The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-07-26

duty may be performed. Assembled as
We are for the purpose OF commemorating
this ever.glorious day, and to encourage
a feeling Of patriotism and love for Liber-
ty, in the present and rising generation. it
may be proper here 10 inquire how it may
be best attained. Not merely here bu, in
that broader and buster sphere Of which
this is but typical, and Of which propose
to remark very briefly upon the impor.
tance Of individual effort-aDd upon the
inducements held out by our Institutions
to, encourage the spiri. Of enterprise, CON-
pared with the inducements held out by
the institutions OF those countries whose
rulers occupy, their station by hereditary
right. esiVpR ais04 ~1 fa'
Action is the great condition Of exist
ence,, and the. announcement to man in
the Garden, ..In the sweat Of thy brow
shalt thou eat bread" was but applying
to him law whichis universal in the king.
dom of nature. and which prevails through.
out every grade OF, created being No liy,;
ing thing is beyond the reach Of thislaw-
none SO high as to, be, above it-none so
low as TO be beneath il. The King upon
the throne, the reptile in the dust. the cat
ile upon a thousand hills. the beasts Of the
forest, the birds VI the air. all bow alike 10
its authority. ~ ssseeis. "a er5ss -s1
While, the application Of this law rem
ders action Indispensable to the full devel
opment OF the body and the mind. il also
provides that the degree of excellenoy AT.
tanned in any particular pursuit. al
ways correspond with the amount Of effort
expended. To this just and equitable rule
nature, furnishes no exception;, and Our
own progress shows il to be exemplified in
everything around US, and in the ordinary
tran sactions OF life. Il rs the first lesson
that we learn and dethe last that we forget.
This principle, by insuring to flor, its just
rewards, has IN all ages and climes proved
to be the great agent in every work Of NOR
al. mental and social improvement. But
although. in some parts Of the world. de.
priyed Of lis just sinfuences by the arbi.
trarye power Of society andgoyernmcnt. il,
is TO some extent, universally operatives.
Despo,io rulers depress effort and dis
courage enterprise. They fear the free
working OF the human mind. for they know
that when men become fully acquainted
with their powers, they will rise above the
narrow policy of their rulers andreclaim
the rights which God dDature have con-
ferred upon them. Hence, in every gov.
ernmeni where the rights of the great mass
of the people are .sacrifcedto promote the
Interests of q few, improvement is discour;
aged in all3it forms; and it will be, found.
upon examin ationaint the actual affairs
of the Old World. that the inducement
held out to the people are iniexact proper
ton to the adv apcenent of the several
governments. In the easiern despotism
the monarch is the acknowledged power
of the; nation. His will is law; his smile
is fortune. and his frown is sdesth. He is
the source OF all honor and the arbiter OF
all fa,es.e To-day he advances some fa-
yorite slave to posts of homer. and gives
him share Of his empires and the com
mand Of a portion OF his armies. To-
morrow he strips him OF all of atlAse hon
ore and confers them upon a stronger, and
gives the, head of his former victim to the
,executioner's q block. and the obedient sub
iect bows his head in subjection TO his over
bearing master wiihout even. .inquiring the
cause oi his condemn alton. In most Of
the northern nations Of Europe the labor
ing classes are alike strangers 10 nadonal
and civil liberties, and 10 what we deem
the ne ne. less ary comforts OF life. With ,ha,
marx, Of inferiori,v which these national
institutions have fastened upon them. they
are seldom cared forby the government OF
rulers except il be 10 degrade and dePres'
them. = y.,fIizs, sassis 70 ssse&slsl sss1
In Russia and Poland the serfs are oon-
sidered a. q part and parcel Of the inher.
|itage 'oi their. lordlya owners who dispose
OF, Them as their ,propsr,y and .transfel
Them With their estates. The tendency o
such institutions, ito redues, those ,nndel
| its control. to level but little above the
brutes around them,f with no higher aim
Than 10 ca. and die; for Why. should, they
labor TO acquire wealth, or afauenoe, ol
station, when they hold them all az . ~.
rants will az SAL ,sssyassa %
But il is not in the pure despotism alone
that the form Of their political institutions
exerts such = bligh,ing influence upon the
to :. limited extent. throughout all Of the
Limited monarehies Of Europe. In naughty
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