St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-05-19


South Carolina knows it. Laughter and
applause. The nation is SO accustomed
to admire her glorious deeds for freedom,
that with this expectation their eyes are
turned upon her. Massachusetts, can do
nothing in secret; Massachusetts, can do
nothing for herself alone; every one of
her acts involves hundred-fold RESPONSE
bility. What Massachusetts does is felt
from the Atlantic to the Pacific! But
Massachusetts need only be herself, in
order to be great, This is her position
among the Free States, recognized by all.
Can there be a more honorable one p
Sons of Massachusetts, you may be prou,d
ol 1t. DO 3vvt forget that from her great
ness you cannot seperate your responsibility.
No, will not meddie with your home
concerns. will, however, say word for
the West. Strenuous advocate Of State
rights and Of local self-government as |
am, if you ever hear OF any movement in
the West against the integrity Of the
fundamental princi pies underlying our
system of government, I invite you, I
entreat you, conjurc you, come one am,
all, and make our prairies resound and our
forests shake, and our ears ring and tingle,
with your appeals for the equal rights Of
man. Loud and continued checring.l
Sir, was to speak on republicanism at
the West, and so did. This is Western
republicanism. These are its principles,
aud am proud to say it's principles are its
policy. These arc the ideas which have
rallied around the banner of liberty not
only the natives Of the soil, but an innu-
merable host of Germans, Scanclinayians,
Scotchmen, Frenchmen, and goodi;;
number Of Irlshmen, also. And here i
tell you, those are mistaken who believe
that the Irish heart is devoid Of those
noble. impulses which will lead him to the
side Of justice, where he sees his own
jrig gifts respected and uncndangered tAp-
piause. Under this banner, all the Ian
guages Of civilized mankind are spoken,
every creed is protected, every ri yht is
sacred There stands every element Of
Western society, with enthusiasm for a
great cause, with confidence in each other,
with honor to themselves. This is the
banner foating over that glorious valley
which stretches from the Western slope
Of the ,Alleghanies to the Rocky Noun
tains-that valley of Jehosaphat, where
the nations Of the world assemble to cele-
brate the resurrection of human freedom.
NTrcmendons applause ] The inscription
on that banner is not ''opposition to the
Democratic party for the sake of placip o
new set of men into office )" for this
battle cry Of speculators our hearts have
+ no response; nor is it restriction of Sla-
very and restriction Of the III yht Of sufFf-
rage" for this-belicvc my words, I
entreat you-,his would be the signal of
deserved, inevitable and disgraceful defeat;
but the inscription is: " Liberty and equal
rights, common to all as the air OF Heaven
-Liberty and equal rights, one and insep-
crable" Enthusiastic cheers. t.. -
With this banner we stand bef.re the
world, In this sign-in tais sign alone:
; and no. other-thcre is victory. And
thus, Sir, we mean to realize tie grea:
cosmopolitan idea upon which the ex;s-
tence Of the American nation rests. Thus
we mean to fulfill the great mission Of
true A'nericanisms; thus we mean to
answer tne anxious question OF downtrod-
den humanity: -" Has man the faculty
to be free and to govern himself?' The
answer is a triumphant =" Ay" thunder
ing-into the ears Of the despots of the
Old World that "a man is man for all
that; )" proclaiming to the oppressed that
they are held in subjection on false pre-
lenses; cheering the hearts Of the de-
spondent friends of man with consolation
and renewed confidence. H7..
This is true Amcricanism, clasping
mankind to its great heart. Under its
banner we march; let the. world follow.
Loud applause, and three cheers for the
champion Of Freedom in Wisconsin, =
III The audience then dispersed,
Food for Thought. ......