Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-02
Lecture BY CassIus ". Clay

The announcement that CAssIUs N, CLAY WOulC
speak at the Melodeon last evening drew an i'm
mense throng TO hear him. The MelodeOn long
before the hour for the commencement of the lee
ture was crowded, on floor, galleries and stage
The audience was one of the most intelligent evel
gathered in the city, and the great champion o.
general and individual rights, could ask for nc
more sppreciative hearers than those who last
evening, listened with interest to his teach
ings. Mr.. Clay is emphatically man OF the peO
pie, and as such they greet him.
At O'Clock the lecturer was announced Mr.
Clay is a man Of about fifty. His hair is thin and
gray. He is of medium stature, and stands erect
in conscious dignity of manhood. His general ap
pearance is that Of quiet, ordinary appearing
man, pcrtly and with a general personnel which
will secure respect for him wherever he may be.
Mr.. Clay commenced by saying that the most
eminent nations that had ever lived were when
there had been free intercourse and interchange
Of ideas upon ali questions Of moment between
them and other nations He proposed to merely
take general view Of nations as they had appeared
in the history of the world. He first spoke of the
Grecian nation. The chief policy of the Greeks
was an expansion policy, and under these inAuen,
ces the Greek nation rose to unparalleled hight
and power. The Aihenian people dwindlsd for
want of wider sphere Of action. A population
was planted around them which served as a clog
to their progress.
He noticed next the Roman Republic, popula-
ted by smigrants from Asia Minor, as the story
goes, who sprung up into an immense nation
With the Romans also the predominant idea was
the expansive idea. They aspired to be Gods.
One of their maxims was that their eagles were
never to receds, but their armies were to grow
mightier. The individual man in the Roman EN-
pire was swallowed up in nationality, and this it
was that gave to that nation its superiority over
all others. So long as they held firm to this idea,
they held their proud and superior position, but
when they lost this gigh humanity, then began
their decline. Then Rome fell as fell the nations
that preceded it.
We come down then to Spain. which, under
Charles the Filth, occupied position second not
eVeu 10 Rome ITSELF embracing as It did, the fairesi
of all continents with untold treasures of gold and
was despotic, and the result was just as might
have been predicted. As none had risen so rapid.
y so none fell Sc rapidly, and tO-uay VINO cares
what Spain may thiuk, or what Spain may do.
Look now to France, and here we find another
expansive nation, which, by its adherence to this
nationality it now stands the most powerful ma.
ton in Europe.
Come over then to Protestant England, that
little island ofthe sea- Although an ostensble mon,
archy, yet what is it but a Republic, for in no ma
ton Of the world is man better protected in speech
and act, than in England and the British Empire.
Whatis the result! Why, the sun never sets ups
on her dominion.
Now look at the condition Of the society of the
United States. What is our distinctive idea Il
is in the language of our Fathers, that all mer
are created equal, without respect to color OF
race. Freedom of thought, socially, relig iOusly
politically and individually, is the leading idea Of
our land He did not believe that the Constitution
of the United States is Covenant with Death
and an agreement with He'll as has been asserted
but conflicting elements are sopardizing our insti
tutions, and we have. in measure, departed from
the grand expansive and national principles which
predOminated at the founding Of our Republic
The same conflicts of ideas exist here that did a
Rome and at Athens, and the opposing idea crushei
down and o7errides the best instincts of our hu
msnity
No nation ever has been, or ever will be, ad
vanced by force of arms, as a PriOri means O
advancement. 1t is only when arms are secondary
r l. J 1
Of thought and sentiment that the nation will grow
in civilization.
Movement and progress characterizes all things
in the world Of nature and the world of mind. The
law Of eternal movement is inviolate, and the great
rule which is spoken to the Universe is 81 March,
March, March, towards God and the Right"
Mr., Clay occupied only about half an hour il
speaking, and the audience were evidently sur
prsed at the early termination of his remarks.