New-York tribune., 1868-09-21

mlW.
backward 1t is true there is danger at
that the people weary of the strain OF actVe CO.
warfare surieited with success, ana losing siEn ~
the hour Of the value Of immediate enforcement va ua
the nrinciples which undeTe the contest may gl,e
way seem indifferent 10 the result Oh - to tho
Even if this was our case we sh91lu s9o tr the
lost position. and our cause wouu ohiy s,luo oan
delay in its triumph. The foundations OF repuDcah
government would indeed be shaken when we can no W
LONGER RELY upOn the patriotism of the people Let us
look back for amOment and review tns sonu hu' "Io &
of mblic sentiment IN demanding IN on e.o'
eminent a more perfect empodimcht OF nIara Ino IN
mortal principles enunciated IN our DeCIdIN
ton OF Independence. The lessons OF,
ceutury are significant and no one can Teau lhose
This country has given without feeling the hlles.
reliance in the wisdom and patriotism OF the Rcat
body Of the people Note the sIeP py sseP
slowly sometimes for time 10 the rlght
to the left yet at last aways IN eergad ,e from its
condition of incOmpleteness, so as 10 require uoh
cations both numerous and radical ana nhailS .Ho
adoption into the Constitution OF the eqnal hpelY
and citizenship of all those born on or duly natuIal
ize, TO American soil. Nor IS u he less s
that every marked advance has been reGoll from
some blow strnck by the advocates OF despotlsm
against the fundamental idea that our UoVerlI1onI
is for the governed. little more than one huuuIeu
years ago the friends of se1goVeIimeht meV
at Albany and attempted general american
Union in opposition tOthe exactons ana aggiesSons
of foreign despOtIc power. In lioi the WoTh Deng
consummated the public domain of the new Republic
was consecrated 10 freedom In 1870 the same great
process was repeated. in the enactment OF the Alls
souri, Compromise, and about thlIu OF a century
after folio wing the rude assaults upon tHs
principle, the American people again proclaimed 10
the world, speaking through the triumph OF Tree
labor in California and Kansas, their unateTaDe ne
yotion 10 free popular government should h0t
say that from the territorial aggrandizement sought
by the slave power came the free States OF the west
and from a rebellion against the Government of
those who would have made an lnqultous system OF
labor the cornerstone of the Republic mas come tue
emancipation of 100000 slaves, ana tle enfrah an
chsemeut of a race. No better illustration OF the
18th of public sentiment on these points can DC
afforded than that Of our more recent history. AGAIN
and again the nation paused that the lnsuIgeht
States might return. The Emancipation piocihiha
ton the Constitutional amendment, the ClNll hlghts
bill willie the intervals between these measures re-
veal a high sense of considerations they also show
the direction and the hrnness OF the growth OF pup
lie sentiment when stimulated by opposition 10 tne
application Of those truths which nndere our pohtl-
cal fabric. Against this rising tide the Democratic
party has stilyen lis present appeals 70 the Wolst
passions AMI the worst preJudlccS, VIII DO as una
vailing donbt not as It's previous Efforts ut any
time during the last period OF me nation .
