National Republican., 1876-02-28

escape into an independent nationality from
the dominion of the English Government under
which so many millions OF Engiishmen have
| lived and enjoyed for whole century since
| the blessings of wel!-regulated and enlight-
| eped liberty. In other words, the measure of
| bappiness and of blessings which we might
bogc ,eaIi-ed as Colonies of England had we
| continued our allegiance is probably not so
| fn; behind WAat NC hare enjoyed as citizens
| of the American Republic as to make
this our cause of rejoicing to-day. In SO far
as the attractive novelty OF q grand democ-
racy was the glittering prize for which many
of the colonists are assumed to have striyen,
we of this day in America, without regard to
section or State, have much reason, from our
experience Of democratic absolutism in these
United States, to question how far an un-
checked and aggressive spirit of democracy,
as expressed, for instance, in universal suf-
frage, or in the cry of the divine right of the
mere majority, is the boon for which our an
cestors stroYe, and how far it is good for us
now, aud how far it will secure the peace and
happiness of those who come after US. The
gravest and most thoughtful political thinkers
OF to-day, who look on at the palpable dete-
rioration in the tone and character of the
representatives of the people and at the stu
pendous frauds which startle the civilized
world day upon day with their frequent eX-.
pOsures In all departments of the National
and State Governments, may well ask them
scNeS, LnlS Senleuuldl year; WucIuCI IL
be surely affirmed that the great experiment
Of 1876 has been proved to be In all respects
decided success"
These uttelances were received with
prolonged applause, and were especially in
teresting to few of her Msjesty's subjects
in attendance. Speaking of the Phila-
delphia Centennial, the unterrified orator
thus unbosomed himself:
''But can the Southern States, with any show
of deccncy, pretend to join in the huzzahs with
which the fact will be proclaimed at Philadel-
phia! 1t is true that the Southern soldier who
goes there as a spectator may console himself
in the midst of the shouts Of his victor by the
feeling that the greatest achievement of the
country was in wearing out and finally defeat
ing the Southern army. But fancy he will
not feel, IL he be true to his own past and that
of his comrades, very happy in the midst of
such rejoicing, or very honest if he undertakes
TO Join In it"
This sentiment was likewise received
amidst deafening cheers, with cries Of
GOOD :" Good In alluding to the
statements made by Southern 'gushers" of
the Lamar stripe, the truthful orator said
81 do not sympathizc or join in with the SEN
timenta.ity of bunker Hill brotherly love, or
the clasping Of hands across the bloody chasm,
or the Cen, ennial hugging and kissing between
Northern and Southern men. | do not find it
necessary to an honest feeling of duty TO the
common country, nor TO 4 sincere desire to
bury the hatchet of the late war, nor to frank
and manly intercourse, 7ithin tie bounds Of
self respect, with the soldiers of the North who
fought for tho Union because they loved it. l
| do not fud il necessary that l or my people
should forget the grave of our much-lovcd
Ccnfederacy, wherein VIC buried forever, but
. tIo 4 S,r,-f hnnas oil
years ago. Nor that we should accept the
name OF rebel rs truth or Z repToach for
ourselves and our dead comrades, nor that we
should hasten with Unseenlly haste 10 strip
from our hearts our reverence for their memo
ries. even after we shall have laid aside our
outward badges Of mourning for their loss.
No! No! A thousand times No;
Although the occasion was strictly fes-
tive one, the orator could not torego the
pleasure of appealing to the prejudices Of
his ignorant white hearers, and exhOrted
them in mandatory terms to crush out the
last vestige of Radicalism In South Caro-
lima, assuring them that Georgians would
cross the Savannah river and come to
their rescue when the effort was made
to redeem the State:
''The Savannah rolls between us in vain
now as in the days of our fathers, when Moul-
trie made his camp at Purysburg, and Lincoln
swept Carolina of regular troops and moved
with all his force toward Augusta that he
might aid your Clarke and Twiggs and Jack
son and Elbert in covering the interior of both
States from the advance Of the British General
Provost and his Indians. Then the order of
events soon turned, and Moultrie and Lincoln
and the grand old Roman who camped at
Orangeburg were soon in hot haste for the re-
lief of Charleston, bringing many a Georgian
in their ranks. Your presence as
sures US that now, as then, the Savannah can
be, and in case of need, the Savannah 1riH be
crossed. The magic spell of 4 common camp
fire, kindled in 4 common cause, kindled for
hearth and altar, can never be extinguished."
General S. D. Lee was also present, and
delivered a lengthy speech to the men
whom he once had the honor to command.
Among the guests of the occasion was a
detachment of the Old Guard, Of New
York. The intemperate utterances of the
speakers seem to have created contempt in
abundance in the bosoms OF the New
Workers. A private letter informs us that
when the celebration ended Judge Ma
graw, Henry Buist and other polite char
acters were speedily brought into requsi-
ton, and did all they could to dissipate the
just impression formed by the Northern
visitors, that the difference was slight be-
tween the "cradle of secession of 1860
and 1876. AL in all, the Charleston cele-
bration has done some good. 1t unmis-
takably proves that the secession feeling is
not dead, but only sleepcth, ready at a
propitious time to raise its hydra head and
emit its venom. And yet there are men
from South Carolina claiming to be Repub-
licans who aver that no disloyalty exists
there, and that the in offensive" colored
race should be turned over TO the tender
nercies of the Hamptons and Prestons and
MaCraTs