Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-29

connection with the citizen died. 1t never
lcaS q government, only factor, to do as 9th
ers said. So great is this element of strength,
this living connection of government and peo-
pie as one, identical except in name, how can
one perish and the other live? As the strength
of the cable is in every strand and of the
body in every fibre and tissue so is the
strength of this, and of every enlightened
government, in every citizen.
And l remark ii. This is another element
of strength to be specially noticed. ''What
to do with the masses?" has been the great
problem of European governments for CEN
turtles. Their statesmen have asked, ''shall we
have wars to kill off the surplus? Shall we
export them to unpeopled lands? Shall we
build poor houses? Shall we forbid marriage?"
Political economists have discussed every
scheme but one, VIZ to elevate all into useful
citizens, and make them the strength and not
the weakness of the nation. Our fathers
adopted this plan. Educate all to be active
citizens 1t is the Only right and christian
method, and it is the safest and cheapest.
Nay, it is positive gain. The cost of the
training will be the best investment for the
state. Extent of territory favored the plan.
All our social, educational, religious and civil
arrangements have proceeded on the principle,
that every man was to be active citizen.
And more and more the practice has conform
ed to the theory.
This may indeed become most destructive
force. Five million voters (and the number
may increase to fifty or a hundred million) :;
and each power to decide the momentous
questions, even the destiny of the nation.
For veal or for wo, the plan is adopted, and
will not be changed unless the government is
destroyed! Call it weakness if you will, as
Europe does, it matters not; it is in the sys-
ton md thDr rriI ha t,,r,.,,
says De Toquevile, democracy has been
rising in the great nations Of Europe" Rapid
ly for the last 200 years more and mQrS----r
governments OF those natiops--.l 800 "a ', ~.
Weld TO the demands ass75 nave had 10
who fears tblas- u the people. Carlyle,
la q casb 'sHG result, says, "there is no hope
Tor it, it is fixed as DOOM democracy must
triumph" Macauley sees the same.
Ever since her revolution of 1885, the Eng
fish government has had the sagacity to yield
to the increasing demands of the people, just
in season to escape explosion; widening her
liberties as the people demanded. The French
government refused to do it and went down in
the earthquake of 1898, and her great ground
swells will ultimately subside into republic.
Russia is becoming wise in season; and her
60,00O,0O0 serts may yet be changedto citi-
zens, without commissions. Austria will pro-
badly be blown up. Italy has just passed the
first crisis; and with the petition of 5000
priests lately sent to the pope, may avoid
second. Germany is sure of federation
similar to our own, no matter what the name.
What means all this? 1t is the voice of God,
speaking upon Horeb, ''the people shall
hare their rights"
Read history,-the history of the last two
hundred vears,-and you will say as soon
turn back the Mississippi to its mountain
spring as to change this swift-roling tide OF
democracy. Is it full of peril2 So may it be
of safety! Is it a weakness? So may it be
made the mightiest force Of a government;
and on no other plan than ours, viz: give the
mind full play Let the light shine. Edu-
cate! Educate! In the family, in the pub
lie school, the lyceum, the college, the sab
bath school, the church, by the press and by
speech, in season and out of season, let Gods
light shine upon every question of duty and
national welfare. Positively there is no other
course! Forward we must! Backward we
cannot Behind rs the way is closed up for
ever!
III. | specify, as Il third element of
strength, the adaptablity and feasibility of the
government to meet the ever growing condi-
ton of the nation. Jefferson thought civil
disturbances good, for they reused the people
to discussion and to find wherein the laws and
policy of the nation needed altering. But all
lulS SllOulu ne uOUG Without COMMISSIONS.
Some animals have their moulting seasons,
when, by violent effort, they throw off the
old skin or shell that has become too small for
their growing life Others, and those of
higher grade, are clothed in garments which
expand with their growth and require no tend
ing. Man, highest of all, should be wise
enough peaceably to alter or let out the seams
of his civil raiment, and not wait till he is
pinched to death. Laws, and even consttu-
tons. good as they are, are not the body and
soul of the nation.
\ man cannot wear his baby clothes, and
should be ashamed to try. No more a ma
ton advancing according to Gods design.
Not government in Europe can force its cit
liens into all the civil policy Of a hundred
years ago. | claim that we have this element
Of strength, full liberty to think, discuss, and
alter, and all according to the constitution.
"Where, then, is our weakness, for we are
surely rent asunder?"
Nv. | answer this by stating a fourth ele-
ment Of strength which we have not had, viz:
COMPATIBILITY OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, so
far they effect the national government.
The constitution requires each state to have
republican government But the word ''re-
publican" was allowed a latitude that admitted
slavery in some of the states, and the spirit
and practical workings of this institution have
! done the mischief. 1t has educated the south
ern half of the nation into anything but 10y
atty to free government. Ithas kept seven
millions of white people in the most abject
condltion--the fit tools for designing men.
| From childhood it has educated the masters
to be eXacting, domineering, supercilious,
| quick to resent, ariStocratic in the meaneSt
and stiffest sense. What the wise patriots of
| '76 saw has come to pass. Side by side free
dom and slavery have borne each its natural
| fruit.
grant such is the relation of the states to
the federal government that there might have
been peace if slavery had remained quiet
within its own bounds. But its very nature
forbade this. 1t must spread, it must become
national, and it must rule. The masters at
Montgomery said they hated our ideas of
| equality, our free schools. Chagrined at the
contrasts between the free and slave states
in thrift, enterprise, schools, intelligence,
wealth. and general prosperity, they rebelled,
as one remarked, ION statistics" Condemn
ed by the moral sentiment of the civilized
world they rebelled, as another remarked,
| that they might rear new political srtuc-
ture, its corner stone slavery, and show the
world that society founded on that rock would
reach pitch of glory that would put democ-
| racy to shame.
The north has grown democratic, the south
| ollgarchical. Not the ideas only, but the polt-
ical power of the two were coming into COLI
sion. Now the catastrophe! Has the United
States government strength to meet the crisis?
Iaken In season, two years ago, the fire of