The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-18
The American Republic.
-Unconquered and sublime
Above the far Atlantic.
Yours,


We have already alluded briefly to the Ami
versary meeting of the Antislavery Society Of
Canada, held at Toronto, Wednesday evening,
Sd instant. Our limits are too narrow Tor the
whole stirring speech of the Hon. Geo. Brown,
on that occasion. 1t was what might have
been expected from the Editor Of the Toronto
Globe. There is one passage, however, which
we cannot leave out; passage, which cannot
fail to cheer many loyal heart on this side of
the Canada lines; the generous testi J ony of
a man, who believes in and is ready If need
be to fight for his country and his sovereign,
to the wonderful achievement and more splen-
did promise of this dear fatherland of ours
promise, which would fade and dissolve into
darkness, if this Conspiracy Of slavedrivers
could become nation. Here is what Mr.
Brown said:
This world no longer believes in the Divine
right of either kings or presidents to govern
wrong-but those who seek to change an es-
tablshed Government by force of arms as
sumo a fearful responsibility responsibility
which nothing but the clearest and most in-
toerable injustice will acquit them for assun-
ing. The Southern States plead as their ex-
cuse for revolution that Abraham Lincoln was
duly and consritutionally elected President OF
the Republic, and that the permanency of
slavery was thereby placed in danger. Is that
plea TO be accepted by the civilized world in
the second half OF the 10th century? RevoIu-
tions were wont TO be efforts of the oppressed
TO deliver themselves from bondage-but here
Is a revolution to perpetuate slavery, to fasten
more hopelessly than ever the chains of servi-
tude on the limbs of four millions of human
beings. tCheers.) Is it with that, Christian
England can sympathize? Ought not an out
burst OF indignation at such a spectacle TO be
heard from every land? iCheers.) There is
no Justice, no right, in the case of the South
ern slavehoders-it is simply question of
might. If they have the power to go, assur-
edly they will 60
voice.-They have gone!
Another voce.-That's so!
Mr.. Brown,-Not quite yet-but whether
they go or stay Is now Of comparatively little
moment What does concern us, and what
mnst rejoice every true-hearted man In Chris
tendon, is that go when they may, they will
60 without their slaves. tGreat cheering.1 We
owe that much at any rate to Abraham Lin
coin and his friends,
But, Mr.. Chairman, let us return to the
question, why did not Mr.. Lincoln let the
slave States go? and before proceeding to ex-
anime that question from an anti-slavery point
of view, will you permit me, sir, to make di-
gression, and, speaking for myself and not for
any other. to give an answer with which 1 am
persuaded every tuDe British heart ought TO
sympathize. Sir, We all know the prejudice
at this moment against the U. States Ia Great
Britain and Canada; we know well all that is
said, and that unfortunately can be said, with
too much truth, as to the craftsmanship of the
Republic, as TO the tone assumed by the Ameri-
cans towards foreign nations, as to the defects
In their political system, and as to the conduct
of the civil war: but were all that is alleged
on these scores true-were vastly more than
is ayerred, true--I do think that no man who
loves human freedom and desires the elevation
of mankind could contemplate without the
deepest regret a failure of that great expert
ment of selfgovernment across the lines.
tHear, hear.) Had Mr.. Lincoln consented to
the secession Of the Southern States, had he
admitted that each State could at any moment
and on any plea take its departure from the
Union, he would simply have given his consent
TO the complete rupture of the Federation.
The Southern States and the Border States
would have gone-the Western States might
soon have followed-the States on the Pacific
would not have been long behind-and where
the practice of Secession once commenced
might have ended, would be difficult TO say.
Petty Republics would have covered the con-
tinent, each would have had its standing ar
my and its standing fueds,-and we. in Cana
da, were 1t only in self-defence, must have beea
compelled to am.
/, for one, sir, cannot look back on the histo.
ry OF the American Republic without feeling
that all this would be 4 worldwide misfortune.
How can We ever forget that the United States
Territory has, for nearly century, been an
ever open asylum for the poor and the perse-
cuted Of every land? Millions have fed from
suffering and destitution in every corner of
Europe, TO find happy homes and overfowing
prosperity In the Republic; and, confess /
lnt;. f..I
spectacle than to pass las you easily CAM for
thousands of miles along the high roads of the
Republic, and witness the wonderful material
success that has been achieved by men who,
few short years ago, landed on the American
shore, for the most part without means and
without education. Is there human being
who could rejoice that all this should be ended?
And who could fail bitterly to regret the effect
of such catastrophe on the politics oil Eu-
rope? Who can tell how much influence the
great American Republic has exerted on the
liberties of the world Circumstances have
caused me to search deep and often into the
debates of the British Parliament and con-
fess have been frequently struck by the con-
slant references In the speeches of our great
est statesmen, for nearly century past, TO
American practices, American precedents, and
American institutions. These may not have
been copied by the mother country, but it is
impossible to doubt that on many important
questions the free theories and free examples
OF America have greatly Influenced for good
the legislation of Great Britain. And il this
has been the case under the good government
of Britain, what influence may not have been
exertad upon the despotic systems of the Eu-
ropean continent? Can the hosts of French
men, Austrians, Prussians, Italians and other
Europeans, who found homes in the United
States, have failed to wait across the Atlantic
| or to carry back with them to their native
lands, the new ideas of popular rights acquired
in the land OF their adoption ?-and would it not
be sad indeed if the echo of these ideas so Of
ten heard on the continent, in the shape OF de-
mands for extended popular rights and free
constitutions, could be met by the despotic
rulers OF Europe with the taunt to look at
America and learn how free constitutions and