The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-07-08

of stern military discipline, with lis
enforced habits of self control, and the
example and influence of a man whose
guiding star was duty, had been worth
more to me than any scholastic tram
ing received elsewhere.
THE SOLDIER SPIRIT.
The first step towards success any.
way is 20 Undue the boy with the spirit
of the soldier, for life is one long bat
tie, and il is the soldier spirit that wins
success; the timid and irresolute are
crushed, run over. and the coward de-
serts, while the trained soldier, fertile
in expedientS. tacttul and resolute,
pushes steadily to the front, until sue
cess crowns his efforts or death claims
him as her own.
SEEING THE ELEPHANT.
| have often thought of that prodigal
son who left his fathers house to see
the world, Eve call it seeing the ele-
phant') and wondered what would
have been his fate had he been trained
four years by Col. Thomas or Col.
Coward. He would have seen the ele.
phant, no doubt about that, one as big
as Jumbo himself, and possibly spent
his portion in rictous living, but when
the funds played out, q Citadel boy
would never in the world have fed on
the husks left by the swine. He would
have killed the fattest pig nthe bunch
ate spare ribs and backbone, and the
inner man well fortified Qf nothing
better turned up), with the airs and
graces born in the City by tie Sea, "
he'd have fascinated the old mans
daughter, married, and put hisfather-
in-law to tending the hogs. Then with
plenty of leisure entered politics, gone
10 Congress, paid the mortgage OFT his
fathers farm, provided for the good
brother who stayed at home by an
appointment to 4th class postotfice.
l know some of the boys" who have
made almost as wonderful record as
that. 4 Citadel boy would oever have
gone sneaking home in rags and tat
tiers, whining and shedding crocodile
tears" He would have pulled himself
together, redeemed his mistakes, and
when he went back home, gone with
his head up like man. If he bad to be-
come as a hired servant and fed on
husks, ne would have gone as far away
from bone as possible, changed his
name and not dlsgraced his family by
admitting that he wasa miserable TAIL
ure.
THE CITADEL.
It would be presumption for me IN
the presence of men grown gray in the
service ofthe Citadel to say much con-
corning its history and work. Permit
me, however, to briefly allude TO its
genesis, because il its original concep-
lion it is closely related to few
thoughts that will express later.
Col. J. P. Thomas in his elegant
work, gives most interesting account
of he early history of the Citadel. In
1922 Denmark NeSey, a free negro,
organized most formidable insurrec-
ton in the city of Charleston. He was
one Of those bold, strong characters,
who are born leaders Of men. On
Sunday night, June 10th, the negroes
were 10 rise, and suddenly seize the
arsenal, guard house and otner 6eposi-
tories of arms, then reinforced by the
country negroes, were to sweep the
town by hreand sword. Through the
detection of one of the consplratorS,
the plot failed, and Vesey with several
others was tried, condemned and exc
cuted. The alarm caused by this
threatened outbreak led to the enlarge.
ment of the arsenal and other military
posts. Ten years later came the nulll-
hcation excitement Of 1882, and $780,
coo was appropriated for munitions of
war and as a consequence greatly In
creased the importance OF the arsenal.
A garrison was kept up until IN 1872,
Governor Richardson conceived the
ijea of using these military posts as
schools, holding that as they had to be
maintained. it would only be a small
additional expense to impart lnst1uc.
ton TO the young men constituting the
garrison. Thus we see that the origin
and purpose of the Citadel was for
public defence, and that the scholastic
feature is graft upon the old trunk.
Therefore IN purpose and practice the
Citadel bears close relation 10 the mi
litia system OF the country, and | de-
sire to express few thoughts on this
line, for in it are some of the germs
which must give life or death to US as
a republic
TWO RESOURCES OF NATIONAL SAFETY.
In national life, IN the hrst outbreak
of war or civil disturbance at home,
there are but two resources for protec-
ton and safety. They might Lie no
tells be CLASSIFIED as the European"
and American" plans.
EUROPEAN PLAN.
| The first depends upon large stand
ing army, drawn from the ranks OF
civil Life, to be maintained in idleneSs
at the expense of the producers. Con
stituting in the hands Of an ambitious
and bold executive, perpetual men
ace to popular rights.
AMERICAN PLAN.
The second depends upon patriotic
and well organized militia, ever pres
ent, rarel y seen, quarlereG among US,
not in camps and forts, but at the lire
SIDE, IN the counting room ana the
workshop.
FOUNDATIONS OF NATlON-.L GREATNESS.
1t has been we'll said that with the
decadence of the martial spirit the de-
cay of the nation begins, hence every
nation adopts some means TO foster
this spirit, varying in degrees from the
dance of the savage to the science and
culture of West Point.
In a critical analysis Of the element
al foundations Of political economy,
there are two essential factors upon
whose proper understanding and ap-
plication, the progress, perpetuity ana
stability of our government depends.
First Political wisdom, manifested
through broad Craftsmanship.
Second. Courage disclosed through
| tho m artial Spirit Of the npNnle