The New York herald., 1871-01-14
POLITICAL FREEDOM"
Lecture by AIgernon 8. Sullivan.

Lecture by AIgern0n .. Sullivan.
Mr.. Algernon 8. Sullivan lectured last evening be-
fore the Eighteenth Ward william N. Tweed Asso-
citation, In the han Of the association, Third avenue,
between Twenty-sec0nd and Twenty.third streets,
on "Poltical Freedom He said the remarks he
had TO make were particularly appropriate to
the members OF that association, for In or
ganizatIons such as theirs was to be found
the germ OF political freedom. without an
appreciation Of public interests there could
be no organization, and the work Of
politics was best performed. not during
heated canvass but by the formation OF opinions
and the political faith engendered in familiar meet
Ings from week to week. Political freedom meant
the win OF the people, the possession by each citi
zen OF freeman's rights-liberty to think, speak
and act without trammel Of any sort, and pro-
lection OF life and property by wise laws framed
by the people themselves This freedom was Sc
cured only by eternal vigilance. When men lose
their interest In politics-not, however, thepoitcs
OF the greedy politician
THE FIRST SIGN OF NATIONS DECAY
is given, Just asthe first speck upon the fruit marks
its approaching rottenness. In looking back at the
history nations In order to discover traces Of free
dom IN past ages, there ID one country especially
that absorb5 attention, for there people sought ana
established freedom In It's truest sense That c0un-
there was difference between the civilization OF
that country in her glorious zenith and the
n Tssce tSs 2. rns snr times Sst ners WAS
tion had ever risen TO higher degree Of per-
lection In political freedom tnan did the people OF
Athens. Though rougher in her modes and strcter
in her discipline Sparta claimed high appreciation
OF the rights OF men. In Athens every man was ell
gibe to the highest Office and had the privilege In
his turn OF sitting IN the Jury which, unlike that OF
our times, was composed OF from 900 TO 1000 men,
The Object Of the jury being So large
was to protect the weak from the strong to make
as many citizens as possible. without bias, consider
the charges preferred ascertain the whole story and
then adJudicate. Thus was formed political asso-
clatlon in which citizens became deeply interested
dom In ancient Rome In the same way grew to be
sacred. During the long centuries that had inter-
vened, when feudal institutions were imposed upon
entire peoples and the baron owned the life OF
man,
THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY
well nigh out but fortunately there were some
free cities In which the spirit Of freedom not
| crushed, and through means OF which it was borne
| was well worth cherishng; nowhere could its lnfu-
ence be more fully extended than here in New York,
which was destined to be the political centre OF the
| world. and where were congregated men from every
| CLINE AMI country, speaking every tongue, and
Knowing legends or the sad oppression ana tyranny
OF almost every part OF the globe 1t was the demo-
cratic party that met these men with friendly hand
and showed them how by
PURITY OF LEGISLATION
the citizen was freeman. IL was for the CITIZEN
by taking an interest in political measures TO secure
often heard 1t said by advesarles that tile statute
books contained laws which would leaa OF them
selves to corruption and vice. but he had often cDa
lenged republicans 10 point to single statute en-.
acted by the democratic party that did not encour
age morality and tend to prevent crime
lie could show. though, on the statute
were conceived In sin ana brought forth
In miquity The best code Of morals was tnat made
by the democratic party of tins country-nade for
the people ana by them. Hence there was reason
to preserve that code, and by onward, pressing,
| ever vigiant watching TO secure continuance of
the political freedom tney upheld He trusted asso
ciarIons like that III the Eighteenth ward would
spring up ali over the city.
| A lew other gentlemen members OF the associa.
| tion, also spoke briefly OF the conclusion OF the
| lecture.