The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-11-24
NO. 36.
Freedom and Slavery.

Hon. Z. d. BAKER, of California, in
recent speech, spoke as follows:
/ do not care where man comes from,
if he is worker and lover of his coun-
try if he will not sit under the shadow
of a tree and whine about niger, when
he ought to rise up like man and do =
mans work. | care not whether he
comes from the North or from the South.
from the East or from the West. | de-
sire to preserve free soil for free labor.
Do you not believe that free labor is bet
ter than slave labor? Do you not be-
lieve that free State is more powerful.
richer, more prosperous, than slave
State ? Do you not believe that the free
States would be better opponents, in time
of war-not because their citizens are
braver, but because they could turn out
every man for the ranks? Cannot the
free States pay more taxes ? Do you
not believe in using your influence to pre-
vent the dedication of your soil TO slave
labor? Are you not attached to the
great principles of personal liberty, and
in striving to propagate them in prefer
ence 10 the dogmas of slavery, are you
not acting in concert and harmony with
all the wisest and best men Of the age in
which you live? How is it ? Are you
a German ? Is not the idea of uniyer-
sal independence favorite of yours?
| Whether you was ruled by duke or a
monarch, still the idea of personal libcr
ty is dear to the German heart. So with
the Frenchman whether he is fighting
under despot in Italy, or barricading
the streets of Paris during revolution,
he loves the idea of personal liberty, and
| it is equally present in his heart.
So with the Englisbman. Dear to
MIN are the recollections Of the great Eng
lish Revolution of 1888. Proudly and
affectionately he looks back to the time
when Cromwell and his Psalm singing
Iron-sides were arrayed against the hosts
of a treacherous sovereign; when they
dragged monarch ANONYMOUSLY 20 the
block because he attacked the great prin-
ciples of popular rights and popular lib
erty. Great applause. And as have
asked, who ever heard of any man recit-
ing poem TO slavery But if you want
the noblest and most inspiring poems.
save those from Heaven, read Milton.
read Shelley, read Homer, read Halleck.
read Bryant, above all read Shakespeare.
There are poets who sell themselves.
with venal spirits TO futter in the atmos-
phere Of courts; but even they. seduced
by the pomp and brilliancy of fashion,
cannot break into praise of slavery. They
may praise the despot himself, but the
iniquity of slavish servitude they dare
not crown with song. The hauteur of
the poet will not allow it, and his hand
trembles. falters and is pslsied ere he at
tempt to sweep it in such praise across
the Tyre of song. Cheers. But when
you talk to him of freedom. the lip of the
poet quivers with inspiration. his heart
glows, and the numbers break out as the
stream dashes from the mountain top to
seek the valley below-brght, clear,
sparkling and FREE. Cheers
Are You ashamed to march in that pro-
cession? Shall reproach, shall malig-
nant SANDER. shall base misrepresenta-
ton make you hesitate ? For me, at
least, no thousand times no ! Where
! my youth has trod, my manhood and my
age shall march. am not ashamed 10
wheel into that great procession. / loyo
freedom better than slavery / will speak
her words; will listen to her music 1
will acknowledge her impulses will
stand beneath her flag !; l will fight in
her ranks and, when l do so, / shall
find myself surrounded by the great, the
wise, the good. the brave, the noble of
every land tCheer upon cheer, the au-
dlence rising EN- masse. If l could stand
for moment upon one of your high
mountain tops, far above all the kingdoms
of the civilized world, and there might
see coming up. one after another. the
brayest and wisest of the ancient warri-
ors and statesmen, and Kings. and Mon
archs, and Priests; and if, as they come
up. might be permitted to ask of them
an expression OF opinion upon such case
as this, with a common voice, and in
thunder tones, reverberating through
thousand valleys, and echoing down the
ages, they would cry, :. LIBERTY. Free.
DON, THE UNIVERSAL BaorHERHooD OF
MAN" Cheers upon cheers. join
that shout swell that anthem echo
that praise forever and forever more.
/ Cheers.
More Republican Economy.