trial. ! do not share in tho appre-
hens!on some profess To feel that the vital conditions
of our national life give evidence of premature dlSso-
luton Neither political nor our civil strfes par
take OF the character of those which blacken the
page of the history of former Republics. lheTs was
"a contest for territorial aggrandlencnt; for govern
mental spl"ndor; foI expansion ol power anu anu pei,
sOnal ambition and religious fanatlclsnl, cach IN
turn offered an excuse for the aggression OF power
upon weakness; it was q triple index, pointing 10
bloody past a tful present, and an unha lowed itl-
ture. Guns has been. III the main. steady pull Tor
the broader rights of man. for still more liberal SEN
tiinens 10 be- faithfully embodied in the Constitu-
ton and laws. With us it has been a conflict be-
tween the great truths upon which our political
system rests, and mised opposition, some
times allied 10 OdiOus and discarded des-
potsm The fierce struggles OF our an
cestOrs with the Indians for ioothod on
this continent their colonial wars with the French
their great contest for independence the war OF lS2
and the recent gigantic struggle with rebellion Nus
trate the popular and tenacious idea OF liberty and
union. Following well the doctrine of the fathers,
we have 60 congratulate OuTsc Ives my friends
upon the progress and stability of the principles
h..tra tn pTna al
national character II more deeply involved than IN
any previous one; all classes are implicated, and
suppose in the presence of so many yOung men, may
be paTdOned for saving that 80 portion have greater
1 interest IN the Tesuh than they have. Tho men NJ
the head of affairs must, in tho nature OF things,
soon give up the places they occny 10 those
who now in early manhood enter upon tho
duties of our busy national career 10 @ mem
will be committed the duty To promote the future
common welfare 20 develop Win fostering chIe me
latent resources OF the continent; 10 sPiSad cuNa-
ton and civilization over ITS unOccuped districts; 10
give higher development 10 every form Oh industry
and to prevail in the benefits 10 be derived from the
commerce of tho world. IL is all important 10 us and
TO them to their future pOspcCts and our common
fame, that they become identhed at once WIN the
party Of equal rights feeling that duties are constant
and that Justice Is born Of heaven, and must prevail
Beginning right, men grow strong as they grow old
The value Of government consists i'll the freedom "
| affords, aud the protection IL gives 10 cNu
rights and civil order; but 1T can nave only what
| the people who compose the 1oyeInment
give to it, IL requires constant vigilance As well as
constant fidelity. The yOung men have more ot the
spirit and enterprise that liberty inspires, well as
more years and their reward for having engaged IN
| this cause Of ours will be couespOndlngly great.
There is hope. in my opinion, for long and sue
cessful career TO the Democratic party In defiance
of the lessons that genuine progress has written
upon every leaf of history, they have become the
party of reaction. HerOdOtus tells Us OF gramniyer
Gus animal that had long projecting horns which
when it would Craze struck into the ground and pre-
vented il from moving forward, 50 that II was com
PEELED to move backward. Laying aside the com
| paTison, which, however. VIII not be re-
| garded as wholly inappcable, it may well be
| said that the Democratic party is opposed
To facts TO the logic of events, aud must become
| euyiable in the distinction which history will give
10 il. for its during the past few eyentful
years less for opposition 10 just and necessary
legislation for peace than to rapid rumphs IN war.
hope do not weary you, but Won VIII expect me TO
say something about the affairs Of our State There
is. indeed, occasion for solIcude here. Ihe debt Is
large our system of internal improvements requires
the most careful superv sion and management the
scheme Of education prison discipline aud our nu-
merOus charitable aud public institutions, should re-
ceve thoughtful consideration. and such generous
| support as our already heavy burdens will
permit. Have We, anything to gam in tins
| thing Of the difficulties attending the ad-
minisratiOn of State affairs. l know how dill
cult 1t is TO satisfy all the members even OF our own
party, but have learned also that firm endeayor
10 protect the public interests Will In the end always
meet the approval of the people My observation
does not lead Inc 10 believe that the interests OF the
| State and the welfare of the people would be
hanced by being placed in Democratic keeping. The
party which controls in tho City OF New-York, and
which has grossly misnanaged It's affairs, and fear
fully increased ITS burdens. would rule triumphant
in the State. review of the journals Of the Legs
ature alone will satisfy any one 1T seems to me, that
we take large risk in giving over to the Iammany
Democracy the seal of State am personally well
acquainted with our candidate for Governor, and
/ may assure you that but few better men can be
found for the trust, John A. GrlsW0ld is man of
large views honest and fearless, and under his adj
minisuaton your treasury and your statute-books
schemes and special privileges, and the credit aud
honor OF the State fairly maintained. did not IN