The New York herald., 1867-04-24
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.


In the Brooklyn Academy Of Music before large
audience-the subject .sNational Afairs" In the
course OF his remarks the lecturer srayed over wide
field Of disconnected TOPICS failing to conne himself
with his usual accuracy and point TO the treatment o
the subject he had selected for the OCCASION He how
ever was customary very severe on President John
son. whom he denounced traitor, and delivered an
invective against General Grant, whom he charged in
completely with the President guilty Of tho blood
shed in New Orleans during the riots last sum.
mer. General Grant, he said was spoken Of a. the
candidate Of that party who would first make
their nominations for the next Presidency; but
he would warn the republican party against
nominating man who had neither ideas principles
and whose brains and whose heart were outside OF his
body.
At twenty minutes past eight the President Of the
Brooklyn Fraternity Association under whose auspices
the lecture given, introduced Mr. Philips to the
dience, and who presenting himself, received
with hearty applause.
mr. PHILLIPS LECTURE
Mr. Phillips then proceeded with his subject speaking
substantially as follows:-
LADIES AND have great pleasure in stand
ing upon this platform Of popular lectures placing
do the highest possible value upon this system OF popu-
states within the last thirty years Some used
regard 1t mere literary entertainment an effort
to win busy men back to science or TO history. And
doubtless that was the original intent OF the yceum
When Horace Mann and his comrades forty years ago,
in Massachusetts, originated this system OF literature IL
was intended as supplements to the academy
Within the last ten years. however, 1t has deepened lis
purpose and br0adened its character II has undertaken
70 teach not science but OF the great chapters of
civil duty II has undertaken to deal fearessly with
the great problems that divide the nation into angry
parties IL has done more than any other instrumental
ty 10 prepare the North for its great struggle Of the last
i've years. Is the frees platform in the land looking
It, not as any transient fashion, but as permanent
addition to the educational machinery OF the free States
and one that quito confident children will
dispense with You live in land where thought s only
granted Of law, while statutes nothing unless there
crcuates through them the fresh warm blood Of con-
senng pubic opinion. You live In land where the great
journals more truly the government than that
chine Washngton-or that only shows how the wind
blows and then TO follow IT, And this the greatest comp
ment that can be paid TO great people that has almost
reached the goal Of popular endeavor Of being ruled
the brains and virtues Of the community To-day your
o1 .nd Of
round than in statutes. To-day and ever God fling
ing before these twenty millions OF governing masses
decded-not rs In othor lands by thousand or so CT
disciplined minds-not by few sent 10 Universities and
senates but by two or three millions OF
busy business aborers with leisure for instruc
ton These men, finally as the hnal court OF appeal are
to decide these great issues Now II free speech, as
when Lovejoy gave up his life orit at Alton ILL., Now,
temperance the only foundation Of sef.government
Now 1t is slavery, as was twenty-five years ago; now
Is position to women; now all those great issues loom.
and capital and labor; vast difficult, unpopular and
hazardous questions; who shall take them and tear
them open and let the light shine through them that
the actual people, those people whom Lincoln said so
emphatically would save the government If ever 1t
should be savedso that they understand and settle
them inteliIgently? Twenty-Five years ago. when sla-
very was first pronounced In the national arena
II was professional and social suicide for men
to condemn it; and yet after ten years came that
ton. Who stall sound and fathom its hated depths,
welcoming martyrdom and salvation and readng popa-
ary under its feet? There are four great popular col
leges-one the normal schools the masses another
the press another the puip the fourth is agation OF
which this is one great agent The press exercises large
and honorable influence on the most momentous ques
TONS But the editors cannot afford to offend their pa
irons, and the great popular journals cannot peril
parties One half Of the winter y taken Up win lodging
away the promises they had made the last November
Take the pulpit The idea OF an American pulpit Is
something that treads popularity and unp0puarity
der foot aad grappes with all sin and rebukes every
But when the American pulpit ever caught
fearessy setting up new crusade aaanst popular SIN
When the time and the hour when out OF every
ten Of the American pupits was found facing apopular
iniquity, and hinging its popularity behind y on
There the party and here sits the speakerfo what
To educate the people? no; to elect candidate-to
cea the rest that they will not peril party prospects
II cannot press back liberty, II cannot remodel the
North as to leopard my civilization, i Is gone She
appealed bullets 70 her from ballots As T00mbs
said ~ will yet call the roll Of my slaves on Bunker
Hlln As Momminger said, ~ will put that Confeder-
ate flag over Faneui Hall" AS Davis said Ms saSs.an..y
to leopard South Carolina" just what he was fighting
for Just what had he conquered. he would have had
that the conquerng idea has right TO put the
Quered idea where it can never trouble its conqueror
again. (Appause) That is what law says for two hum
dred years. and better ssi what common says to-
day. Now. then. we having conquered, what is
our rights Why, II is to crowd Faneul
take that Declaration OF Independence against which the
directed and carry It down to the gulf as the
stone of It's institutions am only stating these
familiar principles that may look at this subject
from standpoint common to US all. Let US agree to
begin with-the settled something. What did II
settler War is not picnic nor masquerade, nor
OF lavish treasure and blood and settles something
And the South entered upon It TO settle whether
Jailed she gave US up the right Of law and
common sensc-the right 10 dominate the con-
tinent TO pu, beyond question, beyond contingency
that her civilization could trouble again. Well, now
that Is the abstract bald right Of victory. Many man
has an ABSTRACT hald legal right which he is not justified
In exercising Aud whence DO se derive the right
Whence are We justified in exercising this cold, bald
right o. victory and its exentS When thus, think
Our civilization Is the basis The Declaration Of lnde-
pendenc the second chapter OF the Sermon on the
Mounl Equality 10 Gods law. God Is not wastefu-
III he had intended that man should have governed
ten he never would have wasted nns % o1as s on sne
fers each man normally the same qualities, Is evi.
dence and demonstration that He intended that man
should have and liberty 70 exercise those qualities
Equality therefore, In the general sense, Ii Gods law
Having, then. by victory the right and the idea
which we hold IN hands beng the best we are
not only justified but bound to spread IL TO the
extent OF our right Well just here, exactly ct this
point comes in-and may well illustrate Il BY his
name loved and honored among you above all others
comes in the Cancellation Of Mr.. Beecher: Eve are
bound 10 be concatoryn Well. We are. 1--WE are
bound 70 be magnanmous" We are. There Is never q
moment In mans life when he Is not bound to be
catory, and there s an hour nor circumstance
which does not bind HIM to magnanimity. But mag
nany and Cancellation have their law and other duties
have theirs And the first duty Of this hour bought oy
blood 10 that shall take bond OF faith ana make
assurance doubly sure, that out Of this root there
never shall arse . quarrel again Every man Is
bound 20 up 70 the EXTREMIST limit Of Cancellation
but that extreme limit 10 ths:That no man has right
to sacrifice the shadow OF right that will BY any posi-
bily risk that drop OF blood shall ever be shed
again in this quarrel. Whoever advances one hairs
breadth beyond the line Of that certainty dsloya TO
God and 70 the dead tAppause, War settles some.
thing. Il has settled that this Of bitterness shall
be extracted forever that dollar life no effort
shall be required 10 tread this spark Of national
combustion. And have one word on this doc
trne OF Cancellation never yet have heard white
man, either in the press the pulpit in Congress, who
undertakes ~ preach Cancellation end his sermon by
offering TO sacrifice . shadow OF his own rights