The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-21
THE PRESIDENCY.
Address of Ex.BfInister Motley Before the
Parker Fraternity of Boston.


yohn Lothrop Motley, OF Boston, until short time
s,nce United states Minister to Austria, accepted Of
an invitation few months ago to deliver an address
on public affairs before the Parker Fraternity OF
BOSTON and his engagement was fulfilled last even
,nc In the presence of q large, appreciatve and
aomewhat enthusiastic audience Mr.. Motley, 1t win
10 we'll remembered resigned his position as repre-
xsntaiiye OF the American government to Austria
xome months since, and during the interval up to
yhe present time he has been spending his leisure
momens in comparative quiet at his home, ON Park
street, Boston. Notwithstanding he has been in the
public service for upwards of Six years. this has been
the rH political address of his life, and In this maiden
effort he has treated with remarkable ability and
cioquence the four questions for the people at the
Presidential electionn and his for the cleo
ton OF Grant and CofaX Will undoubtedly be met by
tho popular approval OF the majority OF those who
exercise their right OF suffrage in behaf0f the noni.
nees OF the republican party.
Mr.. Motley, In beginning his address, claimed that
1t was certainly the duty OF every good citizen to ex-
amino for himself the questions at issue, when O
conlict like THIS Is shaking half continent and is
TO bc decided between the rising and setting of the
sun on day rapidly approaching. And IL seemed
equally his duly. alter having thoroughly satisfied
himself upon the merits OF the great debate, TO do
what In HIN lies for The furtherance OF that which
he firmly believes the right. There had been impor-
taat elections III this country during the brief three
quarters OF Il century which oomprehendcd the whole
OF our national iitethat turbulant, full-throbbing
exultant national iife the like OF which the world
never knew before and which had something appa.
ling in lis very strength. Ii, ne added, SO brief
the foremost rank OF the great nations OF
history what she to be in the funcss OF her power
when centuries, which are 10 y nation what years
are 20 the individual shall have brought her to
maturity on 10 whom III our generation Is
COMMITS e or % al 'n ,s n
OF our Darts upon this earth, how deep Is the re-
sponslbiliiy that IN our day ~ least the republic
receive 10 detgimentl lie then asserted tnat he
iejoiced IN tie difference OF opinion on many i'm
portant topics but there were nevertheless great
topics on which IL was difficult 10 comprehend diff
ference
lie could never, he added, place himself on the
same poioi oI view, moral or political, with those
who thought negro slavery other than q misfortune
and SIN. 10 mad always seemed TO him, In the
words OF our great magistrate and martyr, that If
slavery be not wrong, nothing Is wrong. II
also verg hard Tor him 10 understand how any
Americ.,l Wish 10 degrade this majestic Union.
this government Of the people by the people. this
Political scheme uI man acting directly upon man,
OF law dealing directly with responsible Creatures,
into something called a conicGcracy; into league
OF corlordGons inlo q system winch proved fatal
to the only great republic which has preceded our
own 1T modern iinies--that OF the United Neither
lands; systein which for a tmo seemed 10 strike
the American people, emerging victorious from its
struggle Win the British government with para.
ysis, out Of ,fhic our fathers in 80 rescued Us by
tho glorious national constitution; the system which
JEFFERSON DAVIS aud his followers had the madness
10 Think stronger tan the American Union because
breatG o. IMMORTAL life. Yet this ts really the ques-
ton still ~ issue. Some or thought ii settled by
the great lous years agony But when we thought
tie subtle aud dangerous theory forever DESTROYED
behold II coig Itself, wounded but not killed. and
rearing ns threatening and venoinous head prepared
for hnal and i4tai spring. Let deal with 1t once
Tor all LEI the eel OF popular condemnation be set
on i, now a1i forever. We are nation. We are
not coA.sderacy. This government, which pro-
tects ana which controls the humbest as well the
most powerful among Us, the seat OF whose
august empire Is at Washington, deals with every
indlvidaal OF us directly within is carefully limited
sphere. IL makes supreme laws which no man dares
Gely anI there IL nothing but chaos whenever We
attempt 10 escape from It's alembracing folds. Ever
since we the people OF the United States eighty
years ago laid down the constitution as the basis or
our political fabric, up TO this hour, there has been
no supreme law other than tue VIII OF the people az
expressed according 10 the rules therein prescribed.
