The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-28
IRON THE OLD no THE NEW.

The pendulum of time is slowly,
but surely, pushing back into their
proper eycle the last lingering hours
of the year; and we are now in the
dawn of new century.
Some one, speaking metGphorically,
has said that time can be most i'm
pressively measured by heart-beats;
and we can readily understand how
This may be so with the individual OF
a people who are watching, with eager
expectancy, for the happening OF f
hoped for event. We can, without
very much expansion of the magma
ton, picture the people of our native
land" suddenly pausing upon the
brink OF i new century and rapidly
recalling the glories of the Nations
past, while cautiously asking them
selves the question-"Will the step
into the future fall upon as firm 8
foundation SIS that upon which We
stood in the past?"
Nor can such an anxious contem-
piation of the future and the past
render one liable to the penalty o:
being called a pessimist; wise people
do not generally build a new founda.
ton under their dwellings without
first carefully safeguarding the
structure itself, from every danger
attending the experiment; it is the
oyerbaiancing ambition and foolish
ness of frenzied optimism that
propel us into the half disguised
disaster. In short, "fooIs rush in
where angels fear to tread"
Al no time and in no land, since
the progress of civilization has
baan written, has there been such q
calm and deliberate attempt, b.
creatures OF Constitutional govern
ment, 10 teach their constituents to
forget the dignity of principle, and to
substitute III its place a willfui de
geleuseY which would not be toler
ated 1T the domestic government OF
any well regulated family.
Il is not to be wondered at, there
fore. that people in a republic should
watch, with mute dismay, the pass
ing os a century, in which the last
stroke Of the Scythe is sought to be SO
wie!dgd by human power thai the
hopes OF hundred years do fall IL
the sward and leave only the desire for
sordid gain as the best incentive in the
future government of men by man.
Hitherto, the sadness of parting with
the old year and all the pleasans
memories that have been entwined
around its living presence, has been
somewhat softened by a faith in the
future preservation OF best principles,
and the determination TO consistently
adhere 10 them. The bringing ovcy
into the beginning century Of thai
part Of oar experience which a con
tinuauce Of good order requires, j.
like the harmonious blending of pre-
capt and example; it carries with i
the conviction that that which was
right yesterday, in principle, Gamer
be wrong tomorrow, in practice. AnG.
although we, today, pause upon til.
present 70 take a retrospective vie*
along lie heightened line OF victories
ii Inc cause of human rights, we are
at tile same time, not uumindful Of
Of thu future and all that it may pc!
tend towards their preservation. Ths
law OF cause and effect must be carried
into the new century. tits law, too
which enTorces itself; right principle
begst right principles; wrong bring,
its own destruction, and truth re-
mains eternal.
Hence. by the memory of a glorious
past, we should turn to the coming
eea, iu the full hope and abiding trusi
that justice will never press 8 poisoned
gErrstica % orr Iirs