The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-13
Love of Country.

1t scarcely matters where q man is born, whe ther
amid the frost and snow Of Polar regions, or IN
Southern climes, where the verdure OF earth is
perennial, he loves, and 10 tTo latest hour OF ms
life will love, his native land. Ii may be bleak
and nhospitable its government may be oppres-.
sive still he clings to the soil on which be was
born with an unlatering affection, and whitherso-
ever he may go into other and more beautiful
countries. his memory in waking hours and in
dreams wanders to his cllildhood's home-he
loves 1t though it exes him, and is proud Of Its
name and fame, while its yoke sits Calling on his
neck. Love ol country is lie.implanted sent-
.rur, berUngrng dtEe 10 ;ue ruuest savage anu me
most polished civilized man.
And it is beautiful ordinance in our nature
that we are all pervaded by this sentiment. From
this springs the fraternity of race and nation; the
cohesion Of individuals into communities, and The
inclination OF communities TO g local habitation
and name" From this, too, spring The strong
est manifestations of brotherhood-man caring
first for himself, family and kindred; then for the
community and nation TO which he belongs.
Through this isolate fraternity, man, rising in in
elliCcncc, extends the brotherhood Of commUni-
tics to the human race. From this, too, springs
patriotism, which, without country endeared by
peculiar associations TO love and defend, would
not exist. If man was bound in mind and heart
to DO peculiar spot Of earth if the birthplace,
the hearths, the altars, and the graves of kindred
no bond, his sentiment, from first to last,
would be unmitigated selishness, and instead of
meeting and defying danger by his hearth and
altar, he would fly to other spaces Of earth. He
would be continually wanderer-a nomad--
careless where he pitched his tent, where his
grave was scoOped.
And since this sentiment is SO strong, so essen
tial, and so beautiful for the development and
brotherhood OF our common race, how steadily
intelligent peoples and nations should strive to
render their native lands-heir countries-.wor-
Thy Of their love and praise The Roman Of 10.
day is abect and bowed down, because his coun-
try is desecraled and shorn of the beauty and
glory which inspired the conqucrng legIons Of the
Caesars. He may love his country as devOtedy
as did Fabius or a Brutus but it is not the love
which springs from pride in her power, her vIrtuo
and he greatness; ii is rather a love compounded
of grief and pity that she has so degener ated.
The virtue and patriotism of q people depend
much upon the condition of the country TO which
they belong. 1t may be easy to-day 10 impose
letters upon the inheritors Of the eternal city,
hnf rho "@A ~.l4 - --~-i-- - h~'-'-'' i''- 't'V
age Of Corioianus
But the love OF country simply is not enough
to inspire the nobest patriotism it must, to slim.
uate the lo(Iiest virtue and heroism, be love
born Of just pride. 1t must be love that will
not permit people TO forego the guardianship of
their soil, institutions and laws. A love that
will make them eernally vgilant in the defence
Of their own hearths, atars and graves. A love,
jealous devoted, and relying upon native hands
and hearts, and not upon foreign auxiliaries-
upon Pretorian Guards. A people may be hos
ptabIe and give shelter they will, but the
sword, the treasure and the laws OF their land
must not be placed in the hands Of strangers.
All history, in ineradicabIe lines, is craven with
warning 10 this end.-M Y. Mirror.