Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-04
THE VITAL PRINCIPLE OF NATIONS
A Junior Grafton Delivered by A. H. Cox, of
LAGRANGE, Ga, in the University of Geor-
gfa, August 9th, 1867.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Surrounded by
so many melancholy y proofs of nations
fall, it is natural we should think of the
opposite, ''the Vital Principle of Nations"
For contrast is law of thought never
more active than in circumstances like the
present.
Is there, then, no internal principle of
national stability? Has God indeed in
stilled into mans breast social and patriotic
desires, caused him to form governments
only that they might antagonize each other
or destroy themselves Could He mean in
| His grandest creation that nations should
rise flourish and fall with fixed alienation?
There must be some underlying principle
| by which nations may live; some principle,
it may be, whose first rays now illume the
world, but increasing with each age, shall
| grow to the perfect sun that heralds the
perfect day to man individually and ma
tionally.
A physician studies disease to find the
remedy. Let US likewise look at those
causes which have wrought the death of
nations, and deduce therefrom the princi-
pie of vigorous national life.
power. There the genius Of art made her
abode, and was toasted rs a Goddess y
guest. Liberty perched upon her stand
ards and faunted defiance to the "Barba-
rian :" world. Conquest filed her Golfers
to overfowing. But Rome, beautified with
the finest works of art, glutted with the
wealth of unlimited conquest, deserted the
principles of her founders; made justice an
ss1dle Jest ;" made law an instrument III
the hands Of one class to oppress the otner,
and was crushed under the enormous
weight of her own corruption. Nor did
she fall without timely warnings. Long
II A. 4nttn
base. Around the principles it represented
an illustrious Cato had thrown the guard o1
his stern virtue, and grander Cicero the
power of his matchless eloquence. Bu
neither the arm of Cato nor the power O
; Cicero could steady the reclining pyramid
for cliques of classes, dissensions between
races, showing themselves in partial an6
l sectional laws, too fatally accomplished 1t
overthrow and the crash of its fall herald
ed the world to barbarism.
, In vain did Athenean Demosthenes war;
. his countrymen against this demon; In vall
e did he assure them that sectional feud
t were degradation and destruction to all; II
: vain did he expose the devilish machina
b tions of Phillips emissaries, and with pro
$ phetic eloquence depict the future Of hi
Il State, so full of sorrow. slavery and shame
e His warnings were unheeded, his assuran
s ces disregarded his censures dlscred1ted
h until at last his predictions were verified
a Phillips emissaries did stir up prejudices,
n sectional feuds did rankle in the very vital
IS of the State; prejudiced laws did ente
d their code, and in spite of the glory q
e Athenean, Marathon and Plattea; In spit
3. of all the thrilling associations that mus
have inspired a Greek to battle BARBARA
d on bis soil, the light of Athenean powe
Re and glory went out; black night, the nigh
% of slavery, settled DER her like a pail; an
TO in that midnight barbarians whom she ha
n SO often scorned and defeated, desecrate
I'd the shrines of her high gods, and wit
ruthless hands made ruin of her sacred
is tars.
r, Poland the land of Koseiusko, the p'
g, cts dream of the land of the brave; VIII.
w. as valiant and grand as she once was-wl
d. did she fall A voice comes from the gra,
w ot her heroes; voice from her emp'
d, council chamber; in ghostly whispers