Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-20


fish lust softened gradually into social love !;
the activity of sportive fancy subdued the
gloomy dictates of cruelty and revenge; !;
the Gorgon form of fear gave place to the
young radiance of hope; and superstition
dropped its circlet of snakes and half listened
to the voice of Reason and of Truth. ".This
effect added to the dignity impaired by the
diffusion of Roman Power, has given to Eu-
ropean civilization the particular character
it has so long assumed.
OF all the Independent nations now in ex-
istence, Germany, France, England and the
United States appear as the appointed propa-
gators of Christian civilization. Each Of these
four great nations possesses some one posi-
tive and essential element of perfect civiliza-
ton, without at the same time possessing 9TH
er requisites; and yet in these not totally de-
fcient. In Germany we see the intellect
fully developed. In France, social organ
ization favorable to the cultivation of science
and literature, yet far more practical than in
Germany. d. In England we behold the fruits
of happy constitution; and in the United
States we have the. results of liberal institu-
tions and popular government. The Ger.
man spirit is better seen in the splendid
flights and grand conceptions Of her Goethes,
her Schillers, and her Richters, than in the
political economics which distinguished the
reign of Charles V. or the political sagacity of
the celebrated Oxenstiern. 1t is to her re-
ligious peace that she owes her present quiet
and future existence But the reformation,
which did so much elsewhere to strengthen
the bonds of society and secure political Ii
berty, has failed to turn the speculations of
its birthplace to fruitful meditation upon
constitutional sciences. And even now, does
Germany, divided, and retaining so many
marks of primitive European society, pres
ent to Republican eyes a political picture
hardly less revolving than when the deadly
Tarantism+ stalked throughout her borders,
and sthe Father Land was one vast ball
room, the ante-chamber to the Valley OF
Death"
With regard to France, there is in the
genius of her people ga sociablcness and
sympathy-a something which spreads itself
with facility and an energy-something
which gives to French civilization sociable-
ness and sympathy, beyond that of all other
nations" And though at times her moral fea-
ture has exhibited mournful aspect-al-
though there are still many Fartufes await
ing the deserved scourge, another Moliere,
still she has inherent moral resources which
are rapidly covering the gigantic ruins Of
her late political revolutions, and placing
France at the head of modern civilization
The present war has given her moral tri-
umph over England-a emacyshe should
ever retain.
If it be true that nations, like indirid"als,
haee a notural yo"tA, perfection and disso-
Mtiou, Judging from the past experiences cf
the world and the signs of the present times
the English Monarchy has we'll nigh lived
its day and is rapidly nearing the end of its
existence What mean those internal muir
murings which have of late been swelling
loudly across the Atlantic main? Can it be
longer said with truth, that English institu-
tions have nothing ofage but its dignity,a
that their strength is still the strength of
youth = Could Fletcher now say, with
implicit confidence in the national refinement,
let me make tie songs Of a people ? Will
her dissatisfied Commons for a much longer
time seek protection under the withered hand
of her decaying Aristocracy? The fearful
and fermentng elements Of her great old
civil commotons, never perfectly appeased,
must sooner or later revive Rebellion 5 smoul-
dering torch, and peoples craving must be
satisfied by peoples choice. Alas! for
Albion-once the tabled residence of depart
ed spirits-she has nobly fulfilled one glori-
Gus prophecy-she has been greatest on the
earth but yet there was anotherprophecy:
the raptured ken of her neglected offspring
saw her future fate:-
"where now is Britain-where her laureed names,
Yet her former glory must live in the "E-
ternal Melodies" of her native Genius, and
though the distant Future may deplore her
Present, it shall ever know her Past.
And America! land of Washington ! the
last resting place of Liberty, driven from her
Eastern Home. She it is standcst forth a.
lone in her civil greatness, as the home of
civil and religious freedom and other lands
may Justly wonder at her noble constitution,
containing all the elements of a perfect gov
ernment Such is truly her external aspect.
But the days of her glory seem fast depart
ing she is house divided against itself.
No Remus, slain by brothers hand, whose
ashes cry aloud for vengeance, lies buried in
her hallowed soil and yet how soon may the
curse of offended Heaven be sent to avenge
the damning crime of national fraticide -
Oh! degenerate sons of Adams and of Han
cock, shall the tacit eloquence Of the graves
of heroes plead in vain Shall the sacred
silence of the tombs of thy country's Father,
and the Apostle of Liberty be longer disre-
gardcd. Beware-lest Liberty forever take
her flight, and the vice and suffering of 9TH
er civilizations be present here in their dark
est feature.
"Quo, quo, Scelesti mitis -
ascerba fata Romanos agunt,
Scelusque fratern@ necis
Ut immercntis tluxit in terrain Rem
Sacer nepotibus cruor." HORACE.
&Schlegel 4Tarantism, or Dancing Mania.