The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-05

tneTe Is tne StrenStH Oh society III aiileliCi,
that it takes care of and nourishes the in
dividual man in its anxiety to make the
State strong. The third American idea is
that civil governments derive their power
directly from the citizen, and are to be held
directly responsible to the people for the
exercise of those powers; and they are TO
exercise those powers purely and simply
in the interest of thosefrom whom they are
borrowed. The we'll being of society and
of government, according to those views,
demand that the people shall be morally
and intellectually educated so as both to
know what things are best and wisest and
how the best and wisest things may he Sc
cured and maintained. These are Ameri-
can ideas, not because We discovered them,
but simply because we adopted them, and
because they have, more than any where
else, been Successful here. We claim them
because to aas,.eater Atent they are recog-i
nized in America than any where else.
In order to understand European feeling,
we must consider what the relation of those
ideas is to the structure of European soci-
ETY., to the principles of absolute govern
ments, and to the position Of parties in Eu-
rope. 1t is enough to say that if we are
right, the principal governments of Europe
are wrong. Europe may be divided into
two parts, the upper and the lower. The
upper part represent dynastic ideas. They |
hold the wealth and the power, and for the
/
neither wealth nor average Intelligence, nor
altogether skill even. They hold the mas
ses of men, and throughout Europe the
masses of men are struggling for higher
manhood, for political power, not that they
may be crowned and coronated, but simply
! that they may have room to become more
like men than they have been permitted to
be. So Europe is divided in this way: one
fifth upon the surface and four-fifths be-
low. The upper fifth are against us, and
the four-fifths below, as fast as they are in
structed, will be in favor of US. And why?
Because American ideas are radically sub
versive of monarchical ideas, and because
| they are in sympathy with the real wants
| and desires of the great mass of the strug-
Cling populations of the continents. 1t is
not surprising at all, then, that men that
| believe in thrones and absolute govern
| ments. that believe that people are made to
serve the government instead of the Gov
ernment to serve the people, men who be-
| heve that God ordains kings and priests to
govern with hereditary and transmissible
power, can not accept American ideas; for
| they would be false to their own. We have
studied merely the home aspects of Aneri-
can ideas hitherto. 1t is we'll fer us to study
their relation to foreign ideas. AS theories
| in the books, our American ideas would
have exerted an indirect and positive intiu-
ence, but slow and gradual. But when
they are no longer mere ideas, but become
things, when they are not theories but or
ganiZations, when they are not speculative
| policies, but the life of such people as ours,
the world hears and feels and trembles at
| their football. This great continent is rear
| ed up in sight of Europe, which is not now
| more than. q hand-reach from us, and all
that we do, and all that we intend to be-
| come is perfectly well understood there,
and is blessed to the common people but
pestiterous 10 their rulers. The realization
of good government among the people that
govern themselves, is very dangerous
thing for Europe to behold. 1t is danger
Gus for Spain. 1t is dangerous for France.
It is dangerous for Prussia. It is danger
Gus for Russia. 1t is dangerous in s. me,
though less in some of its developments, to
English Society. 1t is dangerous where it
! is not only suspected, but known and pro-
we'd, that there is no government so stable
and so fruitful of good as that government
which springs directly from the people ,and
is responsible every single year again to
the people.
When you are angry because Europe is
not in sympathy with you, do you stop to
reflect that you are an organized chronic
, assault upon European ideas? [Applause]
Il Your very society life is iii itself the very
demolition. or tends toward the demOli-
ton of their foundations. l wonder they
have been so patient. The maintenance
Of so vast Government so cheaply as ours
. has been maintained, is itself a very dam
aging thing. We have said we donot med.
ole with European politics. It is false
! Every State in this Union NEEDLES with
them-not consciously; we send no ennis:
, saries; we promulgate no theories. All
but we set an example. [Applause.l Does
q not summer meddle with winter? Does
not liberty meddle with oppression the
! world over? Can you say from year te
year, from ten years to ten years, fion
~c-,- all tlNf
hard taxed and burthened people OF the
: continent, you are sauandering millions
a upon Government that oppressess YOU
We have nothing to pay but few CHEAP
thousands for the Government that enrich
es us. Can you do that and not affect Eu
rope? tell you there is no other one thing
q said to the common peoplein Europe so eff
: lean nation, governed with so little fctioI
= and at so olittle cost. 1t is an argument which
Z every body understands and no body i:
= y able to answer. The security of propert,
in a self.governed community, and tn
, safety of the people, is almost authenticat
ed by the example OF this nation. one
> the reasons why we are SO much mlsappre
:, hended in this regard, is that they are an
! xious that this nation shall not be under
9 stood to be happy and secure. 1t is TO
their interest to represent us as not wei
/ governed, and that life and property ar
: not secure on this continent! The dignit.
ID and safety of making every citizen an cleo
J. tor and a candidate for Office in the gift Q
g. the people, are most potent influences ad
n verse to this nation to defend itself bot
,r against foreign and civil war, is sharpl.
n inveighing against the example of Europe
20 an nations and ideas. No wonder that tn
e potentates Of absolutism take sides agains
l. us. Because, just as sure as the prophes
lr OF fate, the continued example OF this pee
l. pie in their prosperity, under their Govern
le ment, and under their American ideas
= jnst as sure as there is Providence an
le a God, will compel Europe, from end /
d end, either to reform or revolutionize.-
ofl [Applause.l You know it. They knoy
J. il great deal better. You rejoice an
IS they deplore.
1t When, therefore, there is the glitterin
St sword and the cloud of blood, and the pros
d pect of disruption, and of taxation an
l. heavy burdens upon the people, the.
'e scream with delight. 1t has taken ava,
'e the very terror of their nights and the yer.
r horror of their days. The nation who's