The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

thies; devoted to South Carolina and to the
Union, how uneratefult the son OF Abbeville
not ready to honor the name OF Calhoun,
and to rebuke him who unblushinS'y calum-
mates Il splendid memory; ms mastery
Speeches and Addresses and Letters; his a0le
State Papers; his Discourse on the Constltu-
ton and Government OF the United states ;
his Disquisition on government equal 10 tne
Politics of Arlstotle; his dignity, elevation
and purity of character, personal ana pollll-
cal: his Roman firmness; his marked inde-
pendence: his ~incorruptible honesty: these
constitute his titles to the fame that ne mas
won and which has made him a grand ideal
for the you tn Of the country. And yet this Is
the man whom the Abbeville Press ana BAN
ner treats with contempt and would fam
eliminate from the minds ana nearts OF the
youth of Abbev1lle!!
PRAISE OF CALHOUN.
commend to The Press and Banner the
praise of Calhoun from Hammonds magnifi-
cent Grafton on Calhoun h In C CLOSING up mis- MS
mastery analysis OF Calhoun s services anu
his character, he says:
"The example of his noble efforts to reform
the government and to restore the Constltu-
tion of his country. distinguished by the
display of the vastest resources and the most
masterty power of intellect though like Agis,
and Conon, and the younger Brutus, ne lalled
in his glorious designs-will live forever.
But his speeches and writings will constitute
n new epoch in the science OF politics. Our
Federal Constitution, he often said, was In
advance OF the wisdom OF those who framed
II: n he 1t was who first thoroughly expl0r-
ed, comprehended, and ~eXpounded IT.. He
found in 1t nearly all that was requisite TO
establish on the firmest foundations, a free
and popular government, when was ms oeau
ideal of governments; and which, though II
has many friends and many martyrs and has
been illustrated by patriots and heroes, mas
scarcely before had a genuine apostle. He
laid down. for the first, it's true principles
and marked out It's true limits; he has shown
han, ~ rniUhf ond nnlpSq yiQiIanty watched
would depart from those principles and linn
its, and produce all those evils which have 80
long made IL odious to the hest and wisest
men. He has shown, on the other hand. how
canable IL is of unlimited expansion to meet
ali the exigencies and reap all the benefits OF
real progress, If Its powers be confided TO The
proper majorlties and their suffrages collected
in the proper manner and hoW lts harmony
may be kept undisturbed and its duration
made perpetual, by securing to the minor
tiles the sacred and all-important right ofself'
protection. In short, he has 80 thoroughly
elucidated all the checks and balances ofFree
Constitutions, simple and confederated. that
henceforth, in the long tide OF time. no Re-
publics will be erected or reformed on a dura'
BILE foundation, without a constant recurrence
to the theories he has discussed, anu me
measures be has proposed and a profound
observance of the precepts he has taught"
Let the Press and Banner read Hammond's
Grafton and Lamar's on Calhoun, and review
It's course as to Calhoun. and De pateho.
fool that fired the Ephesian dome Is less to be
condemned than the South Carolina editor
who would tear down the monument "a
Calhoun. Marbled in the great heart Of
South Carolina, or dishonor the name or dis,
parage the character of the Peoples Friend,
who wore himself out In the service of his
Country In his role Of purest patriotism, and
who loved all the people of South Carolina,
poor and rich alike, and every inch Of her
territory from silent Blue Ridge 10 sounding
Sea.
In the lofty lines OF Milton, addressed to
Shakespeare, we'll may South Carolinians
and all who appreciate true greatness Of soul,
call Calhoun
dear Son OF Memory, great heir of Fame"
Yours respectfully.
JOHN P. THOMAS.
Columbia, S. c. Aug. 16 1891.