The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-03
a DID r u . g
GEN. J. D. KENNEDY.
AT THE
Laying of the Corner Stone
OF THE
New City Hall, Sumter. S. c.
DECEMBER 9th, 1893.

DECEMBER 18th, 1893
.M. Mayor and Gentlemen Of the Board
Of Aldermen OF tie City oJ .Sunater:
Notwithstanding the pressure Of busi-
ness at this season Of the year | could
not we'll refuse your complimentary ip-
vitatiou to deliver the address on this
ausplcious occasion and esteem it an
especial compliment, when | consider
the number of your own fellow citizens
SO much better qualified to perform this
function In view of this fact am
constrained to attribute the invitation
to your personal consideration, rather
than any fitness on my part The
compliment, however. is appreciated aud
| regret, that owing to the short time
allotted for the preparation of an ad.
dress. and business engagements, can
not do fuller justice to the occasion.
In casting about for a subject suited
to this gathering and the ceremony per-
formed, none more appropriate has sug-
gested itself than
''rHE INFLUENCE OF CITIES OK THE
DEsT1N1Es OF NATIONS.
So comprehensive theme can be treat
ed only in a cursory manner, in brief
address, and imperfectly a, best The
history Of man in all ages shows, that
he is gregarious animal, and we fud
in the earliest annals, hamlcts develop.
iog into villages, villages into towns,
and towns into cities, and the influence
of the ancient nations Of the world can
be traced to their cities. We associate
them with the progress Of those nations
lu arms, arts commerce and religion
Their cities were the centers, where
originated and from whence flowed their
power Well nigb all that is left OF
the memory Of that world, or its lnau-
ence upon modern times. is connected
with it's cities. The ruthless hand OF
time has swept them away, and
they are but shadows of their
past grandeur, only recalled by the
aptiquary or the student, and too often
excite interest only because Of their
ruins. This busy world Of ours
scarcely gives thought to Troy, the
immortal theme Of the blind old Bard
of Scio's Rocky 1sle,'' or Thebes
respleudent with its honored gates; to
Babylon, the great, beauteous in its
hanging gardens, or Palmyra, The gem
of the desert, with its marble palaces
and oriental magnifcence, or to Perse-
polls, the glory Of the land Of Darius
and Of NerSes. Desoiation reigns
supreme, their places aye but ruins,
and the owl aud bat hold court in the
halls Of all the cities Of that mave!ous
world, of alternate power ard weak
ness, civilization and depravity. with
its mighty kiugoms struggling for
supremacy empires, which fashed
meteors athwart its SKY, only to sink
in;o oblivion, but three Of them have
left their impress On this busy world Of
ours Athens, Rome and Jerusalem
Athens stands as the prototype Of
modern thought and whether in art,
philosophy, literature or poetry, ha:
left upon each the rradicable impress ol
its genius. In beauty of dictation
force Of thought and expansion Of idea,
the Greek mind. Of which Athens was
the highest type, has easily led the
world. Immortal, though 10 more
though fallen. great Jerusalem is
iudellibIy associated with the religious
convictions of the hundreds of millions
of the modern world, who rule its
destinies, aud are everywhere forcing
their conquest of thought and CON-
merce. And amid all Of the mutations
Of their wondrous developement, the
Holy City will ever be connected with
the ballowed memories, which cluster
io such profuson about its sacred hills
aud valleys Though the 6re oo its
Temple Altar is extiDguished, its
people scattered TO the four winds
of Heaven, aud the Moslems 5 Mosque
stauds on the spot where the Prince of
Peace expired, yet the code of lts great
law giver and the doctrines of his divine
successor, have become incorporate into
the polity and religious thought Of every
civilized people. Before their majes-
tic march, the power OF she Crescent Is
waning while the panthcism OF
Brahma, the sub;lct;es Of Gautama and
the materallsm of CoDfucius are des-
tined to succumb TO their daptabllity
to the requirement aud cravings of the
human heart for purer aud better sys-
ten of civil and religious lie. and action,
Rome, seated on her seven hills. proud
mistress Of au obe}ient world. and
controlling It's destin"s Tor more than
seven hundred years. presents :he most
wonderful example III ali history, of