The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-02-18

lpredomlnant IDEA. which all -a0sor0ingly
prevailed and impaired common dscre.
tion to the activity Of nations. This pre-.
dominant idea is the Spirit ofthe Age, in.
visible yet omnipresent, impregnable, yet
all-pervading, scorned, abused, opposed,
and yet omnipotent
The spirit Of our age is Democracy
All for the people and al by the people.
Nothing about the people withoul the peo.
pie. That is Democracy. and that is the
ruling tendency OF the spirit Of our age.
TO this spirit is opposed the principle
of Despotism claiming sovereignty over
mankind, and degrading nations from the
position of self-conscious. self.consisient
aim, to the condition OF tools subservent
to the authority Of ambition. e.e
One of these principles will and must
prevail. So far as one civilization prevails,
tbs destiny Of mankind is linked 10 COM
mon source of principles, and within the
boundaries Of common civilization. COM
munity of destiniss exists. Hence the
warm interest which the condition of dis
tant nations awakes now days in man
nsr not yet recorded in history, because
humanity never was vet aware of that
common tie as il now is. With this con.
sciousness thus developed. two opposite
principles cannot rule within the Same
boundaries-Democracy or Despotism -
There is no transaction between heaven
and hell. (Applause.) .lt+,l
In the conflict of these two hostile prin.
ciples, until now it was the right, not jus
tice, but only success which met approbs,
ton and applause. Unsuccessful patriot.
ism was stigmatized with tho nams Of
crime. Revolution not crowned by sue
cess was styled anarchy and revolt, and
the vanquishsd patriot being dragged 10
tho gallows by victorious despstism. it was
not the consideration why man died on
the gallows, but the fact itself that there no
died, which impaired stain to his name.
And though impartial history now and
then casts the halo of martyr over an
unsuccessful patriots grave, yet even that
was not always sure. Tyrants often per.
vertsd history, sullied by adulaiion or by
fear, but whatever that light verdict might
have been, for him who dared to struggle
against despotism, whom he struggled in
vain, there was no honor on earth-vio,o.
rious tyranny marked the front Of virtue
with the brand Of criminal!
To have opposed existing authority,
though that authority was that Of violence,
worse than the authority OF pirate is, this
opposition when unsuccessful. was suffi.
cisnt to exclude from every place whore
authority is residing. The people never
failed to console the outcast Just by its
sympathy, but authority showed not the
peoples sympathy, regarded rather this
sympathy as dangerous sign of the pso.
Pies propensity TO anarchy.
The idea Of justice thus perverted-vir.
tue thus deprived Of its fair renown. and |
honor thus attacked, and success, though |
connival, like that of Louis Napoleon's, all |
this becomes an obstacle Of mme |
influence 10 the freedom Of nations never
yet achieved but by 4 struggle. which suc.
cess raised to the honor of glorious rev.
olution, but failure lowered to tho reputa.
ton of a criminal subject. -e
Mr. President, feel proud that my hum.
BILE sell became an opportunity for the res
toration Of public honors, to where thsy
only should be bestowed-to righteousness
and 10 just cause whereas, until now,
honors were lavished but upon success.
| consider this as highly important fact,
which cannot fail TO encourage the resolu.
ton OF devoted patriots. who, though not
afraid of death. may be excused for re-
coiing before humiliation.
Senators. Representatives Of Ohio, |
thank you for II in the name Of all who
may yet suffer for having done the duty
of patriot. You may yet see many
man, who, out of the sourcs Of your ap.
probation, will draw encouragement to no.
BILE deeds. Because there are many on
sarth, ready to meet misfortune for noble
aim, but not so many ready 10 neet even
humiliation and indignity. Besides, in
honoring me, you have approved what my
nation has done. You have honorsd my
nation by it. and pledge my word to you
that it will yet do what you have approved.
Tho appreciation Of our con-
science, my nation and myself, we have
lhe sympathy Of your generous people. we
iii no idle thing-that synipa.
!hy Of the people Of Ohio-it weighs Reavi.
y, like the sovereign will of two millions
81 frsemen-powerful. like l giant in his
,toutest youth. You have added to ii the
sanction Of your authority. Your urpsople's
sympathy you have framed into a law.
sacred and sure in al consequences, on
which humanity may RELY, because YOU
,ave registered it, (Applanse.) I 1
There is also a triumph Of the Rspubli-
san principle in this your act. 1t is as i'll
you had said,
.'Ye despots. who call Yourselves SoSe-
.eigns, and proclaim your arbitrary whim
o bs the law OF humanity--ws in. our le-
Ultimate authority, not derived from sacri-
epions violence like YOURS. but from the ,