Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-07-10
FOR THE TIMES.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
BY MISS P. A. PENNINGTON.

The glourious Fourth, around which
cluster such proud remembrances. has
come and gone again, leaving among us,
we fear, but few regretful throbs that we
still suffer day, so fraught with mighty
memories, to pass unheeded by. How can
we look into the faces of Americas young
sons and daughters without weeping, that
we see there no glow of love of country
no eyes bright with delight and pride-no
boyish huzzas, such as distinguished those
of the past generation upon the advent of
this day, which they, with all its whole
some precedents, were taught to regard
with a feeling akin to sacred9
Our poor deluded countrymen seem to
think that we are called upon-by whom?
we say by sinister aliens in our midst,
who subtly influence us, then slyly laugh
at our folly-not only to act and to speak
coldly of this day, which any other nation
would be proud to honor; but, what is in
deed appalling in its suicidal wickedness,
to speak Of it with gibes and sneers, which
cannot but cause the heart of the thought
full to beat with alarm.
All! we have let go our sheet anchor of
national safety, when we contemn Gods
Holy Word, and allow an accumulation of
greed, of grasping after riches, of unscru-
pulous policy, and want of probitY, in our
legislatures, among ourselves; and, what
is most disgraceful, an inconsistent, weak,
driveling, and ver-growing admiration
for despots and empires to overspread,
with dead sterility, upon which nothing
but such noxious weeds can live, the rich
mould upon our classic streams of patriot
blood, from which grew in beauty the
thrifty plants of integrity and industry,
the rare sweet flowers Of christian and fra
ternal love, whose fragrance refreshed the
soft verdure of Gods appreciation.
It was significant of evil when we made
up our minds to turn our backs upon this
eventful day. This alone spoke volumes,
for it showed that one of our oldest, most
expressive landmarks was abandoned to
decay. Our great men upon none living
rests their mantle) were passing away, and
he who should ever be upon the lookout
to keep us off the mad breakers of discord,
was taken from US to his reward; and civil
war and disruption followed, and there is
anguish in the thought that for four dread
full years the fearful Upas OF disunion COW
cred with its horrible mould the pure mar
bic above the honored head, the patriot
heart of Henry Clay.
We should teach the young to revere the
lofty intellects from which emanated the
Declaration ofIndependence, and to mourn
that the heart that burned while the hand
penned its immortal sentences, is dust.
There is indeed sad falling away from
our first principles, but let US, with the en-
ergy that characterizes us, try to go back
and walk in the footsteps of our fathers
ere they be effaced. All! let us look deep
down among the rubbish we have allowed
to press them out of style and we shall find
onca more the pearls which fell from
their lips. Gems of wisdom cleaned a
mong their white hairs and clustered upon
the brink of their graves. Let US, pick
them up; they are ours, arich inheritance.
We will wear them near eur hear They
WIN is1sss EpoF; @'c5tcfy
us to value and love, as we should, all that
is great and good in our history, and a
gain to commemorate, with perennial en-
thusiasm, our ever to be honored 1ndepen-
dence Day.