He was not AFRAID, lie never had been afraid OF being
deprived OF his state rights. But unless the expert
ence Of the lasl quarter Of century, followed by the
most tremendous rebellion against constituted popu-
lar authority ever waged, ~ 10 90 Tor absolutely
nothing, We nave ali had cause enough to fear the
loss OF our national rights. lc after ALL he added
suppose tue Union gone, the United states abolished
instead Of slavery, sun we had our sacrcd state rights
to ioil back UPON. Massachusetts was sovereign
and lndependenr' STILL and Rhode island Delaware
each with ITS own fleets and armies might defy all the
powers Of the word. lie could comprehend the
personal twang not very grateful to his American
oar bus he could comprehend 1t only In its national
application. lie could swear allegiance, sacred feal.
~ to the great Union OF which he had the honor TO
be citizen, which oppressed him never, but which
u always ready TO protect him against world In
-
corp0rat on which long ago parted voluntarily and
wisely With all the essential attributes OF what is
called sovereignty In order to help create higher
oTganisg--sucl allegiance was ~ incomprehcnsible
10 him allegiance his school district or the
city ward where he happened 10 reside. He found
that al the necessary functions OF local govern
nicnt - legislative, Judicial, administrative - had
sphere OF the general government, and he knew
that government TO be already SO oppressed
with national functions which IL must discharge rs
to have small leisure for absorbing into itself those
local powers which are necessary 10 the autonomy
OF the state and the municipality. Giving vent to
little natural Massachusetts pride the speaker sand
that II only for the sake or pointing The moral OF
this address that he had called their attention TO the
allegiance, state rights are subjects OF anxiety we
Of Mas-ac use IL have as much interest in the mat
ter rs Others. Our affections, our devotion. our
closest synpahes, our warmcst and dearest memo
rics are with the State OF our birth or our choice,
but OUT forcmog duty az citizens Is 10 that great
government without which that which we so proudly
ca'i our state could not exlst IN safety an hour.
The republics Of antiquity Offer but little analogy
small. great. r or Gigantic, OF the MUNICIPALITY
OF the c!iy-conquering, might DC. other clues,
Provinces, Kingdoms nations, Dut remaining q c.ty
with eighty millions OF Subjects and because human
slavery mad eaten out It's very heart; because forty
millions OF ia heterogeneous population were slaves,
bought and sold Ike other merchandise; because
thee was no parliamentary representation OF the
vass Inulttudes OF foreigners whom her egions had
subdgcd and which sire kept In abject serritudc
until the slaves rose 9t last upon the naughty and
most wicked city, and tore her to pieces ard the
empire with her. Does any man suppose n her
ayes mad been cmancipated, " system OF popular
and equal rcprcscn alton or all the citizens or oil
races arl cours throughout that world Wide don ain
had existed--an idea which ut least may be con-
ccved OF by way OF illuslration-and II her army
ma numbered mtg thousand men instead OF being
counted by Millions that her liberties would have
persisted and hersc ceased TO exist by reason OF
600 much conso idationi The danger would have
been precisely the reverse. The empire, from It's
very extent must have ialcn 20 pieces OF lis own
weight; anu IN truth Y Is ouy n modern science
not only Ioical philosophy but In the application
OF physical f0rcestnat our security lies against Dis
Indignation. without Heam electricity abor-saying
machinery, and, above all, an equal system OF popu-
lar representation, such widely extended republic
w0uid be impossible, and Il l. our duty 10 guard
against the tendencies decentralization aud over
iOca i2aOn by pcrfcciing Us Jar pOss bic rep
rrgegiatiye system. Nor dd the vast empire or
CharcmaVnc. wien his sccpiTc stretched over almost
all Europe fall from consolidation hut from exactly
he opposite cause.-The centrifugal principal. That
scepirc broke the hands or his irbece successors
because ia ne state Of the world then existing II