New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-24
THE NIsW ERA.

MT. Jailles l. DIuu! ptihB 'oiioo W "nu'''o
the Literary Societies Of Rutgers College last
week, did not select ss his topic Athens and
the Atbenians," nor Rome and the Romans, =
nor 1.-THE Pla;onic Philosophy" nor 1.-THE In
Huenoe of the Church spon tie Middle Ages, "
nor did he diatc upon any of the stock themes
which usually render College cOmDencements
venerable. but dull. Air. Brady. We are IN.
formed. ain an address of somewhat rambling
character" spoke Of the present condition Of tue
country, glanced at the past and looked into the
future. and thereby "elicited great applause
We have not received tho particular fruits OF
Mr.. Bradys rambles, and must take 1t Tor
granted that they were rpe, juicy and profitable.
We find other orators, Of the annual literary
turn, speaking after the same fashion IN q
sufficiently practical way. and reminding us not
only that We have history, but that we ara in
a fair way TO profit by 1t. Here.
totorc. We have livod pretty much
upon the experiences Of past ages and
Of foreign nations. Practically, our revo-
lutonary ancestors vigorously cOntended for
liberty; but for illustrations, for argument al
for political philosophy they went back tn
Greece, TO Rome and to the ono or two great
periods of English history. They built new
structure upon an old basis. and the democracy
Of l776 was but III extension Of the republican
| ism Of 1GlO. But no man familiar with our
political history Immediately subsequent to The
Revolution, can be ignorant Of tho grave doubts
which wise and good men entertained Of tbs
practicabilty, expediency and perpetuity OF
democratic institutions. Our fresh, young and
promising career was always spoken Of ~ al
experiment, and, indeed, it has been 30 even
down to the present day. The bugbenr OF the
French Revolution came to conplics'c difli'
culties The Fcderalists advocated a strong
central government NJ check upon popu'
liar passions, Al a defense against foreign
aggression, and 30 o curb upon the license
Of the States The Republicans demo
Gratis, or Democratic Republicans) looked with
sus. .cion upon Presidential and even upon Con
gressional authority. These parties however
were continually changing their relative pos
lions os the fortune Of politics shifted, 80 that
Mr.. Otis AT one period in Massachusetts occu
pied almost precisely the ground which Mr.
Jefferson at another had occupied in Virginia
The traces of these disputes, at times acrmo
NOUS and threatening danger, have never disap
ipcarsd. They were pcrpetuated in the nnlifica.
ton of Federal authority by South Carolina an
til they finally burst upon the country in thu
bloody and destructive contest through which
tho nation has row vittoriously passed. The
war has been full Of various and advantageous
rcsults, among which, second only TO the aboli
ton Of Slavery, VIC reckon tho vIndica,iou
of the authority Of the General Government.
Nothing can be more fatal to The peace, PROF
perty and progress of nation than an uncer.
tain condition Of its fundamental Iaw-.ths coD.
tnual stimulus Of faction and fruitful mother
Of anarchy. TO know whit, we may N
saved ID the future We must remember tho
dreary aud restless past. There have been
thousands npoh thousands Of speeches made,
there have been TINS upon t,ms Of volumes
printed, thcre have been doubts, discussions and
contradictory decisions without number, con.
corning the origin, nature and limitations Of tho
American Union. One doctrine was taught in
the colleges of South Carolina and another in
tho colleges Of ew.England. Here the Union
was held 10 bo firm, binding and ndissoluble
compact, end there 1t was as strenuously main.
tanned to be nothing more than alimitod oopart.
nership. terminable at the option Of either
party. The day Of tho dreamers, the drivelors
and tie dotszdA u oy@. Thsva u no leneer