The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-06-18

once beautiful body becomes a liv-
ing corpse filled with corruption, and
with a shrek of mad despair, the
leper fees from the haunts Of naen to
die amid the tombs with parched
tongue and dry eyes, crying, un-
clean! nnclean!'' There is disease
as deadly and as dangerous to nation
al life when men vote to crafty hate
and envy by placing smali-minded
men into large places of trust, or in
sullen despair and disgust remain
away from voting precincts and re-
fuse to participate in the affairs of
government. It is small spot on
the hand whose ravages if unchecked
will spread ''to every portion Of the
body politic causing in time the mass
es to cry out, uncleanI uncleanr'
The authority Of our government is
not vested in crowned heads. neither
is it found in the hands of Office
holders or Office seekers, if we are
wise; for if we would examine into
our system of government we will
find that We, the private citizens of
the country, are sovereign, and our
will is the supreme law of our gov
ernment. How importa Mt and essen.
tial, therefore, is it that we as young
men should be trained and educated
not only in the schools and colleges,
but on the questions of government
and legislation in order that we may
perform well our duty as: American
citizens, casting intelligent!y and
wisely the sacred trust Of a sacred
| vote. Well, it has been said, when
men shall use the ballot as high
and sacred trust then and not until
then viii the dream Of the. early
| fathers of the Republic be realized,
and every. i'll and woe that effect the
nation find a sure and safe cure
There is tendency in the human
mind to trace the deeds and thoughts
of the past, and it is we'll that it is
thus, for this is g great conservative
principle that steers US from social
and political degradation. Let US
not however, blindty follow the
teaching and customs of the past.
but let US rather as thoughtful and
intelligent citizens modify those
teachings and customs to harmonic
witt, new conditions in order that we
may have legislation favorable at all
times to the common good. We are
| not living thirty years in the past,
but in the present and for the future.
New conditions are confronting US,
and new laws are necessary to gov
ern these conditions. We eneed young
men bold, progressive and conserva-.
tive who will turn their attention
and energies to the. development Of
the industries of the South. Let US
not turn a deaf ear to legislation
favorable TO our financial condition
or refuse capital rendered by the
hospitable hands of Northern friends,
that will give labor to the unem-
played. and make glad our humble
cottage home. have been surprised
to find that some Of our citizens are
opposed TO Northern capital being
invested in Southern industries. Let
me say to that class of citizens that
they are standing in the light Of pro-
gress of prosperity and are q
menace o,the welfare and develop
ment of our Southern country. Let
me say further that it has been the
prejudice existing between the North
and the South for the past thirty
years that has. caused legislation to
favor the stronger at the expense OF
the weaker. Away with prejudice,
North and South. Bury the gun and
baYonet. Profit by the teachings OF
the past and let US work together IN
one common brotherhood fors,Sas
developments of North, East, South
and West, under one common flag
flag with its stars and stripes. Who
is it that stands by great prineipie?e
Who is it that loves a. just cause
would dare criticise the southern
soldier? (My father was a confed-s
crate soldier.) / love the boys who
wore the grey, but I admire the boys
who donned the blue. They were
each contending for what they
deemed right, but the God OF ma
tions has directed, and his finger IS
pointing to the fact to-day that lt
is better that the Union mas been
preserved and the nation saved. we
of the South have rich, fields within
which 20 labor Offering inducements
to capital from every quarter OF the
globe: we have the richest coat
fields of the world; deposits OF, iron
in which there are millions for labor
. ing men; farm lands unsurpassed for
varied cultivation; streams roaring
with Joyful invitations to the manu-
facturies on the babbling brooks OF
New England. Already these !uvl-
tations are being accepted and our
own State is leading the South IN the
manufacturing world.
I have stood on the hills overlook
ing our capital city at Washington,
viewing the magnificent government
buildings over which wave the
American flags. And as had gazed
upon their imposing grandeur with
their liberty capped and golden
crowned domes my thoughts wan
dered back to my own native State.
amidst the battle fields OF Reyolu-
tionary fame. for all this grandeur IS
in a large measure the rich heritage
of the nation brought about by the
bravery and daring Of our ancestors
at Eutaw, Cowpens, Orangeourg,
and by the spirit which prompted
Marion and his men, Sumter and his
cohorts, TO make famous the hills