Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-14
SKATING is first rate at Lawrence's pond
near the Junction depot.


| LECTURE BY REV. l. n. TARBoX.-The
! people of Mbury were favored with an excel
lent address by Rev. l. n. Tarbox, at the
! Town Hall, Saturday evening, January llth.
/ Referring to the principle cnunciated in cur
declaration of independence, of the natural
! equality of all men before the law, he said
| this was by 10 means the first declaration of
that principle as it was asserted in many
places in the Bible, was contained in the
Golden Rule of Christ, and was embodied in
the old Hebrew commonwealth. 1t virtually
swayed the realm OF England when Charles l.
was driven to the block it was practically
recognized in every town meeting in New
England. and in every Congregational church,
from 1920. But, Notwithstanding this pre-.
lminary work, the emphatic uterance OF the
principle III our declaration was a work OF
immense importance; all that had gone before
was like the gathering OF electricity in the
cloud: this was tie discharge OF the thunder.
bolt.
The results of the declaration were then
shown, by comparison CT our government,
material greatness, with other nations This
unparalleled growth is owing to the principles
of freedom with which this government was
started into life. This republican system has
educated the people OF the northern states TO
higher respect for law. a government is
strong just in proportion as it is difficult to
eliorce an unjust law. The Indignation
against the fugitive slave law was a sign of
the inward virtue and conscience of the people.
When Charles l. and Archbishop Laud en-
deavored 10 take away the rights OF the people
OF England, it was the sturdy yeomen who
gave glory TO the realm, by confronting the
king to his face, and refusing to worship the
images he set up.
a great excellence in our republican govern
ment is its fexibility in consequence of which,
whenever real crisis occurs, parties give
way and the people once aroused, manifest a
greater power than is lodged in any monarch
But, after all, repubicanism has not had fair
field it has had to carry along the dead body
of slavery. No small part OF the strength of
the republic has been trittered away in quar-.
rels with the principle OF slavery. The loss
has not been simply a loss of time and of
benefcient measures, but there las been an
irreparable loss OF honesty, ana such a degree
OF corruption among public men that every
good principle seemed lost. There cannot be
the slightest ground to believe that civil war
would have arisen except for slavery.
Mr.. TarboX next considered the influence of
our declaration of the true principles of self
government upon the WORK. at large This
Influence may be seen in the writings of the
tories and arstocrats, which have constantly
predicted that our government cannot stand.
Long ago we ought to have gone down. ac-
cording to the prophecies of some of this class
OF writers in the beginning of the present cen
fury. The only satisfactory explanation of
the position of the English government is to
be found in the hatred Of our institutions and
most hearty and sincere desire that our ex.
pertinent may fail We have also an exhibit
ton OF this Influence in the hopes that are
breaking out among the common people of
Europe, and even in the rays of light that
have reached to China and japan.
Our civil war has come from none of our
republican principles. Now is the time to try
our republican faith, to see whether we truly
believe that "lye, liberty and the pursuit Of hap.
pineSS belong as much to the African as to
us. Have not the men of the north prated
about liberty, when they meant it only for their
own iiusiriOus selves, and not the rest of man
kind Let us dare to be just and give the re
publican idea full scope, and then we touch
the bottom then we shall have security and
our influence will reach The nations with salu
tary power We may have the consolation
of knowing that this war is fought not for
ourselves alone, but fer all mankind. 1t has
been forced upon us.
England may think as she pleases but ,ce
kno,O we were driven to fight because we could
not help it, What struggles have we made,
how affect has been our position 10 avoid it!
Let us with gladness accept this omen, that,
as Luther was pushed into the reformation by
the providence OF God, SO we have not sought
this contest. And let US adopt the motto of
an an ancient writer, beware of entering
into quarrel but, being in it, bear myself
so that thy opposer shall beware of thee"
Call not this the d ,rk hour OF our Iepublic. 1t
is the brightest day that has arisen upon us
for many, many long years. Our days of
darkness were those of compromise and con-
cession when tie true friends OF constitutional
freedom saw no barrier to the advance Of the
oppressor and were ready to cry out in the
bitterness of thGir souls, How. long, Lord,
how long ?"
GARDNER, Jan. Is, 1862.
Mr.. Editor The whole number of deaths