The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-09-21
WHOLE NO. l53.

-
they wished, | listened to them. We after
wards fell into conversation, and the ques-
ton arose why the people of Europe were
so oppressed and burdened so heavily by tax
alton We attributed it to the differences in
their language--the great number of ma
tionalties, divided by imaginary lines--the
petty jealousics and strifes, and consequent
necessity for maintaining large standing
armies. We then spoke of the blest condi-
ton of Europe, if all these rival governments
could be moulded into one, speaking a COM
mon language, having common sompathies,
with no custom houses to annoy, and no
standing armies to threaten; and my Qua
ker friends warmed with enthusiasm at the
glorious picture, and expressed the earnest
wish that such day might dawn, for with
it would come the true millennium. But"
said I, "whcn all this has been achieved,
suppose some man should rise up in Eng
land, and say that all this genial fellowship
among the Nations, this community of in
terest and of language shall be destroyed,
unless serfdom be abrOgatcd in Russia, and
polygamy in Turkey. What would you say
regarding such man? "Say," said the
Quakcrs, 1--WE would say that he deserved
the anathemas of all good men, as traitor
to the best interests of mankind, for doubt
own good time, would work out remedy
for all these wrongs Now" said |, ''my
friends, when we drew this picture of Eu-
rope, it was not all fancy. | described the
broad land which extends from the Atlantic
to the Pacific from the great Lakes to the
Gulf of Mexico. Go two thousand miles
over this land, and no custom house shall
stop you-travel to its farthest limits, and
you shall see no standing armies-you shall
hear a common language, and shall feel
common sympathy. Then you shall know
what it is to live upon great, broad conti-
nent, where there is brotherhood unalloyed
by your hatrcds and antipathies. Why,
therefore, do you come here, to teach us the
language of strife?" Uong and loud ap-
plause.)
Now, my friends, to make the applica-
ton Had we from the beginning been ar
rayed, one State against another, had we
disregardcd our community Oflanguage and
of interest, and fostercd the hatreds and
joalousics which we arc now taught to cher
ish, this beautiful Minnesota would yet have
been wilderness; the painted savage would
yet glide down the noble Mississippi; and
| the waters of that mighty cataract, whose
thunders | now almost hear, that, by the
art of man, have been taught to leap forth
to their labors at the rising of the sun, and
retire to their rest its setting, would still
pursue their prccipitous course undisturb-
ed. (Applause.)
But am keeping you too long. stand
before you tonight impressed with more
than ordinary feelings l never knew the
greatness of this country of ours until now
| never knew before of the vastness Of this
great valley whose beginnings you hold in
your hands, nor appreciated the influence
which it is yet to exercise upon the dcsti-
nies of our country. And therefore it is,
that now most earnestly entreat you, as
you are about to enter upon an election, not
altogether local, and which is to affect your
position in this confederation of States, to
cherish and sustain those principles which
are founded upon love of our whole coun
try, and whose influence will tend to cement
it more closely together.
You have seen the great men of this Re
publican party go up to their National con.
ventions. When the roll of States was
called, there was no man there to speak fol
the State where Washington was born
there was no man to answer for the State
where Jackson's ashes lie; there was nc
man to respond when the land of Sumptel
and Marion was called. (Applause) Bu
how will it be when our next Democrat,
convention is held? You will see then NJ
such spectacle as this. When we call the
roll of States which will compose this con
federation, every commonwealth from Main,
down to young Minnesota, and still young
er Oregon, will attest the nationality of ou,
party by the presence ofits representatives
(Ckeers.) The Atlantic will shout forth t,
the Paciiic-the great Lakes to the Gulf
and when we shall nominate our candidat,
for the Presidency, the loud voices of tn
representatives of the whole nation, will
name the man who will administer its affair
for the next four years. loud cheering
Let me tell you, my fellow citizens, tina
those who may anticipate political success
baslng that hope upon agitation, and upOr
injustice, will most certainly be disappoint
I ed, because their expectations are not found
ed upon those great principles of magma
nimity, wisdom, and patriotism, which un
derlie the political questions that now agi
tate our country. And beg and eXhort o
you, the people of Minnesota, add you, es
pecially, the young men of Minnesota, who
have the future for your heritage, you VIII,
are about to lay the foundations of grea
State, to enroll it in the proud list of Dem
ocratic commonwealths-of States devoted
to the maintenance of the Union-and that
with them, you will seek to uphold ever,
star and every stripe in our national flag
may it wave forever! Deafening applause
with six cheers, during which the distin
guished speaker took his seat)