Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-02-12

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She appeals not to your charity, but
to your magnanimity. | appeal to
both. | come before you begging
for bread for the widow and the
fatherless. She comes in conf
dence and dignity, as the Mother
of this modern Gracchi, and de-
mands that her name shall be in
scribed in honor upon the statutes
of her conntry.
The pittance of eight dollars per
month, which is all that is granted
by the bill, is less coveted by this
lady than the official and recorded
acknowledgment of her service to
the State; and yet, sir, because a
few dollars are involved sum
less than single hundred for an
entire year-apprehension is ex-
pressed lest the precedent may
prove dangerous in the future.
Never since this Government was
established has claim Identical
with the peculiar circumstances Of
this been presented to the consider
alton of Congress. In all human
probability another like it will new
er be presented, and if it should
be, then those of lis who admire
the example OF this mother, r,--those
of us who, in our country's extreml-
ty, would hold up her herolsm as a
precedent for every American moth
er to follow, will but obey an hon
orable instinct, and subServe the
best interests of our respective con-
stituents, when we follow the pre-
cedent, which | trust is this day to
be established.
Mr.. Speaker, there is a golden
mean in virtue itself. Prudence
may be pushed so far Is to partake
of the iufrmities Of fear, and con-
stitutional construction in regard to
the disbursement of pub-
| lie moneys may become SO rigid as
to prejudice pnblic virtue by its inn
itation of the meanness of avarlce.
1t would he difficult to point out
the line, Or the section, OF the Narti-
Gle of the Constitution which au-
thorizes the purchase of the paint.
ings which embellish this Capitol;
but, sir, public contempt would
wither the wretch who, by his vote,
would convert into filthy lucre that
portrait Of the savior of hls coun-
try, pointing to portrait Of Wash
ington, or that of him his chosen
disciple, (pointing to the portrait
of LaFayette.)
Money, sir, is neither the wealth
nor strength of a State. Virtue, ,ge-
MUS, knowledge, courage, patriot
ism. these are it's treasures, com
pared with which, in their influence
upon popular sentiment, gold-gold
is even worse than droSs.
I'll fares the land, tobastening ills
prey
Where wealth accumnlates and men
decay"
Three centuries ago, when border
feudS were common, u maiden born
on the shore of Lake Constance had
gone To seek her fortune in .iwitzer-
laud, and learning by accident, in
the family in which she Was domes-
ticated, that All assault was lntcrd-
ed upon her native village, under
the cover of night she took horse
and swan the current of the Rhine,
aud by her timely warning saved
her birthplace and people from
sack aud slaughter. AN equestrian
monument was erected to her hon
or. bnL her heroisR is to this day
commemorated by a memorial more
touching. Each night as the watch
man goes his ruund, when the hour
of midnight arrives, he calls aloud
the name Of her who three hund red
years before, awoke the sleeping
inhabitants and rescued them !rom
danger. The historian appropri-
ately says, that the fame aud menl-
ory of that girl has given tone
and spirit to the youth of that lit
tie town, which is worth in it's de-
fense battalion of armed men. l
bat repeat the story; it is for the
gentlemen of the House to make
| the application.
1t is proper that | should state
that the petitioner has air lady re-
ceived the bounty Of the Govern
ment; but these allowances cease
on the 4ih o. March next. when,
unless this bill passes, she will be
| +hrouu u.,nn tln .nll rhor rjtjus DI