The Charlotte Democrat

The Boys.

A novel feature of the Fair last week was the presence of twenty-eight stout, healthy boys from Iredell county, ranging in ages from ten to fifteen years. Our friend, Col. R. F. Simonton of Statesville, selected the boys as specimens of the health and vigor of Iredell, and paid their expenses to Charlotte and back home.

Who knows but that some one or two of those dear little fellows may yet be President or Emperor of the United States of America. It is wisdom to make friends among the boys, as no one can tell what his fate may be in this world of false show and humbuggery. After U. S. Grant became President, no one need be discouraged of rising to prominent positions in this country. Those who work will win, and Providence helps only those who help themselves, provided a fair election is held and the writ of habeas corpus is not suspended for party purposes. This is the best country the sun ever shone upon, and the boys of the present day must become the men who will contend for freedom and the rights of free men.

Every man, boy, woman and girl must denounce the suspension of the great writ of liberty and protection called the habeas corpus. Let bold men now come forward and speak for the welfare of the next generation, and condemn usurpers and all sorts of violation of law, right and justice. The boys of Iredell and of every other county of the good Old North State must learn to stand firm for the right and always keep a good conscience. A man who does nothing wrong intentionally can sleep soundly and is not afraid of ghosts or Deputy Marshals and U. S. soldiers.