The Daily Phoenix

COLUMBIA, S. C.
Sunday Morning October 24, 1869.

Faith, Hope and Charity—These Three,
But the Greatest of These, Politically, at
this Time, is Faith with Works.

We do not aspire to preach a sermon to
our readers. We leave that to better
men. But we desire this day to speak a
word to a certain class of our fellow-
citizens in South Carolina. We speak
not at this time to the colored citizens of
South Carolina. By the great majority
of these we know full well that our words
would pass by, like the idle winds which
we regard not—for we are neither 'radi-
cals' nor 'conservative Republicans.'
We are neither from New England nor
yet from Africa;—but—terrible thing—we
are to the 'manor born,' nay, more, an
ex-slaveholder and an 'ex-rebel,' of the
deepest dye. We speak, therefore, with
the hope of more effect to that portion
of our fellow citizens at present so slightly
represented in South Carolina—that
portion which, representing largely the
refinement, the tone the intelligence
and the capital of the State, are yet virtually
proscribed under the prevalence
of radical reconstruction. We speak to
the citizens of South Carolina, with
whom the past of South Carolina is associated
with brave, high, tender and sad
memories. We speak to those whom the
late war left with bleeding hearts and
shattered fortunes. We speak to the
falsely styled 'rebel' class of the State.
To them, we repeat the heading of our
article, and say, friends, associates in a
common cause, 'Have Faith, Hope and
Charity' these three, but above all, cultivate
faith. We know that there are
men in the State—good and true—who
are disposed to break their swords and
give up in South Carolina the political
field to the rude party that now walk it
in triumph, gathering the spoils. But
this will never do. The hearts and homes
that we cherish in South Carolina, the
love we bear the commonwealth, the
duties that we owe our wives and children,
a thousand high considerations all
bid us to work on in the spirit of faith,
hope and charity, to restore our State to
the rightful rule of her intelligent, true
and virtuous sons. This is a consummation
good for the white man good for
the black man—good for South Carolina
united and harmonious—good for
the interests of capital—good for the interests
of labor—good for the cause of
religion, morals and education. We
ask, then, the white men of South Carolina—her
youth and manhood—not to
give up the political field. Let us, at
least, fix upon a policy that is sagacious,
vital and likely to be victorious. Let us
have charity for all, and malice for none
—hope in our future—faith in our political
principles and our ultimate success.
Let us endeavor to improve and
purify, if we cannot supplant, the rule
that is over us. Let the whites of South
Carolina seek to exert a just influence in
the government of the country. An exchange
says: 'It is the Government that
their own sages and heroes helped to form.
It is the Government under which,
willing or unwilling, it is their destiny to
live, and it should be their desire and
aim to make it as perfect as possible. If
a bad Government, or if badly administered,
they will have to endure its evils.
If a good Government, and well administered,
they will participate in its blessings.'
We are part and parcel of the
great Government at Washington. If
so, let us seek to secure our portion of
its benefits. Let us purchase none of
these benefits by unmanly concessions.
But, as far as we can, let the strife and
bitterness of the past be lost in hope and
work for the future. To restore our
State and our South to its pristine vigor,
wealth and prosperity—to its former
pride and spirit of independence; this is,
indeed, a noble work, worthy of patriot
toil and patriot effort. As an exchange
suggests: 'Why should we give ourselves
up to sad thoughts, gloomy fore-
bodings and unavailing tears—to useless
regrets for the past, which we cannot recall—when
there is so much of promise
in the future which belongs to us, and
which we may command.' And most
heartily do we respond to the invitation
of the New York Republic, when it says
to the people of the South:
'Let us shake hands once more, and
with the broad, undissevered banner of
the Union floating over us again, pledge
eternal fealty to the land of our fore-
fathers—together fighting its battles and
sharing its glories.'