Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-15
PAUL II. IIAYNE, ESQ.


Tuesday evening last, 'goodlie companie' of
our people, ladies' and gentlemen, heard lecture
by PAUL H. HAYXE, ESQ.,, of Charleston-n the
Court House. The announcement of such treat
was, it seems, quite sufficient to insure large at
tendance-as creditable to the character tf the
Yorkville people as it to the reputation of the
already distinguished young Lecturer a just
tribute to that native worth and talent which it
should be the object of Carolinians to foster
and reward. As the Lecture is private property,
we ought not to make too general mention Of it;
but We must at least mark down some of its prom
inent features, pro bono 1"blico. The subject was
THE Conservatism Of Literature" :" and it was
handled in a chaste, beautiful and mastery style.
Every hearrr, great and small, as far rs We can
learn, was charmed with it.
Mr. H,YSE commenced his Lecture by obscrv-
ing that to Races as well as to ndirida0ls peculiar
endowments, were vouchsafed pointing to peculiar
missions. The position was illustrated by an al
lusion to the philosophy of Greek and Roman civ
ilization. The Greek idea was, the exposition of
the Beautiful in every form of -ln! and through
out the massive policy of the Roman, We perceive
the traces of that hardhood, 1.-TWO often ferocous)
which entered us a standard element into their
National progress.
Descending to modern times, the Lecturer said
that the same general principle was patent in the
constitution of Anglo-Saxon character. Its ele-
mental constituents pointed to the creation Of
People whose mission was the enforcement of ma
terial po~er.
This mission had been singularly fulfilled. More
comprehensive than the Greek, more vigorous
than the Roman, the Saxon polity encompassed
the world.
But in the special prelOnnance of the material
principle lurked the seeds Of destruction and de-
cay. Utilitarianism in its literal acceptation is
the primary creed Of the masses. The beauty
and force of the Spiritualare neither comprehend
ed, nor acknowledged.
Thus, we are, the slaves Of convention the re-
fning processes of the Imagination affect US not
ART in most forms of its manifestation is to US san
unknown God."-But in this age no people can
rise to the level of the general enlightenment a.
mong whom Literature is not recognized as an a.
gent of national advancement. This truth has a
peculiar bearing upon the welfare of the South
Literature has been made the vehicle of attack
upon our institutions and morals. 'Imagination
in felton," las exemplifed in the success of "Un-
Gle Tom'') has prejudiced the civilized world a.
painst US. Works of this description cannot be
properly answered by mere logical, or statistical
refutation. Satire, fancy, all the machinery of
imaginative art must be exerted to nullify their
baneful effeats.
Therefore, the aims of Southern education
should be more liberal, and extended. They should
embrace something above mechanics, agriculture,
and politics. That is short-sighted, and fatal
policy that submits to the employment of weapons
by an enemy the potency of which We are forced
to acknowledge in defect.
We have not space to follow the Lecturer in the
numerous illustrations, and endorsements Of his
opinion. We would only add, that he concluded
with hopeful picture of the future of the South
ern States, whose destiny he considered as GER
tanly great and glorious, if the spiritual and men
tai endowments which belong to our people were
cultivated up to the point Of healthful and eff
cient conservatism.
This is but meagre outline; but it must suf-
fce-suf6ce, at least, to assure those who were
absent, of the good thing they were prevented from
enjoying. Mr. HAYNE is at present on o visit to
the up country, making friends-an employment
for which he is admirably suited-and conciliating,
ss far as may be, popular Interest," In the new Mag