The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-07-07
GROWTH. AND DEVELOPMENT THE BE
Suit OF CONFLICT. u


conflict. This is seen in the warning Of
the elements with each other. The waves
lash the shore, the air rusheS into cur.
rents and counter currents, whiles heat
and cold hold alternate sway. In the
animal kingdom the strong tyrannize over
the weak, the birds of the air and the
fishes of the sea prey upon each other
In the moral world, too, conflict is appa:
rent. The principles Of right and wrong
are everywhere actively antagoniziDg
each other. Their first recorded conflict
took place in the garden of Eden, when
the primevsl pair fell victims to the tri'
umph of wrong and caused man to have
to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow,
In considering this subject I shall try
to show how, first, conflicts affects ma.
ture; second, how it affects nations, and
lastly how it affects individuals.
Look where we may, and conflict in
some of its phases is going on. and de.
velopment is the result. In the natural
world there is a continual conflict going
on. The mighty storm with its lightning
and great winds is needed to purify the
air. The SHOWS and frosts of winter to
kill vegetation and pulverize the soil,
thereby making it rich and productive,
Then comes spring with its warm sun to
cause the trees to bud and the grasses
and flowers to grow and make the earth
beautiful. And if we notice closely we
find that those plants that have been
protected from the rough weather are
weak and tender, while those that have
always been exposed are strong and dura'
BILE. They have become 80 from the
very conflict through which they have
passed.
The same principle chat causes growth
aud development in nature, holds good
in regard to nations. National develop
ulent results from conflict, not indeed
fpom continual war and discord, but from
that conflict better known under the
term competition. II this competition
be free and fair the nation prospers.
The natural, material and moral re-
sources of the country are developed.
The farmers raise in abundance that for
which their soil is peculiarly adapted.
The mining interests are developed and
all of the different industries receive new
life. Factories of every kind are built,
canals are constructed, railroads span the
country, creeks and rivers are bridged
over. Mountains are tunneled and com
rlerce, both inla nd and foreign, is pro-
u,oted-and national prosperity is the re-
suit.
Nor is this all. Conflicting interests
make it necessary for nation to be pre-
pared to protect its rights from foreign
encroachments, and hence forts and ships
Of war are built, and citizens learn tore
spect the flag of the Government under
which they live. Thus arises in each
citizen feeling of devotion to country
spirit of patriotism without which
nation cannot long exist.
Again, the inhabitants of e country
engaged in this conflict advance in civ
ilization aud intelligence. They come
| in contact with others, receive new ideas
adopt new customs aud often become
broader-miuded and better people
There is an increased desire for knowl'
edge. Colleges and Universities ar
established, and day by day civilization
advances and the nation becomes create
and more prosperous. In this way ma
tions that were comparatively unknow,
have risen to be among the leading ma
tions Of the world. History teachers u
that tie nations that have risen to an.
prominence were those who were con
stantly coming in contact with Others
The Phoeniciaus and Carthaginiann
we're each a commercial people, and b,
their continual intercourse with other
became as highly civilized as any of th
| nations of their early time. BY conaic
with surrounding nations Greece reache
| the height of her glory and gave cultur