The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-05-12


public rests IN the equality of human rigbti
Loud applause, The Roman Republic peI
lshed BY the sword, the American Rep bli
VIII stand as long as the equality of huma
rights remain inyiolated. lCheerl Nhic
OF the two Republics Is greater. the Republi
OF the Roman or the Republic OF mani
Sr. wish the words Of the Declaration c
Independence. ''that al men are created fre
and equal and are endowed with certain Ia
ahenable rights were inscribed upon ever,
gate-Post within the limits OF this republic. =
From this principle the Revolutionary Faith
ers derived their claim 10 independence. up
on this they founded the institutions of thi:
country, and the whole structure was to B,
the living incarnation of this idea. Thi
prime pie contains the programme Of our Do.
hucal existence. L Is the most progressive
ana al the sans time the m1s: conservative
one; the most progressive, for it takes even
the lowliess members Of the human family
out OF degrei iation, and inspires them with
the elevatng consciousness OF equal human
dignity; the most conservative. for it makes
common cause of Individual rights ru-
multuous applause. From the equally Of
ri -;hts springs identity OF our highcs. inter
ests; you cannot subyert your neighbor' 5
rights without striking a dangerous blow at
your own. Anl when tha rights of one can
not be intringed without fading a ready de-
Tense in all others who defend their own
RI ghts ia defentng his. then, and only then,
are the rights OF all safe against the usurpa-
tons OF governmental authority
This general identity OF interests IS the
olly thing that can guarantee the stability Of
democratic Institutions. Equality OF rights.
embodied in general self-goverumeat; is the
gre At moral element of true democracy; It IS
the only reliable safety valve in the machine
ry of modera society. There is the solid
unla,ion of our system Of government; there
IS our missjoa there is our greatness; there
is our safety, there and nowhere else? This
Is true Amarcsnsm AMI to this [ pay the
tribute OF my devotion. Long and loui ap
plause.
Sn4ll point out to you the consequences
Of a deviation from this principle? Look al
the Slave States There is class of men
who are deprived of their ne'ural rights
B 1t this is not the only deplorable feature of
that peculiar organization of society. Equal
" daporable IS it, that there is another class
Of men who keep the formsr in subection.
That there are slaves is bad: but almost worse
is it, that there are masters. Are not the
masters freemen? NJ, Sir! Where Is their
liberty of the press? Where Is their liberty
Of speech! Where IS the man among them
who dares to advocate openly principles not
in strics accordance with the ruling system?
Taey speak of a Republican form Of govern
ment, they speak of Democracy. but the des-
polic spirit Of Slavery and msstership com
bines pervades their whole political life like a
lest the spirit of liberty becomes contagious.
The system Of Slavery has enslaved them ALL
m asters well as slaves Applause.
..true!'l What IS the cause of all this? 1t
is that YOU cannot deny one class OF society
the full measure Of their natural rights with
out imposing restraints upon your own liberty.
II you want to be free, there IS bl. one way;
it is 10 guarantee an equally full measure of
liberty to all your nelghbors There Is no
other.
True. there are difficulties connected with
an organization Of society founded upon the
basis Of equal rights Nobody denies it. A
large number of those who come 10 you from
fore ga lands are not as capable to take part
in tn a imiaistgation of government as the
man who was fortunate enough to drink the
milk Of liberty il his cradle. And certain
relig gjous denominations do, perhaps, noarlsh
principles which are hardly IN accordance
with the doctrines OF true democracy There
is cDag'onara.ion on this continent OF hete-
ro yeneous elements; there Is warfare OF
clt,hiag Interests and unruly Aspirations; and
with all this our democratic system gives
ri rh.s 70 the igaorant. ana power to the IN
axpariencei AID the biiIow5 Of passion
viii lash the sides Of the ship, aai the storm
Of pqrty warfare will bend lis masts, and the
pu,il.aainols will cry out: m sster, master,
We peri>hr' Anf the genius Of true demoo
racv will arise from bis slumber. and rebdke
th. winds and the ra aIing of the water. and
saw unto them: ''Where Is your faIth?" All,
where is tae faith that led the fathers Of this
r .Dubc to invite the weary and burdene'
of all nations to tne enjoyment OF eqlaii right?
Where IS that broad and generous confidence
in the efficiency Of true democratic constitu-
iioas? HIS the present generation forgotten
that true lie nocracy bears in itself the reme-
iy for al the ditfisul.ies shat may grow out
Of it!
lii an Old dbl igs Of the iespotisn through
on. the world, that the people who are not
ex,-risacel in ssligovernment are not fl for
the exercise OF self government; and must
first be educated under the rule Of a superior
authority. Bu- at the same time tue advo-
.,tes Of despotism will never offer them an
opportunity to acquire experience IN sel-gov-
ernnent. lest they suddenly become Ii for
is independent exercise. Io this treacher-
ols so-his.ry the fathers Of this Republic op.
posed lha noble doctrine that liberty Is the
best school for liberty. aad tha. seif-goveru-
ment cannot De learned ba: by practiciny i
TLouI applause. This, Sir, is truly Amer
ian idea: this Is true Ansricanism, and 70
this | pay the tribute Of my DEVOTION
[CheeEs
You object that some people Do no. under,
stand their own interests? There is nothing
that in the course of time will make man bet
ter understand bis Interests than the indepaa-
dent management Of his own affairs o. his
own responsibility. There Is 10 better school
master 10 the worl1 than government, IN
dgpendeatlv exercised. You object that
peopl. have no Just idea Of their duties as
eifizsnsl There Is 10 other source from
which they can derive Just notion Of their
duues, than the enjoyment Of the rights from