The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-10-13
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1T scarcely matters where n man II born.
whether amid the frost and snow of Polar
regions, in Southern climes, where the YER.
dure of earth is perennial, he loves. ana 70
the latest hour of his life will love. his ma
tive land. 1t may be bleak and inhospita-. !. =
BILE; its government may be Oppressive:
still he clings to the soil on which he was
born with an unfaltering affection, and
whithersoever lie may 90 into other and
more beautiful countries, his memory In
waking hours and in dreams wander to his
childhood's home-he loves it though IL
eNiles him, and is proud of its name and
fame, while its yoke sits CALLING on his neck.
Love of country is a life-implanted senti-
ment, belonging alike to the rudest savage
and the most polished civilized man. '
And it is beautiful ordinance in our ma
turc that we arc all pervaded by this senti
ment. From this springs the fraternity of
race and nation; the cohesion of individuals
into communities, and the inclinations of
communities to "local habitation and n
name" From this, too, springs the stronp-
est manifestation of brotherhood-ma car
ing first for himself, family and kindred;
then for the community and nation to which,
he belongs. Through this isolate fraternity.
man, risingin intelligence, extends the broth
erhocd of communities to the human race.
FROM this, too, springs patriotism, which,
without country endeared by peculiar as
soclatlons to love and defend, would not cx-
ist. If man was bound in heart and mind
10 no peculiar spot on earth If the birth
place, the hearths, the altars, and the graves
OF kindred were no bond, his sentiment, from
ilrst to last would be unmitigated selfshness,
and instead of meeting and defying danger
by his hearth and altar, he would fly to 9TH
spaces of EARTH He would be continually
wandcrer-a nomad-careless where he
pitched his tent, or where his grave was
scooped. 49,. l- -. D.
And since this sentiment is SO strong, SO
essential, and SO beautiful for the develop
ment and brotherhood of our common race.
how steadily intelligent people and nations
should strive to render their native lands
their countries-worthy of their love and
and praise. The Roman of to-day is abiect
and bowed down, because his country is de-
scnbed and shorn of the beauty and glory
which inspired the conquering legions of the
Caesars. He may love his country as devot-
edly as did a Fabius or Brutus, but it is
not the love which springs from pride in her
power, her virtue and her greatness; it is
rather love compounded of grief and pity
that she has SO dcgenerated. The virtue and
patriotism of people depend much upon
the condition of the country to which they
belong. 1t may be easy to-day to impose
fetters upon the inheritors Of the aeternal
city" but the world could not enslave a Ro-
man IN the aye of Coriolanus. ,...
But the love Of country simply is not
enough to inspire the noblest patriotism it
must, to stimulate the loftiest virtue and
heroism, be love born Of q just pride. It
must be love that will not permit a people
to torego the guardianship of their own soil,
institutions and laws. A love that will make
them cternally vigiant in the defence of
their own hearths, affairs and graves. A
love- Jealous as devoted, and relying upon
native hands and hearts, and not upon for
eign auyiiaries-upon Pretorian Guarls.--
A peop le .aay be hospitable and give shell
ter rs they will, but the sword, the treasure
and the laws Of their land must not be
placed in the hands of strangers. All his-
tory, in incradicable lines, is craven With
warning to this end.--Neao York Mirror.