The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-22
po11p1cA1 NEEDS AND DUTIES.
An Analysis of Patriotism and it's Value
Address to the Alumni Association.

y
alumni association was hold in tho Uni.
yorsity chapel, where the alumni address
was delivered by Hon. G. Duncan Boil
lingcr, of Barnwcll. Tho meeting was
presided over by Roy. w. Il. Tate, Of
Williamson, tho newly elected presi-
don't Of the association. In apt words
President Tate presented the annual
orator, Attorney General Bcllinger, who
has already achieved tame in life, and Is
an alumnus of whom Furman proudly
boasts. Mr.. Bcllingcr is man Of abil-
ity, thoughtful and sincere, and his ad-
dress on this occasion dealt with i'm
portant topics relating to every citizen
of South Carolina.
In opening Mr. Bellingor alluded to
tho inevitable emotions Of the occasion
in his case; he had not boon on a visit
to his alma mater for twenty years.
Ho spoke Of the reverence he fclt for
the lamcntcd DR.. Furman, to whom he
and many others owed SO much for the
careful, thorough training 80 faithfully
| bestowed on those SO favored as to have
been pupils in this venerable institution.
While college training does much for
| young men and gives them great advan-
tage in the struggle in q critical and un.
friendly world, it does not perfect them.
| College education fits u man for intelli-
gent, reasonable investigation. The
the scenes Of early triumphs and failures
and calls for al account Of his steward
ship rs q man and q citizen.
"As one who has been since he left
college engaged mainly in law and poll
tics, propose to give some observations
gained since left college. This address
will be mainly applicable to South Caro-
lima, and is to deal with the character
istics of happy, capable and just gov
ernmcnt, materially, intellectually and
morally. Material prosperity, intellec-
tual culture, moral strength and love of
| country are vital characteristics of we'll
governed people, and any government
ignoring any one Of these is sowing in
its own soil the seeds of revolution and
ruin.
South Carolina's material prosperity
in the past few decades, since those tor
riblc, almost hopeless, heart. consuming
days after the adverse termination of u
struggle for right and homo: has boon
magnificent. Formerly tho great rail-
road lines ran east and west and our
poverty stricken State was ignored but
now Southern ports arc becoming the
gateways Of tho trade with tho fertile
! lands Of the Southern seas. Our rail
road and factory stock has increased in
twenty-five Ycals tcn-fold. No dreamer
is needed to conclude that prosperity
has come to our beloved State.
"Wcalth put in the hands of unframed
intellect and unstable character insurcs
disaster. We are thankful that while
! our State has prospered financially and
| while her intelligence has greatly broad
= cned she is also morally greater. Vir-
: tuous public sentiment has grown to
= such strength that public avowals of in.
= fidelity by public men and candidates arc
:, frowncd down.
J "Onicials arc generally no better thar
!, d they arc required to be by tho people
II Moral character, if insisted on, will oh
c tain in all public stations. All reform.
d originate with the people. The agita
II tion for the unattainablc sub.trcasur,
~ has caused that great agent of enlight
II onmcnt, the newspaper, to be placed il
-, thousands Of homes, formerly under til,
} dark blight of isolation and ignorance
II and to supplant darkness and ignorance
The agitation Of Utopian prohibition
l. has caused decidedly forciblo, calm
Y and effective settlement to come about
G "Govcrnmont, like anything clso, to
y be preserved, must be loved. Added to
, the natural love Of offspring there
= should be love of country and devotion
y to republican principles Ono reason Of
the strength Of England is the prevail.
ing love of law and the steady mainten-
, ancc Of order.
, eve need moro OF this love of law in
our State. OF the two great classes Of
our population, the white men oboy tho
law because they love dcccncy and order
and the negroes obey through fear
neither for love Of law.
sour juries are charged with prcserv-
ing tho honor Of the law. An acquitted
fclon has no other feeling for the law
than absolute contempt.
"The assertion frequently heard that
the living negro does not got justice in
,ur courts is not q fact. We must do
the negro justice. The courts are do
ing more to obliterato crimo than the
schools.
"Thc white men Of our State are free
from all crimes except bloodguiltincss.
While improving in other respects our
people still too lightly regard human
lifc. But we all ought to thank God
that no South Carolina regiment is en-
gagged in company with the sons Of the
members of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public in that carnival of blood and de-
struction in the Philippines. Zap.
| plause.
"Whilc blessed with sweet liberty and
| having nominally form of popular
government we have here in South Caro-
| lima nearly an aristocracy. A small |
proportion OF the population governs |
the whole. Danger from negro domi- |
nation from any standpoint is moro i'm
aginary than real.
Glove Of and pride in State are admi- |
rablo. Schools and churches furnish |
education and teach morality, but where |
is the school to teach love Of law and
philosophy.
"Wc have nothing to look for from q
campaign Of education, which now cx
cites only selfish or partisan interest.
And it is vain to claim that war induces
patriotism of the highest type. Prepar-
| ing for 1t the inventor and diplomatist
| give their best efforts, and in tho fight |
man is but u splendid animal. Whom
tho end comes one side Is flushed and
hopeful, the other broods over dead
past forgetting all else.
This admirable virtue Of patriotism,
love of country, is more Of the heart