Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-06-03

streW, bnelr graves with MOWERS
"loye's truest language"--let US re-
member that they are the saviours of
cur country, that they have died that
we might live and enjoy the bless
ings OF all that makes life dear to
us
ssOhi what tender thoughts beneath
Those silent flowers are living,
Hid beneath the mystic wreath = = =
Ourloye has kissed in tying,
/ have no desire to recount the
terrible conflicts, where you stood
in the ( storm of grape and
shot, surrounded by the cries OF the
suffering. The soldier turns from
these scenes with horror Too much
praise cannot be bestowed upon the
daring and love of country which
you evidenced in the hour of our ma
tion's peril. You have fought the
physical battles of our country nobly,
now their remain other fields worthy
of such brave hearts. There are
other enemies of our country. Ig-
norance and crime are eneamped
about us on every side. They are
ever upon the aggressive. Every
statesman, soldier and citizen, should
enter the crusade against these foes
of our country. Education, unre-
stricted, is the first element of ma
tional liberty: The history of every
civilized nation has shown that the
rights of the citizen, his property,
his person, are insecure in the midst
of an ignorant and british populaee.
The nations of antiquity Invariably
built strong walls of defense around
their great cities, where they could
collect their treasures, where they
could govern and tyranize over the
the ignorant. During the best pc
Rod of the most polished nations of
antiquity, the great body of the peo
pie were never enlightened. In
this neglect was their downfall. At.
tempts have often been made to es-
tablish liberty for a people unedu-
Gated, and the efforts have always
failed. The wise and virtuous, with
clear vision, who have distinctly
seen that liberty was best for ma
ton, and have realized in fancy the
blessings which ought TO flow from
it, have labored and sacrificed to
give it to the masses; but the igno
rant and besotted have only tredden
it under their feet, and turned to
rend their benefactors. Republican
principles have again and again
been established in France, but they
have never lasted score of years =
The efforts of her patriots have
been unreservedly given to the cause,
and it has been sealed with the
blood of her best citizens; but even
at this price 1t has not been secured
And why is it? Wlfy may notone of
the most polished and gallant nations
of the earth enjoy liberty2 Because,
over 100000 of her citizens can
neither read nor write. And free
country with 100000 who can
neither read nor write, is an i'm
possibility. If the money which was
used by ancient nations in surround
ing their cities with lofty walls of de-
fense, and maintaining large stand
ing army and a formidable police,
had been spent in educating the mas
ses, their growth would have been
much more rapid and their institu-
tions more permanent. II France,
instead of layishing untold wealth
upon her national pride, had estab-
lished system of public schools for
all classes of society, she might to,
day be a glorious republic =
The republics of Greeces have
long been celebrated as models
The historian has pictured in bright
est colors their splendid triumphs in
cabinet and field, their armies clad
IN buckler and helmet, their
speeches powerful and persuasive,
and their triumph in letters and art.
This picture delights us, but how
different the reality. The picture is
drawn from the distinguished class
living in the fortified cities, while the
great majority of the people, who
cultivate the fields, who bear the
heavy armor in war, and help fight
the stern battles, are in condition of
abject slavery and vassalage, who
lived trampled in the dust, ,torsaken
and despised, and died un-
wept, unhonored and unsung. No
government can stand upon such a
rotten foundation as this was. 1t is
mockery to call such a state free
Republic. 1t is only when there is a
free pass from one extreme of socie-
ty to the other, with no restraints ex-
cept virtue and her eloquent persua
dings, that nation can be truly free
In our country every citizen holds
the veto power upon the unjust laws
and doings of Legislative bodies
The citizen is the highest authority
in the land, and how essential that
this high Court of appeals should
be wise and just. aol
To education and the christian re-
ligion must be ascrlbed all the tri-
umphs of civil liberty, and to the
want of these must be ascribed its
failures. 1t is the duty of every
lover of his country TO labor assidu-
ously, for the permanence of these
two principles, for they are the ba-
sis of liberty Civil and religious
liberty are the chief Of our bless,
ings. For these have martyrs laid
down their lives upon. the scaffold,
and at the stake, and myriads of
friends fought to establish Or defend
them. How assiduously, then,
should we guard them against the
poluting touch of ignorance and
crime; and how we should foster all
those principles and institutions
which look to their permanence.-
Blot from our land the reforming
and refining influence of the chris
tian church, and no one could con-
ceive the desolation that would fol-