The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-07-08

,;ce are Interchangeable and eternal that, in
the sight of that Being whose name they
spoke 80 Feverently, all men are equal
that life and liberty were given by God,
and are not under the control OF any gov
eminent whatever, and they proclaimed
that governments can only exist while the
governed will their existence. They re
undated, in advance, all attempts that
NAV be made to claim for their own acts
pfescriptive obligation, but remit to each
generation the arduOus, but glorious task,
of maintaining their own liberties. Then
can an assembly of the free people OF the
State OF Illinois do better than to devote
an hour Of this national sabbath to the
duty of inquiring whether all is well with
the repubGcP
It seems to me that the danger which
now most threatens the liberties OF the
people of the United States is the extent
TO which they have shown themselves to
be willing to confide the duty of protecting
! their rights to others. In this remark l
do not mean to censure the necessary sub
mission to the laws, nor the commendable
cheerfulness with which the American
people acduiesce in the will of the majority
when that will is expressed in any OF the
modes prescribed by the constitution and
D the laws, but | do refer to the unquestlon-
ed reliance which we manifest In the suf1-
cheney of the mere forms Of our govern
ment for the preservation OF our most pre-
cious rights, and | refer, also, 10 the COM
Is pleteness with which we surrender the
-, right 10 think freely and TO act according
" 10 our own convictions, at the behest o.
E. the mos. unrelenting and contemplate O
st all despotism, that OF mere party. 1t u
ic reasonable that freemen who think anC
d, feel alike in respect to absorbing pubh'
- questions, should sink all minor points o
" difference, and act together to give etfee
On TO the common object; but nothing i
90 more degrading or immoral than that
ne citizen, free by the gift of the Great Crea
tor free by the constitution and laws Q
ed his country, and responsible TO God an
m his country, 10 himself and his porterity
-as should renounce his manhood, his either
:, shin and his duties, and consent 10 be tht
vile thing, the tool and slave of mere leaC
IN ers who often, without merit or patriotism
grasp control through mere party organ
cation; who will consent, when require
by party, 20 believe as true tn,
flo which he knows to be false topraise me
,re who he is compelled to despise to d.
.ha nounce others whom he knows to be worth
Ms of respect who will defend or apologii
sed for crimes against the constitution and Il
e,n laws, or against the rights of the peopl
ion when they are perpetrated by one or
NOT many of his political associates, and fee
i'm. that his whole duty to truth and justice
The discharged when he succeeds in fixing
are suspicion of a similar dereliction upon
ion adherent of rival organization. D
nst government is most admirable and pc
+ feet in its structure, but it requires, as {
mi sential TO its usefulness, the vitalizing
ice Auence of the support and confidence OF
Ak intelligent people, who know their RICH
one and are willing TO defend and malnta
of them The Dry Bones in the Valley We
,eir perfect in their form and structure, but
non required the voice of the Infinite, utter
srn. by the Prophet, to call them again into i
ny and motion Our government and SOC
mis-. forms are but dry bones, dead and inc
in until those for whom they were constru
,ere ed call them into life, and employ and
tish rect them for the protection OF their o.
sere Continued on third page