The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-04-28
EDiToRWATTERSoN IN A NEW ROLE,
THAT OF POLITICAL PROPHET.

E1on OF prophecy. Forgett1ng the IaIe
sof good Mother Shipton, Of thu for
gotten Virgins and the passing of the
recent Hicks, besides the man. and
vain declarations that were made by all
kinds of people before the recent presi-
sssntial contest, cur southern oracle
plunges recklessly into the field. His
forecasts are about cur national future,
and he IS certainly just in sorae of his
statements After expressing his faith
ID the great possibilities, in the sterling
worth, Of American manhood he pro-
ceeds to say:
S It IS your own fault, gentlemen, Il
The government, falling in with your
own standards, fails to attain the ideal
81 am no Casandra. On the contrary, ]
believe that there are yet glories in store
for as as nation and as a people. But
it requires no seer to predict that if you
do not set and keep your house in order;
n the custodians of the, nations, ac-
cretions not only Of wealth, but of cul-
ture, and these molders of public opinion,
whose position gives them SO great an
authority DO not take from the long
haired denagogue every illustration OF
his claim ef class distinction; if they
do not stop making money long enough
to consider as wise economists just sys-
tens of taxation; If they go on hugging,
along with their riches, the delusion
!. that when the danger line is reached
they can buy the election, it is only a
question Of time when the hordes Of dis
order, taking advantage Of some one Of
the years Of famine which periodically
visit us and sufficiently organized and
capably led, viii sweep over the con.
servatiye barriers that now restrain
them. Then we shall see done ruthlessly
BY the hands Of the mob, perhaps at the
ultimate cost Of free institutions, what
had been better done if committed in
time TO the hands of statesmen
We are toreconcile capital and labor,
and TO this end We must purify our.
selves. We are to teach the lesson that
the citizen exists for the government,
not thegovernment for the citizen. Ours
is to protect the rights Of property, not
less sacred In the form Of aggregations
Of capital than In thato private owner
ship, and to do this effectively we must
hot leave the prosecution and punish
ment Of dishonest and unlawful COM
binations to the indiscrinainate outcry
Of irresponsible agitation, but ourselves
lead such movements toward redress and
referm as the public interest and credit
may require. Just policies, directed by
wise men, never Jet failed Of their mark,
the glory of nations and the good of hu-
mankind, and they never will It is for
this noble city to lead the way. It is for
you, gentlemen, who represent so great
a part of its wealth. and worth, to say
the word, and, as surely as the night the
day, the rest of Us VIII follow after. .
This declaration, Strange as it may
seem, was made at the twenty-fourtb
annual banquet Of the New York board
.of trade. He said, further, that boards
of trade, merchants and manufacturers
should lead in the work Of justice in
business. This is wise and timely. But
the reason given why these fnanciers
should act wisely and Justly is poor and
miserable-viz, to prevent probable rev
olutions Why not demand justice for
the sake Of the aggrieved, for the sake
of a larger manhood, for the sake Of
justice: he certainly pays a poor COM
pliment to the intelligence and feeling
of his hearers.