New Orleans Republican., 1871-09-16
SPEECH OF sECRETARsYBOUTwELL.
Example Of fAmerlca-Compliment to Pres.
ldent Grant.

SPEECH OF SECRETARoYBO
Example Of fAmerlca-Compliment to Pres
ideut Graat.
Secretary Boutwell, delivered speech be
fore the Lowell Agricultural Fair, from
which we make the following extracts or
national affairs:
Ladies and Conference.-The sentiment
given to the Union suggests q reference tO
the change which has taken place in these
twenty years. Most of us are old enough
to remember how the statesmen of the
country, commencing further back than
most Of Us can recOllect-tO the year 1870
until the year 1860, whenever the Union
was mentioned, turned to consider the cause
which threatened its overthrow, and the
difficulties which were in its way. The
lesson Of that was. that our fathers, acting
under the presence of a necessity that they
could not relieve themselves from, founded
government upon the two distinct and
conflicting elements-civilization on the one
side and a barbarism on the other. Men of
the intervening period did not publicly an
n0unce fully the danger which they felt. yet
there was no statesman who took into con-
affairs who did not feel that every moment
of national existence was fraught with dam
ger to the national life.
All that has passed away, and to-day,
when sentiment to 1.-The Union" is offered,
we think not OF discussing whether it is to
last or whether it is speedily to cease to ex-
ist, because We know that it is like the sun
shine and rain-for all seasons. and ulti-
mately. we trust, for all people. Applause.
l am obliged for the complimentary allusiOn
to myself, but l am bound 10 say that l
claim nothing more than this, that have
endeav0red, in public life, to discharge the
duties as met them, and trust that in so
AnSN Hhnn 80 q.
the citizens OF this congressional district
the repeated support at the ballot box
coupled with their appreciation of what 1
have done. Not that l seek again. in any
capacity, to have their public suffrages, be-
cause, If that time ever existed in my career,
it has now passed. I no longer look upon
public Offices az an object of ambition, but
public officer that faithfully discharges his
duty is under no greater obligations to the
people than the people are to him. ZAP
can not let this occasion pass without
referring to a remark made by the presi-
dent OF the New England Society, because,
II l understood him, and do not refer to it,
an impression might 60 forth which has no
foundation in fact. He has alluded to the
settlement of our political and financial
dikculties with Great Britain, an event in
the history of this country which he has not
overestimated, which the people, perhaps
can never fully appreciate. but which
comparatively independent position in refer |
ence to it, will stand in the great diplomatic |
feats in the history Of this country aud in |
the history Of nations. But it is due to \
truth to say that, go far as l am myself con- |
cerned. had no initiative act in reference |
to 1t. l gave to it, when the subject was
developed, that auxiliary aid which could !
furnish, but take it upon myself under the
circumstances which have now arisen, to
say that believe an act of the President |
very early IN his administration, which has
not yet been made public prepared the way
Tor the treaty with Great Britain. [Ap-
plause.J Whatever was said in the way Of
negotiation was by the Secretary of State,
who has shown himself, in the great Office
public.
After alluding to the excellence of the
exhibition, the importance of the labor
saving machinery, which he held had in
creased the demand for labor and elevated
1t, and claiming that the agricultural in
terest Of New England and the whole
country is indebted to the development of
the railway and telegraphic system, he
alluded to the contrast between city and
country life twenty years ago, when the
concentrated public sentiment of the cities. |
represented by the public press, had verv
large and disproportionate influence upon
the public sentiment of the country. All
that has passed away with the railway and
the telegraph. Information is diffused to
the uttermOst part Of our country, and the
country is now more likely to form opinions
for the city than the city for the country.
Young men seek the cities. Some succeed.
others fail, but those who acquire sufficient
wealth for the proper duties of life should
seek the country rather than stay in the
hot fhovN 1,o E,,1v- l
joyed. The city and country are hereafter
to be friends, not enemies, bound together
by indiesoluble ties, social, industrial and
commercial.
So long as there is upon this continent an
intelligent people, so long will this Union
last, modified according to the ideas of the
men who have the control Of affairs at
ourselves, if we leave to them in
stitutlOns which have answered our pur-
poses well, and satisfied the demand of the
time in which We live. If we have edu-
Gated the children of the next generation
20 that they shall be capable of taking
upon upon themselves the cares and duties
Of government, we may very well leave to
other generations the management of their
own AFFAIRS. These influences are Denetra-
ing England. France, Germany, Italy,
spain, Russia and Japan. For Europe, our ,
Qeas anticipate institutions; for China and | I
'span, institutions precede the ideas. They I
aso already accepting our machinery, our &
means OF doing business; our ideas will fol-
ow afterward. Japan asks for our ma l
1onal system Of banking, and the Chancel- 9
or OF the British Exchequer seriously o
rges the beginning of the payment Of the d
'ublic debt Of Great Britain. Applause b
md IL there not reason to hope that. out | il
these considerations, will come the over r
brow Of all the national fashions which A
ngender wars among nations! And is it Y
OF possible that the nations may accent Y
ae boon Of peace at the hand of enlightened h
lGshnoaaQ IL o,,d Annlauaa / a,