The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-27

IODC USEFUL llltlt SlIlkll'S, IL OCCuIIcu
to me that We might avail ourselves Of
the associations connected with this
day to refresh our " patriotism,
and to suggest to our people some
practicaEthoughs as to the necessity
andduty Of mitigating as far as posi-
ble sectional jealousies, and cultivat-
ing sentiments Of an enlarged patriot
ism. The life of Washington is a
standing eXhortation to his country
mel in behalf of harmony, fraternity,
and peace. In this view, I have
spoken frankly and sincerely opin-
ions long entertained, and now it only
remains to say u few words to you per-
sonally. a.
You lave many reasons for pride
and congratulation. You have a right
to he proud of your home-this grand
old city so doservedly famous for the
generous hospitality and high culture
of her citizens. Charleston has been
conspicuous in every great conflict of
this country from the time prior to
the declaration of independence, when
the fleet of Sir Peter Parker, shattered
and shivered Ivy the palmetto pen on
yonder island, was driven over the
bar until more recently Fort Sumter
though in ruins frnwns defiance DER
Ii cdeep and, like the dying gladiator,
Consents to death, but conquers agony"
Whilst Washington was quartered at
Richmond Hill OH the Hudson, OPP
pressed by the responsibilities of his
position as commander-in-chief and
| .. -, az y 0t,~iNt,, nIo,f fhn rHH@ RI
New York then impending, this
weight WAS for a time lifted from his
great heart by u dispatch from Charles
ton bearing date June %, 1776, and
continuing these words:
1.-The. cool courage they displayed
" Nstonished and enraptured me, for !
e do assure you, my dear General. ]
" never experienced u better fire.
" Twelve full hours it was continued
q without intermission. The noble
4" fellows who were MORALLY wounded
" conjured their brethren never to
- abandon the standard of liberty.
L" Those who lost their limbs deserted
" not their posts. Upon the whole
" they acted like Romans in the third
F " century"
Such were your ancestors the de.
Tenders of Fort Moultrie rs reported
to the commander-in-chief by one
who was himself Il distinguished sol.
dier, who was Graded in the British
army, had served in the famous cam.
.i,aigns of Europe, commanded Cos
sacks, fought with Turks, talked
:, with Frederick the Great, and been
aide-de-camp TO the King Of Poland,-
Maior-Genera! Charles Lee, then the
commander Of the Southern armies.
!, You have reason to congratulate
, yourselves in being the o%riginators o.
this happy celebration and grand re-
union for which all of US, your guests
, and the country, are so much indebted
to you. Bearing the immortal name o
+ Washington, there is a pleasing appro
/ priateness in celebrating his birthday
under your auspices. This good for
+ tune is enhanced by your being or
this OCCASION the representative of tn,
, newly organized citizen soldiery o
I the State-who, ignored. ovcrslaugh
, ed, and disbanded during the i ri
til6es have. in connection with 'goo(
p government, sprung into eXistenc,
: armed cap-a-pje like Minerva from
: the head of Jove.
q 1t is also u peculiar felicity tina
i OH this day of Kindness and good fel
: MISUNDERSTANDING from Il commo1
e pride in Washington and Il sense Of
common country and, common dutie
: and destinies. you have presen
1 as your honored guests, uniting will
E you in the patriotic services Of tn
h day, distinguished companies Of citi
. zen soldiers from other cities of til
State as we'll as from sister States =
i from Georgia, the Diomed of the Rev
, ~olution-the youngest of the old THU
Il teen that followed Washington, bu
now the Empire State of the South
and from Virginia, the mother OF Pat
rick Henry who kindlcd the fires @
resistancc-of Thomas Jefferson VIII
wrote the Declaration of Independ
ence.-and Of George Washington
q who achieved that independence wit
his sword. Friends and fellow-citi
9 zcns. Washington's birthday, whicl
II should always make us one, this yeal
r. from a sense of contrast with the re
cent past, brings to us unwonte'
brightness and joy. 1t is to us indec
e q day of rejoicing; and when to thi
is added the pleasure of your kin
l. visit and sympathy, we verify beiiev
# the year Of jubilee has come. Geor
gians, NirginianS, countrymen all, il
: the name Of the Washington Artil
" lery, in the lame Of the city of Char
!, lesion, in the name of the citizen sol
o diery, and of the whole common
wealth, | bid you welcome, lhric
Il welcome to the hearts and homes @
q the Palmetto State. "
gGIt is. the constitutional right Q
n every citizen to bear arms. 1t is no
only his privilege but his duty in vieN
;. of the fact that liberty in it's las
s analysis is but the blood Of the brave
The theory of our government is tina
Y We are not TO rely upon a standing
: army except aS u nucleus of educated
soldiers around which, as occasion
requires, the citizens may rally for tn
defence of home and country. Cit
T zen soldiers are dangerous I
n liberty. They are but the people il
their defensive armor-the phase the.
q present and the attitude they take 10
Y the protection of their property, thei
families, and their dearest rights
, They are our safety in trouble and Il
!. alltimes our %pride-both ourplume al,
n shield.
This necessary protection, howeve
e is only a par: of the good accomplish
= ed by %yubjecting the citizen to mill
, tary discipline. a greater advantag
/ lies in its Influence upon character
1t performs for the moral qualitie
somewhat the same office that mathe
& MATES does for the intellectual-as
trainer. 1t is the nursing-mother q
e all the manly, hardy: heroic virtues
obedience, truth, fidelity, bravery, an
:. even patriotism itself, for in all age
aud countries there has been an init
mate connection between bravery an
love of country. Military disciplin
c%ultivatrs and stimulates person.;
hcruism, without which safety, indie
pendence, and liberty arc mere word
=. of delus:on. Devotion to country doe
not ordinarily exist, and if it did, i
would be u useless waste Of empt.
sentiment, without the spirit TO de
fend that country. All hail to til,
! newborn citizen s0ldiery ofthe State,
But you have u special source o
! pride in the honorable record Of you
$ own company. Organized and char
tered in 1914 under Capt. Peter Dell'
= Tore, and Licutcnants Walter, Dun
|. can, and De Saussurc, it will o o b'
= time to celebrate your semi-centen
"