The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-04-19

Ma PREsiDESr-The subject Of my address
Is one Of such importance and magnitude, that
must ask pardon that on some points may
not do it justice; that in relation to some Of
the duties Of American citizens, must speak
but few words, and pass others by unnotieed:
but / will endesvor to portray the principles
and'motives which should govern the sction Of
all who are sincere lovers Of their country aud
mapkind.
An old Athenian philosopher once made the
remark that "nan is not born TO his family
alone, but to his country" II thatws. appli.
cable to the citizen Of Greece, Of ancient days,
it is much more applicable to the citizen OF the
United States at the present time. To this
great county Of ours, the eyes Of the whole
world are turned; the nations Of Europe are
looking with anxious gaze to see what Is the
issue of this modern experiment " men at
sclf-goyernment; and while the monarchs Of
the old world are praying earnestly for our
downfall, and realizing the fact that the exist
enee of this nation renders their thrones un-
steady, and causes their crowns to sit uneasily
upon their heads, yet the oppressed every where
are watching. with prayerfulness and hope, the
progress Of our Institutions, feeling that in our
triumph their hopes will be brought into fru-
tion. This being the case, to live for our coun-
try is, in the fullest. nobcst sense. to live for
mankind.
Ii is often wondered at, that the republics Of
antiquity-which, in many cases. were model
epublics-whieh were founded on what seemed
the eternal principles Of truth nd justice, were
so unstable-that their existence 80 often ter
minated with scarcely an effort Of the people
to resist the encroachments Of de.potism. The
secret was. that the individuality of the tyrant
and usurpcr wieldsd II concentrated energy .
while the power Of the people was diffusive and
pointless. This was well sxempliied in the
rule of the first Napoleon. There never was =
more thorough autoerat lie ruled not only
France, but Europe; and the source Of his
power was that he felt unmistakably-thnt he
realized without doubi-the truth of his ex.
elamation, "Franeel that is mel" u Empire,
c'est moi His wonderful power overrode all
opposition, and the people felt that they were
in his hands. So maintain that the first duty
Of a citizen of the United States is, iudiyidu.
ality; n sense Of personal responsibility in the
proper conduct of the government; n rcsliIa-
tion of what is SO often a,serted-that every
man in this country Is ruler.
The government Of our country was origin
ally formed by men who were trained to .,J-
government; who, before they visited this
shores Of this new world, had resisted tn,
power Of kings. and asserted their individual
= al. 4
fered for the principles for which the Hugue
nots left France, aud the Puritan. abandoned
their homes; the principles which neryed the
barons Of England, when at Runnymedc they
extorted their charter from King John, and
which animated our immediate forefathors,
who inaugurated and carried to successful
issue the rebellion against the usurpntions an d
tyranny Of the crown Of England. They were
unawed by the odds against them. and unbi- o.
nsed by the prejudiccs which Influenced so
many Of their own kinsmen, who looked upon
kings as ordained Of God; they asserted their
individuality, and it is displayed in all that
was done in those days
In the affairs Of a town, every man had
voice, and made it heard; in the affair. Of the
State it Wa. still heard, and the representative
was then indeed the servant Of the people
Have We preserved this qualification? I. il
not too much the case that the dcmagogu the
pot house politician, among the small fry. and
the millionaire among the higher grades, con
troll and manufacture what il called public sen
timent, aud make themselves felt in thr lcgis.
laiiye halls? These things do net indicate
that American citizens a.e living up to ibsir
duty.
Every man in this land should be poliii-
clan. u'c the word politician here not n
that narrow sense which indicates the advocate
of a certain set Of principles. To- which be must
D. Indy assent. and Tor which he must bludly
bai,,c-or the contestant for odieo, great or
small but in ii- broader, noblcr sense of one
who stud, 's the nature nnd history OF thc gov
crnmcnt. th, abuses aud dangers incident TO
It's organilatio,; who keep. himself thorough
ly posted ON aif The living issurs uf the day;
who unI.r.taul. The scope and effect of all The
which d. 10 creed BY The man rho is
elevated 10 Office by bis suffrage. ~ we have
studied history carefully, ~ may look back
aud gee the wrecks of repub.irs sfrewing The
shores Of the ocean Df time. which hs 80 been
destroyed by tho neglect and supucns of
their own sifizons. who slept while the usurp,'r
perfected BIZ. riaof far their conquest. And 20
Ns revert 10 our position, that the FIRST and
most inpprtani duty of O ci'izsl ~ this rcpub.
iie BE- ~ feel aaI assert no Individuality. o..
realize o. fully his rr.p1nsibi1y far tuo raoI
.. q oil 90
guidance OF rs.af7.r.. ~. eonfs" of leg.sf,-
zion slo.lt ts sfr-fiy vaiehed. the ogsr.s.
'iona OF r,~c- -i,Ii D. ,igituuy resisted.