The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-09-04

crushed J
The es :,
the late
has not b,
tremendous
found itself
corruption
a gangrer
with its virl
debauching pu
lawless Radics,
winged dragon
every thing stabl|
men; the sense Of
talists with instin
agragrianism that
to the dust: the as
Party, beStriding
like the Old Man Of
ing from constructiHs y
permanence of its pt secret
suspicion pervading ll, $ to the
impotency of Repubhrs rs to per
petuate themselves upo scale of
Continent like ours: all dences COM
bine to centralize the po eh it was the
object of our Fathers t. d. If, under
their steady and combined aui the checks
and balances of the Coz luton shall be
destroyed, we slide as inc b.yinto an EN-
pire as did Rome; and, az K inly believe,
with the same impending Of ultimate
disintegration and ruin. time, the
Empire might indeed sprea s purple skirt
over the Continent, from SEQ sea its proud
navy might ride triumph upon every
ocean, and captive world arnessed to
its car of conquest. It's bic palaces
might for time glitter lacker and
tinsel that belong to courts nd its cities
throb with the pulse of COD rec, and all
the activities of unbounded .terial pros
perity. But when then A ig'the world
has seen before, and does moi K Tor hang
ing gardens and BelshazzarAfe :sany more.
1t has had enough of Egypt Pyramids
and of Roman triumphs. 0ne hing is cer-
tain; the sword that carves Republic
into an Empire will be the swort f her exc
cution, and the tyrant who " 'ds it will
prove the author of her doom. complete
an apostasy from the faith of Fathers
will be overtaken at last with estruction
as memorable as that of Cartha, ], a Baby
lon, or.a Rome. For, if there trath in
History at all, it is that nation, yersing
its fundamental faiths, dies by act OF
telO-de-se.
If there be, then, any deliverap for us
in the present crisis, it must be So in
return to those cardinal truths now iaach
in danger of going b.. d.gsult md the
only CLEAN of hope amidst these ark fore
bodings is, that possibly yet, far down in the
peoples heart, both North and South, those
original faiths may be slumberin,g still, be-
meath the prejudices and passion that are
working out the behests of bitter, persecu
ting party rule. Political heresieS, however
great, may not be suffered to deepen into
that final apoStasy from which there is no
recovery. Possibly yet, when the oxcruciat-
ing test shall put the virtue of the country
upon its last probation, some master prophet
will arise whose voice shall rouse these sleep
ing convictions into play; and the majesty
of the peoples will shall once more enthrone
the Constitution upon its old supremacy.
Do you ask for the enunciation of those
doctrines upon whose re-assertion the per-
petuity of the Republic depends? They are
written in letters of gold upon those great
instruments of Confederation and of Union,
drawn up by the first fathers of the State
They are in the cateehism of every honest
party by which this country has been ruled.
They are engrOssed upon every page of our
history, until these last days of disaster and
of shame. They are craven, as with dia-
mond, upon all the institutions of the land.
| had supposed them to be woven into the
very tapestry of the peoples thought. But
familiar as these principles may be, like the
Twelve Tables to the ancient Roman youth,
l choose this day to give them voice and
tongue: if perchance the faint whisper may
gather volume'as it is born upon the breeze,
and with its echoes rolling back from myrads
of patriotic hearts, may fill the country with
the sound. And you will pardon the timidity,
springing from inacquaintance with political
themes, which takes refuge in. the exposition
given by the immortal Jefferson. In hisfrst
Inaugural, upon the 4.h Of March, 1901,
the following commentary on the doctrines
of the Constitution was delivered: about,
fellow citizens, to enter on the exercise of
duties which comprehend everything dear
and valuable to you, it is proper you should
understand what | deem the essential prin-
ciples of our government | will compress
them within the narrowe5t compass they will
bear Equal and exact justice to all men,
of whatever state or persuasion, religious or
political; peace, commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations entangling alliances
with none; the support of the State govern
ments in all their rights, as the most COM
petent administrations of our domestic con
Germs and the surest bulwarks against anti
republican tendencies; the preservation of