The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-11-02

trombled In their gloomy castles at tho
growth Of the new republic, while the
down. trodden and enslaved millions in the
agony of despair prayed f5r her uccess--
Then health and vigor peFmeatcl tho body
polite, and stern indepcn lent integrity
breathed through MI the fbers Of her soul
The rainbow Of promise, with its brilliant
hues, glowed in the sky of her future; /;
but how soon were the painting rays
disturcd by the clouds The battle smoke
of the revolution had scarcely cleared a.
way, and tho heroes Of '76 gone to their
rest, when tickle spirit and rotten poiity
were gnawing at the vitalsof cur common
wealth.
In few years liberty loving and vir-
tuous integrity had departed from the
government Of II free people, and a selfish,
faithlcss zeal had diseased to its centre the
heart Of our nation. Forges for shacklcs,
and prison houses for slaves were erected
in our midst And the tyrants o! the Oh
World smiled at the waning of liberty, and
rejoiccd ut the floods of. soraption, that
were washing way the integrity Of our
government.
The American people have been work
ing out fearful aud doubtful problem
before tho world--llc problem Of self.
government. Already the fading of integ-
rity has brought sad thoughts and dark for
bodings over the mind of the philan,hopist
The giant intellects OF the country have fall
len victims 70 a principle sacrificing spirit,
and the eulogists Of liberty have bowed IL
ohcisancc at the feet Of grim tyranny.
VirtuoU5 integrity has given way and intel
lcct power, and wealth, have recomc the
vascillating instruments offac,ion and party.
Judges and Legislators have turned the reins
ofgoyernmcnt over into tho hands of the
slave power, anl the government itself
has become strong buwark ofoppression.
| Apparently integrity has departed from the
hearts Of the people, but still those are
found, who have not bowed the knee TO
Baal.
Though darkness hoyors over our repuic
still Ia, sun shines brightly back of The
cloud, though the gale has come in all lis
madness and fury upon us, still there are
many stout and brave hearts aboard tho
old ship OF State, who watch the compass
aud VIII yet turn the helm. There are
many great AMI noble souls still true to the
cause Of liberty, and the stars an 4 stripes
will yet n)at over nation free from OPP
preston. a few stern oil rcformers have
long stemcd the great currents Of pop.
ulariiy, aud firmly faced the storms ofpolili.
cal degenracy. Their locks have whitened
in battling for Tie right, ami now .at the
sunset Of lito, chcemg rays brcks in upon the
winter Of lhcir hopos, as the fires of integ-
rlty again begin to glow in the hearts Of
the people. And as one after another
sinks away in the cold arms of the king of
terrors, thcir guardian angels whisper,
Thy county viii yet be free"
Ths integrity of humanity AMI philan-
throrh are indeed connenlablc but the
greatest beauty Of moral action is integrity
towards the Deity. The wants of mani.
physical nature are bound Il by the present
life, lat the desires Of hi. moral nature
grasp the very throne Of the Eterna|.--
Strong cords an golden bands, bind every
intelligent being to his Creator. Bat how
often are those bands broken AM those ties
seycred-how oftcn is there lach of in
tegIity towards the great Ruler Of the uni
verse. lr mans religious nature deep and
dark are traced the lines Of bis dcprayed
and fallcL state. In every human heart
there las b2en sacrifice Of integrity to-
wards God, AMI suu lorins Of ties that
bind it to the right.
The great storms Of human woe and i'll
that have bur,L upon The world-the dark
deep currents Of vice that hive rolled over
oCr smiling valleys AMI verdant hills, and
the racking pains and grim diseases Of life,
have arisen from Violation of Irust towards
God and a lack Of true religious integrity.
The great mass Of manhood live life Of
practical atheism in the world, and at death
roll back upon the hands Of their Creator
souls rotten and ppltci with the vices Of
life. The fires Of religious integrity are
cxtingd.she | III the mognng of lie and all
the currents Of maus moral nature are turn
ed from their true channels. But when
man preserves stern religious integrity
and gives heed to the vo CO Of his higher
nature, golden Chain binds his heart to
the portals Of heaven. Anil as he goes
down to tic river Of DEATH aud the cold
spray settles upon his brow, his eye sees
the light from the celestial city; and he
hears tie welcome plaudit. "chill come
home" Oh, there is power in integrity
towards God, that buoys the soul up over
the darx cold waters Of death, und drives
} away the clouds that mantle the future
with gloom and terror.
: And TO you, fellow students, is the ap-
} peal made with an increased interest that
you preserve stern independent integrity
of heart--an integrity that deals with all
the relations Of life You are to work the
lever that turns the vol oh! how great
, are the responsibilities resting upon you.--
And especially, brother Anphictyons, does
the appeal come to you upon this occasion
with peculiar force.
J This is the first anniversary Of your So
J ciety-a period that is TO mark the return
to the world, Of the talents entrusted t.
your guardian care. Aud year after ycal
as one after another shall depart from you,
/ midst, and engage upon the great "areni
of life" what shall be the impress left upor
their hcartsl Shall it be stern indepen
, dent integrity that quails at no opposition
5 and kneels TO no popularity Oh! may