The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-09
EEoD. Geo. Ez. PcEldiatCn On tbs
GisuafiGn.

The following is an extract from speech
delivered by the George II. Pendleton, al
Jrbana, Ohio, or the 25th of April.
All history is written for our ins,ruc-
ton 1t tells us that liberty lost is with
difficulty regaihed; that constitutional law
once dragged to the dust by the passions
of men is rarely again raised to govern
them in the same generation; that vixen
violence and arbitrary arrests and destruc-
tiou Qf the press, ana disregard cf law, en-.
acted by Ignorance or prejudice or passion
Of the people once destroy tic pure appre
ciation Of the value and safeguards OF lib
erIy, it is diiiuclt to restore. even as it is
difficult to restore the face of beauty when
it is SCARED, or to revive the lustrous pu-
rity Of innocence when it is dcfiled.
Mr.. Webster, years ago, had occasion to
discuss the same subject, and with that
pomp and splendor of diction which mark
ed al his political addresses, he said:
"Other mi,tortuncs may be borne, or
their effects overcome. If war should
sweep our commerce from the ocean, an-
other generation may renew it; ii it ex-
haust our treasury, future !ustry may
repleuish it; If it desolate aud lay waste
our fields, still. under a new cultivation,
they will grow green again, and ripen to
future haryests. 1t were but a trihe,
even, If the walls Of yonder capitol were
to crumblc, if It's lofty pillars should fall,
and its gorgeous decorations be covered by
the dust of the valley
".All these might be rebuilt. But who
shall reconstruct the fabric Of demolished
government? Who shall again the
well proportioncd columns Of Constitution
al liberty? Who shall frame together the
skilltul architecture which untes National
Sovereignty with State Rights, individual
security and public prospeity? Now, if
these colums shall fall. they will be rear
cd not again Like the Coliseum and the
Parthcnon, they will be destined to a mel
ancholy, mournful Immortality. Bittcrer
tears, however, will flow over them than
were ever she'd on the monuments Of the
Roman or Grccian Art, for they Will be
/ the remnants cf more glorious ediiiee
than Greece or Rome ever saw-the odi-
/ flee OF Constitutional American Liberty" ;"
Gentlemen leel the force Of these
words know that others feel them more
deeply, perhaps than I. l see among
many good men tendency to despair. [
see among my own fricnds-those who
agree with me generally on public affairs
dispcs tion 10 give up all ior lost. They
have lost hope, they have LOST courage
/ their Gesronlency couase', inaction. The
newsI apera, the public speeches, bat, above
al, the private nversat;oas indicate this
fcel;nr Gentlemen, do not sympathizc
withif. have high hopes ior the future.
see the dangcrs which arc before US
| see a long and weary way. l see long
and cxhausting struggle in which success
will vary from the enc side to the other
! do rot conceal for myself that it may be
1 struggle ofthe sword Many Of Us Lay
70 down with harness Oh in the midst OF
he fight, but hope fills my heart. and the
magnitude cf the prize nerves my arm.
| have painted to you our progress.
from republic to consolidated iniperi-
alism. | painted is purposcly in dark,
though truthful col0rs, that You might see
that understand the magnitude OF the
revolution and the imminencc Of our dan
gers and that you might the better bear
my exhortaton to hope and courage and
activity The highest virtue is net to de-
Spair Of the Republic.
sympathizc with every progressive
move ncnt in the interest OF humanity
| viii not blindIy cling to the prejudices
or traditions Of the past when they stand
IN the way Of useful reform. will not,
IN any sense, be conservative Of error, or
reject truth because of preposession, or
yield NY credence to the dogma that the
limit Of human progress has been attained,
Governments and nations are purified in
the fires OF revolution. They take shape
ana symmetry, aud strength from the col
lision Of mighty forces, even as the molten
iron from the anvil and the trip-hammcr
Out OF the storm, and the tempest, and the
food, arches the rainbow of promise and
OF hope. Alas that il must be 50.
The revolutions Of society and govern.
ment spring out Of HIGH mental ana NOR
al exaltat on-out OF an enthusiasm for
progress which will hesitate at no effort,
and shrink from no experiment.
Ifman were capable ofsustaininS this pas
sion and this activity, and attaining abso-
lutte truth without an alloy of error, then,
indeed, would he cease to be man and be.
come like unto God. This cannot be-
The re1ction must strike off the errors
which have Accumulated on the progress
of revolution; and this, too, like rcyolu-
ton, may strike too close and cut too deep.
The reaction will surely come. Allhis-
tory, all philosophy declare it 1t has
como to all other nations; it will come to
us. / has come, sometimes, clothed in
the white robe of peace, sometimes with
its garments dyed in blood In every
country there has been party ofpowcr, and
party against it. In every country there
have been men who loved liberty as they
loved virtue, and honor. and truth; men
who would avcngc It's wrongs, even as
they would protect the virtue of the wife
of their BOSOM or tho honor Of the mother
who bore them. Lborty inspires the soul.
Its sacred fires forever burn amid its apos-
ties and defenders. When peaceful means
are exhausted, it draws the sword let
It's enemies then beware, whether they
sit in single solitude on throne, or crowd
the market places. So viii it be with us
Our people desire to be wise aud yirtu.
GUS Our country is young and rich, and
strong. Experience VIII not teach its
painful lessons in vain. The splendid
rccolloctions Of the past have not entirely
passed away. It's vestiges arc not all bu-
~ IL