Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-04-14
become a charge upon the Government
of the United States.
THE WARNINGS OF HISTORY.

In closing, the speaker recapitulated
some of the warnings of history respect
ing the permanency of nations. The re-
public of San Marine has stood for l4O0
years, and was not only the oldest but
the smallest State in Europe, State that
never courted destruction by expansion,
The career of Alexander and the fall of
his vast empire by over expansion was
noted.
The decline and fall of Rome was
made certain when it commenced its
work of centuries of triumphant and te-
rocious territorial aggrandizment In
his last will, the advice of Augustus
against this policy came too late. The
blunder he would restrain had already
been committed. The people of vast
untutored provinces were made Roman
citizens, but these foreign-made citizens
only served to undermine the power and
glory of the original seat of Roman
greatness.
The Mohammedan conquests, the en-
pire of Charles H. OF Spain, the empire
of Napoleon l., and in more recent times
that OF Austria, had shown the dangers
of territorial extension. AS respects
England the problem was vet unsolved.
Her mastery has been maintained at the
immense cost of her national debt and
her present and past system of taxation /;
but it must be borne in mind that no
British colony is represented or has any
control, in the home government. Brit
ish statesman are not embarrassed by
any such foreign admixtures. AT any
rate, it is apparent that Russia, Denmark
and Spain, as well as England, no long
er cling to colonies with their ancient
tenacity.
Remarking that the founders of Gov
eminent gave no direct authority in the
Constitution for annexations, but they
were soberly and silently renounces, he
continued 1t will not be pretended
that there has been any enlightened pub
lie judgment in favor of the annexation
of Santo Domingo, There has been all
that in favor of President Grant and
his well earned popularity, in spite of
his Dominicanism constitutes the entire
strength, the backbone of the measure.
Unindorsed by him, may l not venture
TO say it would not have had or have a
corporal's guard of supporters ?"
Mr.. Morrill, concluded as follows:
individuals offer but a brief space
in the march Of time, and generation
blots them out, perhaps forever; but
nations have a continuity lasting for
ages, and character to be transmitted
to the immortal pages of future history.
The past Of our country is secure, and /
would not jeopardize the future by the
empty mockery of an exchange of moral
grandeur for apparent or even real ma
terlal greatness. If | can divine the Sc
crets of my own heart and what I claim
for myself | cordially concede to others
there is no passion, no sentiment Turk
ing there which does not bow to a pro.
found desire that our country should
stah.a, -GGs2most among the nations of the
earth, foremost in free and liberal insti-
tutlons, foremost in its .moral fiber and
intellectual reach, foremost in literature
arts and laws, and foremost in all the
glorles which crown the most elevated
civilization and the most liberal. and. I
nope | may add, stable form of human
government.
But, regarding the annexation of Do.
mlnica In all its aspects, present and fu-
ture, foreign and domestic, as bodng no
good to our country, as policy wither-
ing to its highest and noblest aspirations,
and as at war with the
unity and married calm of States"
which all of us should most diligently
seek, shall vote against any measure
even squirting at such an annexation,
with solemn and abiding conviction
that l shall never have an opportunity of
to my country higher SER
vice"