge
The future by the past (and we have the riShp
If our advance In the next fifty keep pact
with the last fifty Years, who d.ne measure
the heights to which our civilization may
soar.
fectly conceive words would fail the thought
unless VIC are content with the striking words
| uf England's living poet wien he puts 'ililH
years of Europe" 'gainSt "a cycle of CAthhy.
Much at present may look gloomy. Though
the signs OF the times may not be bright. lei
Us remember that the darkest hour of nigl'
Immediately prrccdcS the dawn. When tht
sun of the 20lh century Shall rise atove me
black horizon, may its penetrating light dis
pei and diSSipatc all these doubts anu miStS
And this University. standing as she dog:
high above the turmoil and strife OF the Wurc
b"ncath her, surrounded and encomp;ts$rd by
the pure air of heaven and bnilt upon the eV
crlaSling rock of religion, may the coming
century Sre in hrra great and mighty insitu
ton lIcr influence r.ld;aIing from this com
mon centre lhroushuutthel length and brctsl!l J.
of our native land, may IL be as pure hnI
bright AMI all pervading as the first flash %
that brilliant sun rs he Silds tho cross thai
caps her tOpmOSt Spirc.
The University of The South D.! The ParnaS
suS of the Southern States, 10 which we. tllr
Alumni may ever proudly point as the chic
ornament of our glorious Commonwealth
the Mt. Zion Of the newborn South.