The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-20


intensely moving and generous princi-
pie. The necessity was deliverance
from British oppression; the principle,
the inalienable rights of man. The
revolution was a success, because the
country had in Adams, Jefferson and
Washington and their associates, the
leaders, and in the Wings, the party
needful for this crisis, and these were
sustained by the people.
Our departure was not at the june
ture of the establishment of the Con-
stitution. The country then had and
owned a new and overpowering neces-
sity,preceived and demanded a new OBJ
ject and adopted new and most an
imating principle. The necessity, the
escape from anarchy; the object, Fed
eral Union; the principle, fraternity of
the American people. The Constitu-
ton, with the Ordinance Of 1887, prac-
tically part of it, was not a failure,
because Hamilton. Jay and Madison
were competent, and the Federal party
was constant, and the people gave it a
confiding and generous support.
1t was not it 1900 that the national
division took place. Then were dis
closed new public necessity, new OBJ
ject, and new principle. A separation
and removal of aristocratic checks and
interests from the mechanism of our
republican institutions. The needed
reform. did not fail, because Jefferson
and George Clinton, with their asso-
ciates, braved all resistance, the Re-
publican party defended, and the people
sustained them.
Again the departure did not occur in
1912. Then was discovered further
necessity, bringing into view farther
object and introducing yet another new
and noble principle of action. The
necessity, a vindication of national
rights; the object, freedom of inter-
course with mankind the principle,
the defense of our homes and our hon
or. The war of 1912 was a success,
because; Clay, Calhoun and Tompkins
did not shrink from the trial the Re-
publican party approved and the people
sustained them.
In 1920, however, the nation uncon-
sciously reached and entered a new
stage in its successful career, namely,
that of expansion. By purchase from
France and Spain it had extended its
borders from st. Mary's southwark
around the peninsula of Florida, and
from the Mississippi to the Rocky
Mountains-an expansion to be after
wards indefinitely continued. We all
know the advantages of expansion.
They are augmented wealth and popu-
lation. But we all know equally well,
if we will only reflect, that no new ad-
van1age is ever gained in national,
more than in individual life, without
exposure to some new danger. What,
then, is the danger that attends expan-
sion? 1t is nothing less, and can be moth
ngless, than an increase of the strain up
on the bonds of the Union. The etime had
come to organize governments finally
in the newly acquired territory of
Louisiana, on principles that should be
applied thereafter in all cases of further
expansion. This necessity brought in.
to glaring light new object, namely,
since the only existing cause of mutual
alienation among the States was slave.
ry, which was already carefully cir.
cumscribed by the ordinance of 1887,
that anomalous institution must be
further circumscribed by extending the
ordinance toscover the new States to
be established in the Louisianian pur-
chase. To this end new and humane
impulse naturally moved the country
namely, the freedom of human labor.
But although statesmen qualified fol
the crisis appeared, no party stood
forth to support them with constancy
and the country, after a temporary
glow of free soil excitement, subsided
into cold ndifference-ands so com.
promise was made which divided the
newly acquired domain between free
labor and capital in slaves, ,-betweer
freedom and slavery,-a memorable
compromise, which, after trial of only
thirty -four years, proved to be effective
only in its concessions to slavery, while
its greater guarantees of freedom were
found unavailing and worthless. His
tory says that the compromise of 1926
was necessary to save the Union from
disruption. l do not dispnte history
nor debate the settled moral questions
of the past. l only lament that it wa
necessary, if, indeed, it was so. Histo
ry tells us that the course then adopted
was wise. l do not controvert it.
only mourn the occurrence of even on,
case-most certainly the only one tha
ever did happen-in which the way o
, pleasantness and the path of peace. l
i was in 1920, therefore, that the nation
al deviation began. We have contin
ued ever since the divergent cours
. then so inconsiderately entered, unit
at last We have reached point where
J amidst confusion, bewilderment, am
, mutual recriminations, it seems alik
impossible to go forward or to return
We have added territory after terrific
] ry, and region after region, with tn
} customary boldness of feebly resiste'
, conquerers, not merely neglecting t
| keep slavery out of our new posses
sions, but actually removing all tn
) barriers against it which we foun
: standing at the time of conquest. /
: doing this we have defied the mora
: opinions of mankind, overturned tn
: laws and systems of our fathers, and dis