Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-22

II Declaration uf independence ana Its slgnefs
than Carl Shurz in that speech delivered at
Springfield, from which the Boston Courier
and others have quoted so dishonesty. We
feel sure that our readers will be glad to have
that portion of the speech from which their
quotation was taken. Here it is =
'I.et your Imagination carry you back to
the year l776. You stand in the hall OF the
old colonial court house of Philadelphia
| Through the open door you sec the continent
al congress assembled; the moment OF great
decision is drawing near. Look at the earnest
faces of the men assembled there, and consld-
er what you may expect of them. The phi
losophy of the eighteenth century counts many
of them among its truest adopts. They wei
coined heartily in their scattered towns and
plantations the new ideas brought forth by
that sudden progress of humanity, and, medi-
tating them in the dreamy solitude OF virgin
nature, they had enlarged the compass of their
thoughts, and peopled their maginations with
lofty ideals A classical education flor most
of them are by no means iliterate men) has
put all the treasures of historical knowledge at
their disposal, and enabled them to apply the
experience of past centuries TO the new prob
lem they attempt to solve. See others there
of a simple but strong cast of mind, whom
common sense would call its truest representa-
tives. Wont to grapple with the dangers and
difficulties of an early settlers life, or If in
habiants OF young uprising cities, wont to
carry quick projects into speedy execution,
| they have become regardless of obstacles and
used TO strenuous activity. The constant ne
cessity to help themselves has developed their
mental independence; and, Injured to political
strife by the continual defence Of their colonial
self government, they have at last become IA
miliar wsth the idea, to introduce into practi.
cal existence the principles which their vigor-
Gus minds have quietly built up into a theory.
The first little impulses to the general up
heaying OF the popular spirit-the tea tax, the
stamp act drop into insignitcance; they are
almost forgotten; the revolutionary spirit has
risen far above them. 1t disdains to justify
itself with petty pleadings; it spurns diplo.
matte equivocation it places the claim to in
dependence upon the broad basis of eternal
rights, as self-eviden; as the sun, as broad as
the world, as common as the air of heaven.
The struggle of the colonies against tue usurp-
ing government of Great Britain has risen to
the proud dimensions OF struggle Of man for
liberty and equality. Behold, five men are
advancing towards the table Of the president
First, Thomas Jefferson, whose philosophical
spirit grasps the generality of things and
events; then Benjamin Franklin, the great
apostle of common sense, the clear wisdom
OF real life beaming i'll his serene eye; then
the undaunted John Adams, and two others.
Now Jefferson reads the Declaration of lnae-
pendence, and loudly procaims the funda.
mental principle upon which it ress-"All
men are created free and equal" 1t is said
history tells you what it meant The Sceptre
OF royalty is flung back across the ocean; the
prerogatiyes of nobility are trodden into the
dust; every man king, every man baron
in seven of the original colonies the shackles
of the black man struck off; almost every
where the way prepared for gradual emancipa
No ns,ft b. rio nf
ty in manW says Madison. LET slavery be
abolished by law !" says Washington. Not
only the supremacy of old England is TO be
shaken OIL. but a new organization OF society
is to be built up, on the basis OF liberty and
equality. That is the Declaration OF hide
pendence That is the American Revolution.
All men free and equal Not even the broad
desert of the Atlantic Ocean stops the tri,
umphant shout Behold, the nations of the
Old World are rushing to arms. Bastes are
/ blown into the dust as by the trumpets Of Jer
icho, and, like pillar OF fire by night and a
pillar OF cloud by day the great watchwort
of the American Revolution shows forever the
D way to struggling humanity. Long contin
: ued applause. All men are created free ant
equal Whence the supernatural power il
these seven words 2"
J. Turn your eyes away from the sublime spec
; tacle of l776, from that glorious galaxy Of mel
> whose hearts were large enough for all man
: kind, and let me recall you to the sober year 0
. 1851, There is Springfield, the capital Of ii
S linois, of those states which owe thei
: greatness to an ordinance originally framed b,
:. the same man whose hand wrote the Declara
ton OF independence. In the hall of the as
' sembly, there stands Mr.. Douglas, who I'M
l. tiates an eager crowd into the mysteries G
e popular sovereignty" He will tell you wha
4 it meant, when the men of 1776 said that "a
men are created free and equal" He says :
mo man vindicate the character the Motive
j. and the conduct of the sgners OF the Declaration
Independence except upon the hypothesis that the
n referred to the white alone, and not to the A
I'd rican, when they declared all men to have been cr
aed free and equal-tiat they speaking Of Britt,
I'd subjects on iS continent beng equal British S6ec
= born and residing in Great Bain-that they were el
titled to the inaenable rights and among thel
m were enumerated life liberty, and the pursuit ,
:: happiness. The DECLARATION of Independence wa
is adopted merely for the purpose of justify
10 onsts in the eyes of the civilized world in Withdraw
ing their allegiance from the British crown and di
s, solving their connection with the mother country
&c What Is that all Is that little heap {
N quicksand the only substructure on which
- new organization OF society was to be built 2
&c the whole foundation upon which the prou
p and ponderous editice of the United State
" rests ! They did, then, not mean all mel
If when they said ali men. They intended, pc
haps, even to distranchise those free black
u who IN five OF the original thirteen colonies eI
q joyed The right of voting. They meant bu
the white race. Oh, no, by no means, tn
,chole white race not the Germans, not tn
If French, not the Scandinavians they mean
:, but British subjects. "British subjects OF
= this continent being equal TO British subject
i born and residing on the other side OF the grea
;. water" daughter and applause.)
!, There is your Declaration of independence
, diplomatic dodge, adopted merely tor tn
purpose Of excusing the rebellious colonies il
the eyes of civilized mankind. There is you