Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-05-09
From the Augusta tGa.) Chronicle. ]
EqUdg Rights 10 MI.


This affirmation is announced in the
formula Of an ultimate truth, uniyer.
sal and incontrovertiblc Embalmed
with the memories of those glorious
days Of struggle and of triumph, and
consecrated by heroic deeds, this and
every other declaration proclaimed as
sell-evident, is regarded by Americans
of the present day with faith and rev.
erance akin to that faith and that
reverence accorded to Holy Writ, and
Mr. Jefferson himself, the author OF
the declaration, is canonized as "thc
Apostle Of Liberty
10 the brave men whose wisdom
devised our Republican Government,
and whose valorand endurance achiev-
ed our national existence, the afiirma-
ton that all men were born equal
possessed peculiar and sterling sig
nificance. The conflict was between
Anglo.Saxons governed by hereditary
kings, and Anglo-Saxons who asserted
the right TO select their rulers. The
doctrine of divine right was the doc
trine Of monarchists 1t was claimed
that all governments were of divine
origin; all rulers were divinely APP
pointed; possessing authority created
by the grace Of God, and made per
petual by succession in those born OF
loyalty. This was the doctrine taught
as an article Of faith by the Continental
Church, and enforced in European
palaces and courts and realms
The thrones and despotisms Of the
old world had been maintained by
acknowledging and accepting as the
truth this doctrine. IL was faith in
this doctrine which sustained the pre-
tensions Of the Houses of Hapsburg
and Bourbon Dynasties, and gave
support 10 regal Louises and royal
Georges. 1t was the power which
that faith gave which had caused the
world to suffer for centuries and en-
dure, with groans, grievous and cruel
exactions, and the oppression Of bloody
and revolving tyrannies.
Under the inspiration Of genius the
spirit Of the American people found
form and expression in words full OF
defiance toward royal prerogatives
and royal power. A new standard
was erected. The mutual pledge Of
lives and fortunes and sacred honor
was preferred as a substitute for sworn
fcally to King and realm. With pro
found wisdom, q decent respect for
the deeply-rooted opinions Of mankind
was observed. The pernicious doc
trine Of Divine Right was opposed
with an ardor and yigOr coequal with
that which opposed ROYAL Power.
They alleged no direct Divine inter
position in affairs of human govern
ment--no hereditary rights of rule
nor rights Of succcssion-no heaven
born rulers. A new doctrine was
promulgated. All governments were
declared to derive their just powers
from the consent Of the governed.
All men were created equal - not
physically, nor intellectually, nor NOR
ally, nor socially, nor polittcally-but
equal as 10 claim for authority under
Divine sanction.
That this, and this alone, was the
true intent and meaning Of Mr. JEFF
fcfson's generation-since rendered
so perplexingly famous by the inge-
nuity Of demagogues-is, wo think,
conclusively shown in a contempora-
neous action and practical application
by those who framed the Government,
aud the people who ratified this work
The uttermost latitude reached in
practical application extended only to
that degree which defined homoge-
neity in race. English Puritans, and
English Cayiliers, French Huguenots,
and Hollanders, and German Saltz-
burghers, and Irish cmigrants, and
Scotch emigrants, and Swedish Mora
vians, were all admitted rs equals
The land swarmed with aboriginal
occupants. In no section, from Mar
ragansett Bay TO the blue waters of
the Gulf, is the Indian considered equal
and allowed participation in the Gov
erument. Neither NmTagansctt, nor
nor lroquois, nor Delaware, nor Ca
tawbas, nor Cherokees, is given the
right Of representation. The New
England trader drives n lively trade
by the transfer TO this continent Of
captivcs from the gold coast aud the
ivory coast, and Sierre leone. But the
New England trader never admitted
that the African was his equal nor
did New England schools so teach
nor Now England governments SO
legislatc. Far otherwise. Plainly
and indubitably, then, the Declaration
OF Independence was simply the avow-
al of principles which should guide
those who had raised the standard Of
revolt, and the application Of these
principles was designed and made for
the benefit of such as were kindred
by race to those who pledged their
lives and their fortunes and their sa-
cred honors in the contest.
But new apostles have arisen. A
new Interpretation is made. A new
doctrine is propouuded. Under cover
of carly principles, an application is
made cocxtensive with the circumfer.
once Of the earth. Nor is the particu-
lar good nor the especial elevation Of
the Southern black man the aim. In
the strife for party power, the laws
Of government and the policy Of gov
ernment is made to rest upon mere
Under the captivating plea
Of universal liberty, every distinction
which God and nature hath affixed is
oblitorated Every condition, whether
Of morals or of intellect, is ignored.
Every race, without qualification and