Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-08

entertainment we suppose our thanks are due to
the female portion OF the audience; we must there
fore, render our need of praise to their housewife
ry as we'll as their patriotism. After dinner the
audience again assembled at the stand, and the
exercises of the day were closed by the volunteer
toasts.
Not only during the delivery of the addresses
and at table, but throughout the day, the utmost
p~ropriety and decorum prevailed. We congratu'
late our neighbors of Bullock's Creek upon the
success of their effort, and express the hope thai
this may be only one of many such celebrations OF
the anniversary of our independence. We see no
valid reason why We should feel less interest than
formerly, in the celebration of the Fourth of July
It is true that clouds have gathered and are still
gathering upon our political horizon; it is true
that our country is distracted and divided tina
party spirit and political division have shed theiI
baleful influence over every portion Of it. But
these instead of weighing against. are reasons IN
favor of these celebrations for they tend to nour'
ish and keep alive the spirit that they
rate and now, more than at any former period
If our national existence, do we need the dsuntless
courage, the heroic frmness and the incorrupt'
ible integrity of '76, the spirit to maintain our
liberties as we'll against domestic as foreign foes.
Besides. we are not to regard this declaration MS
the Declaration of Independence of the United
States rs q whole, merely; we may and should
regard it rs the Declaration of each State sepa'
rately and distinctly, in proof of which we refer
to the Dcclarationi itself, and the manner in which
the Federal Constitution was ratified. We Us Ca
roliniaus then, may observe the Fourth of July, rs
the anniversary of the independence of South On.
rolina as n State; and rs such, we have reason to
celebrate it for no State or section of our c"un-
try, can boast of prouder memories, or q more
glorious ancestry.
The necessity for the observance of these occa-
sions must be evident to all they are elevated
points Of time, from which memory may review
the region of the past, and anticipation may look
forward into the broad country of the future. We
should remember that our estimate of virtues will
always be in proportion az they exist in ourselves.
When therefore, the memory of our heroic ances-
tors shall cease to be reverenced and their nam
he forgotten, We may be sure that the fair temple
of liberty erected by their hands, is fnst crum-
bling to decay, and hespirit whose dwelling place
it was, has taken its fight forever Let each re-
currence of this anniversary then, be hailed with
feelings of enthusiastic patriotism and let us
show by our appreciation of the virtues of our an
c~estors, that we are prepared to initiate fheirdeeds'
in defence of the priceless legacy they have be
oueathed US. Then may we hope to arrive at that
exalted standard of patriotism so beautifully m
bodied in the words of the poet:
~ love thee next to heaven above,
Land of my fathers. thee l love.
And rail thy slanderers rs they will,
With all thy faults love thee STILL"