The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-05-16

The following is the concluding part
OF speech of Speaker Colfax, deliver
ed short time since in New io-k CITY,
1t is well worth reading for the sake Of the
sound opinions SO eloquently expressed:
I regret, indeed, that Mr. Summers 5
amendment requiring provisions in the
new Constitution for universal education
as condition OF reconstruction, did not
prevail; but | hope the good sense of the
Southern people will establish It yolunta-
riiy, lnSiring them warmer welcome as
they return tn the cornell board. But I
cannot omit TO state that one Of the es-
sentlals 10 the recon etruction policy Is the
election Of congressman who can honest
ly and ,truthitiily take the oath required
by law. We should have been faithless.
aud worthy Of the slow unraoyine finger
scorn,' if this essential had not been
insisted on inReXibiy. When the waves
ot treason swept over all that region there
were faithful few who refused to bow
the knee to Baal. Branled AZ traitors
TO the Conteieyacy because they would
not surrender their birthright. they never
swerved from their allegiance Punished
by coniiscation and robbery, threatened
with outrage and death, they never fal-
tered; and when they could 10 longer live
peacefully at their homes, tn Y fed 20
the mountains, the caves and the swa.ais
and said, Welcome confScation, robbery
exile Or death: but we stand by the Star
and Stripes TO the last drop of our blood
and the last beat Of our hearts ZAP
plause. God bless these faithful Union
men. They are to lead back these States
clad in new robes of liberty and Justice
and we should have had "Anathema Ma
rantha written on our doorsills If we
had abandoned them in our hour of vic
tory. | cannot doubt the future Of the
great party which has won these triumphs
and established these principles 1t has
been so brilliantly successful, because If
recognized liberty and justice as its card
inal principles and because, scorning all
prejudice- and defying all opprobrium, it
allied herself to the cause of the humble
and the oppressed. 1t sought to enfran
chlse, not to enchaln to elevate, not TO
tread down; to protect, never to abrse.
1t cared for the humblest rather than for
the mightiest-for the weakest rather
than the strongest. 1t recognizes that
the glory Of States and nations was JUS
tice to the poorest and feeblest And
another secret of its wondrous strength
was that it fully adopted the striking in
junction of our murdered chief; with
malice toward none, with charity for all,
but with frmness for the right, as God
gives us to see the right Applause
Only last month the British Chancellor
OF the Exchequer. in defending his Re
form bill, which holds the word Of prom
ise to the ear to break it to the hope, ex-
claimed: This is a nation of classes. and
must remain SO. - If | may be pardon
ed for replying, | would say: This is a
nation of .freeme,, and it must remain
So J" Applause. Faithful to the tr idi-
tons of our fathers in sympathizing with
all who long for the maintenance o., ad-
vahcement of liberty in Mexico or Eng
land, in Ireland or Crete, and yet careful
ly avoiding all entangline alliances or Vi
olations of the law, with a recognition
from ocean to ocean, North and South
alike. of the right of all citizens bound
by the law to share in the choice of the
law maker, and thus to have voice in
the country their hearts blood must de-
tend. Our centennial anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence will find US
an entire nation, recognizing the great
truths OF that immortal 4N,gad Chart1,
enjoying fame wide as the world and
eternal as the stars, with a prosperity
that shall eclipse in future all the bright
est giorics of the past.