The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-07-03

world was reared the proportions Of now
and Utopian government.
The land of Columbus, became again
the absorbing topic, and men called it
now tho land of Washington and of Lib
erty!
At first this was rs the account of the
discovery, marvellous beyond startling
romance. Monarchical Europe, schooled
in the dogma, of "thc divine right of
kings" frowned down the idea of DEM
ocracy as impracticable and transient.
Had not Rome and Greece tried the ex-
pertinent, and had they not failed /? His
tory but repeats itself. The Americans
will try and fail. A monarchy is the
normal government for man. We shall
not argue this question, now. Perhaps
they are right. Perhaps ''the king of
America is already born"
If the experiment of popular aud
democratic government tried upon this
continent shall prove to be failure, the
experiment will be none the less memor-
able; the effort none the less glorious.
There are some enterprises and efforts
of man which failure enhances with
melancholy and hallowcd interest.
Such was the idea of our Southern
Confederacy SO lately consigned to its
green and loved grave. Its funeral cy-
press and germs 'of roses blighted in
their buds, twined with ivy wreaths
around its ruined altar, and clustered on
its torn, furled banner, will prove as
perennial aud utter voice as thrilling
and eloquent, as would have been the
effect of Victory's wreath of Laurel.
Whatever may be the result Of the
experiment. Of the American republic,
this day should never lose any of the
bright associations that unite it and en-
swrine it with the memories of the past,
the mighty dead, and the initiation of n
great Idea.
Perhaps, like the discovery, American
liberty will also become so common
place, SO familiar that we will forget the
glory of its birth and the majesty of its
Importance and value. Aye! have we
not already seen the day when new and
I,complex interests and issues would rise
l;;.:;..,S . Z 4 appresiation Of this
We would look upon tho day from no
partizan or interested view, but regard
ing it as one of the great days in the
history of progress, and of human liber-
ty, would but remind our readers of its
recurrence, and its associations. Wash
ington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin,
these are the names associated with this
Anniversary. The declaration of band
of patriots, of their appreciation of their
rights, and of their resolution to main
tain them, this was the particular event
that occurred upon this day in rs.
The birth of an infant republic, since
grown to the gigantic proportions, and
perpetuated despite suck antagonisms, to
the present day-thcse are the issues
and results of it's events.
There was a time when Carolinians
loved this republic and observed this as
an holy day of patriotism. That time
has passed. Shall We say forever
The complicated relations end interests
that have arisen-our slaues, and the
mandate that man had interpreted the
voice of liberty and truth to be, for their
emancipation-the different occupations
and interests of the sections, the ar
rangement of a tariff-questions of poll
cy and opinions between State rights and
centralizing parties-the recent interne-
cine war widening the breach.-these
have almost proved the ruin of the re-
public But the hand of fate, which is