Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-08-18

| How important Is 1t then, that as our Republican
| institutions are dependent upon healthful public
opinion tor existence, that 'ce members of this
great and1ree government, act with enlightened zeal
III rearing around Them barriers which shall he nroof
against vice and corruption-the caIy enemies that
threaten their final overthrow Let US begin M the
basement pillars of this temple, and increase the
length, and strength and bread of the foundation
hnli II becomes fixed and permanent as the ever
lasting hlls"-and although the Storms offacton and
party strife may beat against it, and the intrgues and
machinatIons OF aspiring ambition may attempt TO
Pervert It's noble desgns--it will stand mistaken and
rnmovcd, and will abundanty compensate our most
Vigant care and reward our most strenuous Efforts
Oa IL De mat the very next generation will record
the shameful fact for the peruaal of after ages that
We gave them the inheritance not as we received il
but adulterated, polluted and ,ieGled? Every true
son OF liberty VIII say no; We are aware Of the
deep responsibility that lies at doors and we Will
preserve In It's purity the ineslimable legacy. We
mean TO perpeuate this bequest unimpaired bv
multiplying and augmenting the only sure securities
against It's destruction the wide and rapid diffusion
OF vlrtuous, healhfu and enlightened public senii-
ment knowledge must keep pace with our wealh
or we snail relapse INTO Incidence and luxury-and
viceeanG corruption, their failing concomants
VIII complete the work of ruin which neqljgence
and ldleness so auspicioualy began.
another instance will then he added to the rcata-
logue OF national saicideS-and the only promising
form OF peoples government, will have expired in
It's infancy.
need apprehend danger. Our nexhaustible resources
our lcroisin and our numbers-render US inyinci-
bic by any foreign assaant. The combined pow
ers OF Europe could not conquer US. The attempt
VIII al least never be made, unless we first cripple
Our own energies and partially conquer ourselves by
wee ana luxury. IL Is from domestic enemies of q
aa0rat nature that we should be alarmed The fact
ulat Tie SiabhIly OF republican governments, de-
ponds entirely upon the health of correct moral and
intellectual standard, should never be forgotten: for
upon this the whole framework is bottomed So
long as the Foundation is sound, the building will
stand safe; against all tie political storms and parli-
IAN wars, which it may be called to encounter If,
this edlhce ever fails-my frends-t will not be the
supostructure that will first decay The very base
ment itself Will be thrust from under it and all the
iona antcpatlons of confding people, will be sud
denly overwhelmed in the general ruin.
Among the moral enemies Tor immoraN if not spec.
diy arrested 10y the rapid propagation of a correct
llcsenlIment-Which threaten most danger to our
tree nstitutions-httemperdnc holds conspicuous
rank TINS degrading vice swallows up every thing
vrtuous in It's course and COMPLETELY isouaiifes the
MIND tor intellectual cnlture-and incapacitltes it
Tor nigh moral atialnmens. Ii blinds the mind TO lis
true interest, and obscures and renders invisible the
only true pain 10 national, as we'll as individual
prosperity and renOWn. Il operates upon the moral
sense OF nation, us upon individuals. We are all
aware That consclentIOusness is the faculty which
points out to US the DISTINCTION between right and
wrong ana whenever II Is perverted, destroyed,
we nave no guide upon which we can safely rely
10 instruct us In choosing good from evil. So with
Nations. ne cOHsc enousness of nation addict
co 10 's vice. IS perverted or destroyed. 1t has
director 10 !dsiruct II IN selecting good from evil
consequently II is peculiarly liable TO select vicious
ana designing rulers-Wh0 will steal aNay the neo-
pies rights, one after auotler until not the shadow
OF llbery romain3. Are there any who have no fears
rom inns cause ana look upon such catastrophe,
as impossible! DO not be 100 sceptical Ancient
Greece, was once just saugune in relation TO the
peFPetulty OF her powerful Republic, as we uo,c are
IN relation to ours and the Empire of Rome for
nj nFIn
seven hills on which her renowned city was built.
Dut where are they now? Long since they ceased
to be-and other and more illibera governments are
now reared upon the relics of those ancient temples
OF freedom. And what were the causes of their
downfall! Any individual at all acquainted with
the history OF those governments can easily tell The
cause OF rum 1t was vice and destination that con-
quered them. Their unprecedented conouests had
enriched them, until their Golfers filled with the
wealth OF other nations. Virtue and intelligence did
not keep pace with wealth, and thew reIapsed into
wee and luxury. Roman energy and Roman prowess
departed from her sons, and she became weak and
lrresolute 1t Is said that after Rome had conquered
Tue world, she was IN turn conquered by those fero-
clous tribes of Cloths and Vandas that inhabited the
north OF Europe. But such was not the fact They
oarefy took possession Of her Empire for she had al
ready conquered herself. But some will say that
Greece and Rome were less perfect in their political
organlzaton-that Republic is unlike all-or OIL
ther OF Its predecessors. Ours they affirm is much
more secure. True: but should the lion defy the
causes winch have universally proved destructive to
the flyer; because he is little superior in strength
intelligence and courage7
Intemperance, have said holds conspicuous rank
among the evils which threaten 1t is the foster ia
Their ofmany others it is the parent vice and if as the
wealth and prosperity of country increase the flood
gates OF nemperance are not watched with especial
care Il VIII likewise increase in frightful ratio other
Wees and immoralitles will move on with accelerated
pace, and one universal flood will drown us in ruin
Shall be accused of detracng from the virtue and
PATRIOTISM OF fellow he
any such design But that have dangers to contend
with cannot be concealed and equally evident that
II is the paIt OF wisdom and patriotism admit that we
are at least, vulnerable and to expose the sources of
hazard, and endeavor subdue them rather than to
practice seldeceptIon and assume the dangerous and
false ground that we are invncible by any moral or
phys8aI causes Let Us not indulge false feelings of
patriouc Zea 10 our country Let us act in this as in
other matters, nationally and consistent with enehten
ed freedom Let us not, in our annual celebrations
mistake the only adequate measures to advance the
true spirit and rational principles of sevenysx BY
scattering III their stead the seeds of vice and disspa
ton Is not to be feared that many of the exercises
on our lourn OF July anniversaries have been misdi
rected and mschIevousl We ought not to mistake the
merry artlhcai hllarlty produced by alcohol for genu
me patriotic emotion Genuine patriotism does not
consist In sudden gusts, which burst forth once year
and then die away until the boomngs of another can
non and the Hash of gun-powder again announce the
poiIutohs OF another birth day of liberty No il ap-
pears IN the energetic of throwing up barriers
around The main pillars of reedom-in advocating the
just and unalienable rights of man-and in diffGsing
universal education through all the channels ofsociety
How unlike, are the feelings of many selfstyed re-
pubcas, on the fifth of July TO that ostentatious dis
play OF devotedness to freedom which they manifested
on the fourth Their zeal has evaporated and the
Redeemed eye the bloated vsage and the aching head
are proofs positive that their pompous parade about H.
berry, was the effect Of cause much more volatile than
deep ana settled love of country. Neither would |
be understood that moody and melanchoc indiffer-
enee should be INDUCED on this occasion Let us ma
niiest our attachment to republican institutions with
hearts repee with gratitude and joy let cherish the
memories OF those ustrious and patriotic soldiers
who fired with the love of liberty and animated with
The hope OF independence for themselves and posterty