The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-02-08
s0UTHERN EULO9IUH

One of the most graceful, agreeable
and felicitous social events OF she season
was the annual dinner of the New Eng
laad Society Of Charleston. s. c.. and
itAconcomitantso OF fraternity, patriotism
and eioquence. Tho toast, 'To Our
Country."r was responded to by the
Hon. s. w. Melton, United States Dis
trict Attorney for, South Carolina, who
is thus in part reported by the Charles
ton Ne~s 9ad Coarser:
"On the ,slopins hills Of Kings
mountain there runa line which marks
the flow and ebb OF the tide which at
last receded from the shorss Of America
and left them free forever Hard by 10
little hamlet where / was born. / saw
planted on the public suqareis shaft,
rough hewn from some giant tree in the
forest, which Wed in height with the
steeple of the village church, and
caught the rays of the rising sun and
sent them on to the mountain side.
The people planted it and called it q
liberty pole, and once q year, on indie
pendence Day, they ran up TO it's top
the flag of the Unisn, the starspangled
banner Iapplausel, and around it gather
ed little remnant Of the heroes of. the
Revolution, who, as with uncovered
heads they looked upon the glorious
folds, gave PRAYER. / heard those old
heroes piping theis. patriotic talk, and
there in where learned the lesson which
I would here and now imprsss--e}e lesson
Eof patriotic worship of our Union.
Years went on; the flag was unfurled as
each Independence Day came; until
there was left not one of these old he.
kroes to greet it. Il But fathers gave the
lesson of loyalty to children, and they
greeted il, and IS the years rolled on
still, children's= children were there to
give patriotic homage to the flag. But
| Leaves have their time to fsr,
/ And things ei life decay,
The shaft rotted and they took it down.
| and now there is no liberty pole there
/ and the flag of the Union does not float
there, and there is nothing to catch the
rising sun on Independence Day and
rush it on 10 light up the grand old
mountain as it did when was a. boy
But there is the same sunlight and the
psame grand old soil fit to plant and ia
hold any monument that the people may
erect to liberty. Theforesss grow giant
trees out ef which you may make tnasts
and the fag--it is here it 10 everywhere
beyond where anything is. Sail where
| you will on the water you will find ths
star-spsngled sbanper. [Applause. j
1would like to know why in that hamlet
of mine the shaft can't rise, and tht
flag can't foat there 1t can be, snt
it must be there [applanseb slid this i
the lesson ] am trying in inculcate. /
know very little about the philosophy
of politics Ia snile1 aud less about politi
cal economy; but 1 know that the peo-
pie who made the Constitution of TIN
United States were wise in their day
hui they we're in. thelinmedia.e vicinity
of loyslty-they had just escaped ips
perial rule The fathers thought tha
the danger to be apprehended was a re
turn to kingly rule, Wsshington .onl,
seemed to haxe had some snspicinn tbs
there might, be danger.to free govern
ment when the rule 10 demscratic--en,
de not use democratic in . party sense
The thing TO be afraid, of Ia moi imperia
Irule. but anarchy, the rule of the Com
mnns. The difficulty is.to know no,
to campass all this SO that while In
liberty of the people is preserved,
! shall not go TO sdisiategration, ansrch
and Communism. IL i fSouih Caro-
linian born and reared,al uonfederat
soldier, who has nething to SO back on
IfI cenld impress 1t on those who or
lmy neighbors that the reai thing W
? have 10 fear Ia not inpefialisn as th
4 natisnaI capifaf, but anarchy in th
I State, thea Ieoald persuade you to 5si
! Ime In the sentiment bofi perpetuI
7 union of indestructible States. TAI
. plause.
: .'The lesson Of eli this: The osa.
D day all the country gathered in fnner
]. tpsoosssion a. the grave OF q great au
i good man. think thar there were i
/ flowers on that bier more fragrant ths
y those sent by the people of South Car
twa