New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-04
LECTURES.
PALACES RESPECTING LIBERTY.
BY REV. n. ". BELLOWS.


The discourse Of Mr.. Bellows on Tuesday
evening at the Taberr acle in the Peoples Course
was one of the most manly and eloquent assertions Of
the dignity and claims of Liberty to which We have
ever listened Itabounded in brilliant points hat drew
down the delighted appreciation OF the audience and
elowed thr oughout with the nobe enthusiasm which
he celebrated in closing, with rare beauty and pa
thos We wish this lecture might be repeated be-
fore the young men OF New-York, for We are sure
that nothing Icould be apostle to the circum
stances of the monochrome generous, hopeful and
wise
The highest distinction OF the present dAv, SAID
M Bellows, seems to be the character OF the SUBJ
jects discussed. Relisious>loerty, Freedom OF sas
Press &c. are 10 longer confined to caiidrens COPY
books but are the themes at all hresides-ald even
slcquence again inspires attention, and seems
wearing its old laurels. or these comnon-piaees'
Liberty holds the FIRST place, and If any suoecs can
Withstand familiarity is certainly that
object in the mind OF the see so cherished or cn.ssi
Liberty now is the hope OF the nations ana sne
despair of kings 1t Is this moment engaging the
thought and plans OF the world as no osheI
fallaces OF Freemen, the foes Of Liberty. Az this
moment she IS more imperled by tue foolisanesso OF
her friends than BY the masnlnanens OF nef
These falacies are four. First. il is mscnevious
falacy OF her friends, that men characterscay ers
Liberty. Men love ease, prosperity, &c, ana these
loves need only to be restrained ana many fancy u
is the same with Liberty But History, iscnycoIosJ
and Religion contradict thisview. The testimony OF
the race il that love Liberty as they love KNOW
edge and virtue, when IL does net interfere Win
humanity. As rule. men shrink from the awakening
Of these faculties There Is little spontanety IN the
noblest qualities Of nature, and We shall one day
COME the dependence Of the race upon Its providen
tial leaders. These find their work slow and
painful. WHAT'S the history OF Religion or morals In
the world, but that OF race educated by the
sacrifices OF the few II Is not to be denied tnat
sentiment Of Liberty Is planted in mans soul, az
there is love Of Religion but this requires assldu
Gus cultivation. There Is no want OF eayen In the
lump. Humanity has eyes and ears, but Is not all
ear or eye. Can we then rank Liberty ameng the
overwe On ing assions of man Have the Frsnchmen
shown in eevasing that refuse OF the Paw nbroker
the Nephew OF my Uncle to the imperial throne!
In fe vivid strokes the lecturer ably skesched the
character of Louis Napoleon, whom he called
cold blooded mercenary, with nothing OF Napoleon
but his name and his unscrupulousness. Is II Lib
erty's the devotion to pleasure and proht
which has wrought this result The French are
people Of prodigious talents at both extren mes, the
head AID heels, but they seem without tina! part
where the heart is.
The second fallscy is that Liberty is rather right
than a duty-apivilsge rather than responsibility
We Americans call il independence. But to be In
dependent is to stand alone. To give Liberty Is TO
take away props Yet, in the freest community, no
duty avoided than the duty OF being free Tie
tween the flesh pots OF Egypt and the wilderness OF
Sinai Every man will recollect how hard II was to
take individual position in the drama OF life Mr.
B. illustrated this from his own experience, with
point and effect sho wing hard 1t was to resolve
to be independent. II there any burden like that OF
manhood 1t is this which accounts for that strange
phenomenon in youths-the Willingness to die In
dependence, we must agree, Is qui,e as much duty
as privilege. II you ask for Liberty, you ask Tor
leave to work and watch. The smoothest faces and
lghtest hearts belong to children and to nations most
like Children that's careless s2onsole ana depen
dent nations SO with our slaves. We are caledupon
to hear their songs but to what end Monkeys chat
ter but cannot weep. 1t Is no proof OF their we'll
being that they are not sad 1t IL remark Oh ior-
eignefs that we are the most serious people under
the sun, and naturally so, because We are our o ~n
masters. We have to take care OF ourselves III
you would see cheerful and shthearted nations,
you must 90 where Freedom has mol shared wth
Humanity her heavy cares Mr.. B. illustrated this
point with the festivals Of Tyrants and the gaas OF
despotic countries the world over But the real DIT
ference lies between the boyhood and manhood OF
nations. Freedom is the manhood OF nations. Let
us have no anxiety that this cause will advance 100
rapidly We must urge those who have obtained 1t
not to sbdicate their thrones Alas for craven
France, who seems to prefer her old cry, ere Ia
bssatsis to her new one, pice la Rspubiiqus Mr. B.
told the fine old legend of 81. Christopher, who
rowed the Christ-child over the ferry although the
child grew heavier and heavier in his boat, and as he
stepped ashore flash revealed 10 the Saint his 5a.
vior. So, though the cares OF Liberty weigh weari-
ly upon the hearts which love 1t, and which bear 1t
through all perils it will at last smile upon them,
deverer and radiant leader.
The third fallacy is this, that Freedom should fol-
low but never lead true civilization that il 10 the
crown and capital but not the base. Ii Is an axiom
with Us, that we, only, are fl! for Liberty. 1t seems
to be supposed that Despotism has some secret
nourshment OF Liberty in 1t, and that AFTER certain
time free institutions will result from 1t. What evil
dence Ofprogress have we in China and Japani Why
were not Persia and the old mOnarchies gradually
prepared for free institutions Because Desposism
dwarfs men, necessarily dwarfs them and lies on
them az q blight and canker. When We are told,
therefore, to wait before assist other nations,
let Us inquire what we are waiting upon We are
waiting until Despotism has done Its perfect work
until 1t has slain the hope and vitality OF the OPP
pressed. Do you say that education 10 favored by
Despotism. Yes and lie. China, Austria and s.oried
Italy answer what are the results Of art, literature
and scholarship In the matter Of emancipation. The
study and the cell make the artist and scholar Free
oppression Of his fellows They are not apt to
courage that state Of things which inteneres with
their seciusion. Literature and Art have not been
wants Of Abolutlsm Nor does popular education do
much more. II may make only a race Of curious
dreamers rather than OF energetic men. What
Is education but tool which depends for
its value upon the hand that holds II :
Reading and writing cannot conjure intelligence
INTO humanity or our OF it. Pigs may be taught to
read Education is not education when 1t leaves
the scholar passive. The old schoolmen were only
parrot who can talk differs from the who cannot.
He who speaks no sense at all in several languages
viii pass for than he who speaks solid sense In
only one Popular education owes its value to a
reused intelligence. Our institutions are educa-
tors. heard Kossuth say, when he meant the uni
versal people, the university OF the people. Yes,
freedom 10 that 1t is the university OF the people
love Of Liberty but 1t is Liberty which fosters the
Church. In despotc lands is religion always beget
ting fieedomi fs the Bench of Bishops in England
perpetually presenting schemes OF progress and re-
form IesachaY Is strong ass, bending bet ween two
burdens-the taxing State and the grinding Church
In America, the clergy are free and preach liberty,
because the spirit OF the country allows IT, Liberty
Is the first interest Of nation II sets humanity TO
ing and keeps it going. The other influences are
re guatng, this 10 conservative. The prosperity OF
this country II owing to the wonderful activity of
human faculties here.
What then ought to DO our hope prayer and actor
nthSy afiona WhtIe thsv content with dsath