The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-06-02

institutions handed down by our fathers,
but to meet and solye the problems that
will arise for their solution in the fu-
ture.
There have been numerous and great
questions presented for the considera-
ton OF our fathers in the past, and how
they met and solved them is history.
There will oe numerous and great ques-
tions presented for the consideration OF
our children in the future, and how they
will meet and solve them is prophecy.
We stand on the dividing line be-
tween the past aud the future: we stand
midway between our fathers and our
children. 1t is incumbent uoon US TO
hold up for the guidance of our sons the
lights that have been held up for our
guidance III the experience of our faith
ers.
The times have changed since the
days of our fathers. and men have chang
ed with them. New problems have aris-
en-: and others will still arise: and we
must prepare to meet and solve them
The questions of government which
our fathers considered are not the ques-
tions of government which our sons will
consider. The financial and industrial
questions of the day differ from the
financial and industrial questions Of
former times. Our fathers knew moth
ing of the oil trust, nor beef trust. nor
the tobacco or sugar trust: they knew
nothing of railroad combinations, moth
Ing of the Industrial monopolies-which
now dominate our country. These ques-
tionS furnish abundant food fol. shon9ht
TO our people: the pull pit and the press,
our publiciSts and philanthropIsts, our
scholars and statesmen. are struggling
nightly for the people 10 protect and
preserve them from these coaj!Llous.
No statesman can contemplate the con-
ditlOns which surround and confront this
great country of our own. without fee
ings of profound apprehension for the
welfare OF our children: hut cut OF these
apprehensiuus will come d ln"re sublime
faith and q stronger conviction that the
future Of the republic wil! he safe iu the
hands of our sous.
Concerning these questions it would
delight me 10 talk to you: but III my
Judgment there is one question which
over shadows them all in Importance 10
the southern people: 1t question in the
solution of which is involved the peace
of southern homes. and the welfare OF
the southern people.
In 1858 Mr.. Lincoln, during his great
debate with Mr.. Douglass asked the
uestion-whethe or not house divld-
ed against itself could stand, one half
slave and the other free. will not stop
10 consider whether the question thus
presented involved the cause OF the war
for southern independence: but before
that question was answered a deluge Of
blood fell upon the earth; and our south
ern country was swept by fire and sword.
The termination of the war left the
flower of southern youth, and manhood
dead upon the fields OF battle: and the
survivors returned MANNED in body and
broken in resources to their desolated
homes to take up the work Of redemp-
tion. Habiliments of woe over-hung the
threshold of every southern home, and
the voice OF lamentation was heard in
the land.
Before our people recovered from the
shock OF battle, the horrors of war were
quickly followed b. the horrors of re-