The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-05-07
The speech Of Mr. schurz.

Tho speech OF Mr.. schurz.
We should be glad TO publish the whole of
Mr.. Ehurx's late speech in Boston, for it is
an admirable speech, and many important
ideas are strikingly delinsatsd and impress.
sively enforced in it; but it, length renders
il inoonvsnisnt for us 10 do 30. We make
room, however, for the following paragraphs.
Their full force cannot be appreciated when
taken from their place in the general argu-
mont, yet they nevertheless convey sepa-
rate lesson and possess separate beauty of
their own:
THE OPENING.
A fer DAYS ago, stood on the cupola OF
your State House, and overlooked for the
first time this venerable city, and tho country
surrounding il. Then these streets, and hills
and waters around me, began to TEEN with
the life Of historical recollections dear to all
mankind, and feeling OF pride arose in my
heart, and said to myself, ! too, am an
American citizen. lApplause.] There was
Bunker Hill, there Charlestown, Lexington
and Dorchester Hights, not far of; there the
hsrbor in which the British tea was sunk
there the place where the old liberty-tree
stood; there John Hancock's House, there
BENJAMIN Franklin's birth place-and now
stand in this grand old Hall, which 80 often
resounded with the noblest appeals that ever
thrilled American hearts, and whore am al-
most afraid to hear the echo of my own fee-
BILE voice. Oh, Sir, no man who loves liber-
ty, wherever he may have FIRST seen the light
OF day, can fail on this sacred spot to pay
his tribute to Americanism. And here, with
all these glorious memories providing upon
nv heart, will offer mine. /, born IN . for
eign land, pay my tribute to Americanism?
Yes, for to me the word Americanism, true
Americanism, comprehends the noblsst ideas
which ever swelled human heart with noble
pride. [Applause.l
WHAT TRUE AHsRIcANIsx Is.
They speak Of the greatness Of the Roman
Republicl Oh, sir, If lcould call the proud
est OF Romans from his grave, would take
him by the hand and say to him, Look at this
picture, and at this! The greatness of thy
Roman Republic consisted in its despotic rule
over the world; greatness Of the American
Republic consists in the secured right of man
to govern himself. [Applause.] The digni-
ty Of the Roman citizen consisted in his ex-
elusive privileges the dignity OF the Ameri-
can citizen consists in his holding the natural
rights Of his neiehbor just a. sacred as his
own. [Continusd applausc.l The Roman
Republic recognized and protected the rights
of the citizen, ut the same time disregard
ing and leaving unprotected the rights OF
man Roman citizenship was founded upon
monopoly, not upon the claims OF human
nature. What the citizen of Rome claimed
for himself, be did not respect in others bis
own greatness was his only object; his own
liberty, as he regarded it: gave him the privi-
lege to Cypress his fellow beings. His dem.
ocracy, instead OF elevating mankind to iti
own level, trampled the rights of man into
the dust. The security Of the Roman Re.
public, therefore, consisted in the power Of
the sword the security Of the American Re.
public rests in the equality OF human rights
Loud applause. The Roman Republic per.
ished by the sword the American Republic
will stand as long as the equality OF human
rights remain inviolate. Cheers. Which
of the two Republics is the greater, thu
Republic Of the Roman, or the Republic o
man?
Sir, wish the words of the Declaration
of independence, ssthat all men are create
free and equal and are endowed with certain
inalienabie rights" were inscribed upo
|
public. From this principle the Revolution
airy Fathers derived their claim to indepen
dence upon this they founded the institu
tons Of this country, and the whole struo
ture was to be the living incarnation OF thi
idea. This principle contains the programm
of our political existence. 1t is the mos
progressive and at the same time most con
servative one the most progressive, for
| a. a.. ava,, 81 ort hnra If a lumn
} family out of their degradation, and in
spires them with the elevating consciousness
Of human dignity; the most conservative, 70
it makes common cause of individual right,
> [Tumultuous applause. From the equalit
! of rights springs identity Of interests; 20
cannot subvert your neighbours rights with
out striking a dangerous blow at your owl
. And when the rights OF one cannot be II
fringed without finding ready defense
!, all others who defend their own rights in d,
= Tending HE, then, and only then, are. Il
n rights Of oil safe against the usurpations
governmental authority.
This general identity OF interests 10 Il
= only thing that can guarantee the stability
!, democratic institutions. Equality Of RICH,
o, embodied in general self-government is I
o. only reliable safety valve in the machine
of modern society. There 10 the solid fou
"a daton Of government there is our missio
~, there 10 our greatness; there is our safet
%, there, and nowhere else. Thisi is true Am,
icanism, and to this pay the tribute of /
We devotion. [Long and loud applause.
,at STRIKING ILLUSTRATION.
cir Shall point out to you the consequen
:. of a deviation from the principle? Look
= the slave States. There is GLASS Of n
py who are deprived Of their natural rights
les But this is not the only deplorable feature
that peculiar organization Of society. ECU
~ deplorable is it, that there 10 another 81
OF Of men who keep the former in subsection
led That there is slaves is bad : but almost wo
her is it, that there are masters. Are not
al masters freemen? No, Sir! Where is Il
cot liberty Of the pressy Where il their libe