The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-27
SENATOR THURMAN.
A Prophetic Address on the Great Future
OF the United States Before the Literary
Societies OF Virginia.

"A prophetic Address ON the Great Future
OF the United States Before the Literary
Societies OF Virginia.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, June 20, 1872.
An immense crowd assembled tonight In the
public hall to hear Senator Thurman deliver an an
nual address before the literary societies of the
University. His theme was, ''The future OF our
country or the dangers likely to menace the exist
ence of the republic and the means of averting
them" Referring to the first danger of the repub-
lie, that likely to result from its magnitude, he
asserted that 1t could not be proved that homo
geneous people, under free institutions, may not
attain and preserve greater power than any of the
empires that have existed from Babylon down to
Charles the Fifth. To the United States 1t was re-
served to make the mighty experiment, than which
nothing grander has ever engaged the sympathies
or efforts OF man. Let US not with respondent souls
55ssy p pnG IA 4s G %sna s Mte
successful accomplishment. That our republic, II
held together, win attain unexampled and perious
greatness Is certainly true. Only fifty years hence
and sixty millions, and century hence more than
twice that OF the Continent OF Europe. 1t Is true
that with contrariety OF interests incident to SO
great and varied territory one particular section
may be oppressed for time by unjust laws, as some
have been and now but Justice IN the long run is
sure to prevail. In the meantime the incalculable
benefits OF the Union, free trade between all its
parts, &C. amply repay all the local sacrifices that
occur. Speaking OF the negro, ne said The
returning census. Although the absolute number
OF the race may be greater, the proportion VIII be
crease, but its relative strength will certainly
diminish. AS cause of strife among the whites,
rs q facile instrument In the hands OF designing
and INSCRIPTIONS men,
is certainly disturbing element. But great as are
these evils they are not beyond the rectifying
power of time, prudence and patience.
In reference to the tendency towards centraliZa
ton in the government and its evils, and the nnu
ence OF the press to aid or avert It, he said One
OF the most powerful agencies If am not mis-
TAKEN is what may be styled metropolitan litera-
ture and the metropolitan press. 1t has been said
that orators govern republics, but If the
remark were ever true, 1t is true no longer. Had
every member OF Congress the eloquence of q
Demosthenes they could not mould public sentl,
1900, 900 and furnish mental food to millions. Look
into many of the school books and see what pOti-
that twenty years ago no party would have ven
tured to assert See how, In newspapers and
periodicals. in law books and volumes called his
tOrical, the
POWERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
are exalted to height beyond the imagination Of
the warmest advocate of a strong government
when the constitution was formed. in brief see
how literature in all its departments, Influenced by
the materialstc tendencies OF the age, or reduced
by the glowing image OF gorgeous and Imperial
republic lends its patent aid to the work Of central
izati0n and remembering that this literature comes
ton has ever found its most able and efficient sup
porters, think that do not err in attributing to
this cause all the weight that attach to 1t. 1t re-
mains to be considered whether the concentration
OF all power in the hands of the federal government
would be likely to preserve or imperil the existence
OF the republic To my mind nothing in the future
seems more certain than that 1t would not only i'm
peril but ultimately destroy 1t. do not believe 1t
possible that it could long endure under such
system Whatever name might he given to it
republic, monarchy, empire or federaton-its name
would still be despotsm ! cannot but marvel at
the blindness that does not perceive that Con-
gress with such powers would soon become the
most corrupt body on earth and fall to pieces
through corruption. In conclusion he gave the
students some sound advice to cultivate their
own literature maintain their own institution of
learning sustain their own press and do their own
thinking. During the delivery Of the address Sena-
tor Thurman was frequently interrupted by bursts
OF applause.
Quarles, OF Tennessee, and Colonel John s. Mostly
are here. General Johnson, who was on his way to
the White Sulphur Springs, was compelled to stop
here on account Of the sudden and severe illness of
his wife.
Senator Thurman says he will support the Balti-
more nominee, no matter who he NAV be.