The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-03-17
HEWITT ECHOES.

TUG He"il incident. A lengthy ad-
monition against our offense closes
with this @retort courtesus:o
Certainly our contemporary has not
allowed its intense opposition to silver
coinage to so unbalance its Judgment,
as that II can see nothing good in a
man who happens to hold views au-
tagonistic to il.
Not being skilled in ferreting out
motives We are at loss to account for
the inspiration of so paltry and un-
worthy aud, we may say, unmerited,
an imputation. In reply we have
only to say that the article GEN.
sured was simply metaphorical play
or exercise, which only a strained be-
ligerency could construe INTO an Of
tense; purely impersonal generaliza-
tion, which only violent Imagination
could connect with silver.
AS 10 the brick flung In the N. Y.
Southern Society by Mr.. Hewitt, this
writer viewed il as something which
silence best befltted. ln the first place
nothing in what the old man said
merits concern, except the question of
Its truth; quality which au ocean of
ink can neither increase nor lessen.
IL be untrue that ignorance aud de-
terioration marks US, no defense Is
needed against the accusation. If 1t
be true, denial is valn--our ain will
find Us out. BE the truth what it
may, the outburst of wrath and re-
elimination over the well meant, If ill
timed and unmerlted, bluntness OF an
old man who spoke as a friend, was
puerile and misjudged. II provokes
this query: Could anything but the
truth have stirred up such an out
pouring of biles
In the second place whatever OF
truth there may be in the conten-
tion that Southern political genus
has decayed, is far more a misfortune,
all evolution, than a reproach. The
South has passed through period
which has been the veritable valley OF
the shadow of death to intellectual
moral advancement. Amid bloody cir
cumstances was torn up by the roots
an institution around which all civil
government and political faith cen'
tered and clustered. During the sub
scquent years society has been shocked
and shaken to its very foundations
wealth and heritage swallowed up
classes toppled down aud conditions
revolutionized. All that was pure anc
sacred in Statehood was polluted ant
devoured by the loathsome Moloch sci
up by our couquerors. Crushing
burthens, base wrongs and unhearc
of humiliations have been our people,
portion. Would 1t not be passing
wonderful If such mighty changes ant
convulsions-overhung by constan
menace of an even worse fate-ha(
not dwarfed character and lowered th'
standard of craftsmanship? Think o
what narrow aud forbidding stag
has circumscribed Southern citizen
ship in the past 80 years. Think o
the long night in which all indopend
ence of thought upon economic o.
Federal questions was slifled ant
bowed down before that constan
double danger, Of intestinal dissensiol
or armed intervention; either fatal tt
white dominance. Compelled 10 con
slider oil plans and alliances, to subor
dinate aud crush out convictions, t.
take up candidates and adopt plat
forms aud views however conflicting
Just SO they promised extrication fron
our severe environments; is 1t strang
that false ideas have found lodgemen
among the people? Think of all thes
things and then let him that is withou
sin or sense of reason and justice cas-
the first stone. Thus is Mr.. Hewitt
and all accusers of the South 10 be al
: swered, IL answered at oil. That W
have preserved the institutions of civ
ilization and race manhood, is a proc
of worthiness and claim TO honor.
=. Count Il. Piola Casselli, of Rome
aud the general secretary of the roya
: Italian commission TO the World
Columbian Exposition, passed through
the city day or two since on bis wa,
to Chicago. He goes thence to Rome
aud expects to return in a few month
r 4.