The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-03
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1894.

time the pedulum of human affairs
began to swing in contrary direction,
aud the first great momentum given to
it, is discoverable. in the formation Of
cities into corporations, or bodies poll
tic with privileges Of municipal juris-
dlction. The rise of this great priuci-
pie is traceable. to that mighty convul-
sion which shook Europe TO Its center,
known as the Crusades, iuaugurated by
by simple monk, who in humble garb,
with little education and no courtly
manners. but with fanatical zeal.
intense fervor and burning eloquence,
aroused the King on his throne, the
Lord in his castle, and the peasant
in his hut, to band together to
rescue the Holy City, from vandal hands
Down with the in6dcl was their rallying
cry, and into Italy they poured to find
transportation to the Holy Land, and
Venice, Genoa and Pisa became their
points of EN- barkation and bases Of
operation. Their commercial import
auce was at once established, and as a
result, privileges aud immunities hith-
erto unknown, were granted them.
This melted other cities to throw of the
Feudal yoke, OF purchase immuuities
from their Feudal Lords. The liberty
and privileges of the italian cities
spread to France and Louis lie Gros to
create an influence which might check
bis powerful vassals, conferred munich
pal privileges upon the cities of bis
kingdom. under the style of Com
nunity Charters The great cities Of
Germany also caught the fever of pro-
gress and began to acquire like immu-
mites. and thus was laid the foundation
of the celebrated Hanseatic League,
which became so famous that its enmity
was dreaded and its alliance courted
England was slow to catch the moving
spirit Of commercial liberty aud NUM-
cipal privileges notwithstanding Will
liam the Couqueror had bestowed spe-
cial charter upon the city ofLondou) until
Edward the III, stimulated by the ez-
ample of the League, invited some
Flemish artisans to London and by wise
laws laid the foundation of Eugland's
ultimate manufacturing supremacy
among the industrial nations of the
world. So potent was this Hanseatic
League for upward of three centuries
in the affairs of Europe, that a brief
account Of its rise and fall is not inap-
propriate. As early as the 1lth century
Ham burg. Lubeck and Bremen had be-
come places of commercial importance.
and 10 1919, to resist the attack Of
Pirates upon the rich cargoes which
were brought. more especially, into
the port of Hamburg. a compac; was
formed between Hamburg pitmarSh and
Hadelm, aud two years later. between
Hamburg and L1heck. In 1241
Brunswick joined the binariou,
and thus was formed the German
League or Hansa. In few years i:
embraced eighty-fve cities and towns,
located between Holland and Lavonia.
aud dividing into four circles, embracing
the cities of the Baltic, NNcstphalia and
the Netherlands, of Saxouy and Bran
denburg. of Prussia and Lavopia 1t
owned hundreds Of ships, With armed
forces to protect them, and had a
parliament, or diet to make laws and
rules for its government It's irfaence
was almost incaluable on the polity.
trade, and finances of Europe It was
the first systematic trade union, known
in its history, and the high political
influence which it attained was due,
says a distinguished writer, to its
development of souuder principles of
trade, than any that had hitherto been
put into practice, while 10 the earlier
period of its existence. it excited a
beneficial influence on the advance Of
civilization, which can scarcely be
overrated.' Iu the 10th century is
reached the elimination of its power.
and likewise its decline, and fall. 1t
had become intolerant, selfish aud ar
rogant. and Queen Elizabeth, angcred
because of its discrimination against
Eogland. helped to deal it death blow.
by sending Drake and Norris to seize
its ships, sixty of which they destroyed.
But the chief cause Of its decline was
the discovery of America, and opening
up Of a new route to India Columbus
and Eespucis rang up the curtain on
the dawn Of a new epoch, and with
Magellan, and laSca de Cana changed
the commercial destiny OF Europe
Great Britain, France, Spain and Hoi-
land, planted their flags in the
western world, 5ut after bloody
struggles, Great Britain gradually but
surely supplanted her rivals, and the
Union Jack foated in triumph over
every Ocean, and Inland Sea Of
North America 1t was not British