The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-16

mad accumulated II Ii you DO, allow ms
to say, that they are rare, indeed With
the ancestor the property was safe, there
was no danger that he would squander it
but in the hands of the heir it must be
watched. So with the people Of 1776 and
Of that generation, the Republic was safe
/ They realized the sacrifices which secured
fit-the cost which obtained it. But with
Us, their grandsons, heirs not only 10 the
vast amount Of property. but joint heirs to
the richest fortune ever bequeathed to
man,-the liberty Of local self government
IL We desire 10 continue the heritage. we
must be watchiul and vigilsEt. 1t came
to US at our birth. No Congress or Par
lament can enact laws for US except with
our consent and by our representation.
With but few exceptions from the be-
ginning of history, the whole human fam
lily have looked up to some crowned head
for the government of all. There never
was any good reason for this, and there is
none now; yet the tendency of all gov
eminent is to eentralize power. 1t is caus-
ed by an inordinate amount of selishness.
Reason, justice and mercy never were
strong enough to govern seIf-interest. All
Of our virtues are lost when brought in
contact with self-interest, as the waters of
the Mississippi river are lost in the Gulf
of Mexico. Would that we had more ex-
amples of Washington's selEdenial When
the Revolutionary war was over when
the British flags were driven from our
coast, and the star spangled barner waved
in triumph over all an entire nation pros
trats at his feet, Offering praise, Washing
ton bid farwell to his army and officers on
the 4th day of December. 1888, made his
way direct to the halls of Congress, and on
the Esd day of December, 1888. he sur
rendered his commission to the President,
as being of no more use to him than
ticket is to boy alter the show and he
retired to his Mount Vernon home. He
was called to i'll the Office of President of
the United States for the first and second
terms under our present Constitution, and
declining termination for third term,
be returned again to private life. at his
home, where he died in 1899. Upon
learning of his death, Congress passed ap-
propriate resolutions, and among them
request to the people of the United States
to wear Grape upon their left arms for the
period of thirty days. Napoleon, then
first Consul ia France, issued an order that
all the flags and standards Of France should
be draped in black for the period of ten
days, as tribute TO his memery-but
more than all this outward evidence, the
heart Of every lover of liberty felt the
deep pang, and was draped in mourning,
without Limitation Of time. Every Amer
lean has right to hold his head higher
because George W shington was his coun-
try For him, every hill glows in
richer color; for him. every valley is
stepped in softer light; every mountain
lake CLEANS IN richer blue. His spirit
hangs like glory over your land. And
until the rocks around your coast shall
melt in the sun until the hills and
mountains shall have passed away like
vapors that play upon their sides, let not
the.image of George Washington =: BAN
ished from your hearts; let not his praise
be silent upon your lips. wish could
hold up mirror in which you could see
the moral ezcelzeaace of the patriots OF 1776
the purity Of their minds, and their I'M
biemished characters. / wish they might
be truly reflected upon this and all future
generations. They were made purer BY
what they lost in the Revolution, as the
axe is made sharper by what it loses on
the grindstoEe. True greatness to-day lies
in initiating their virtues. There is no
higher reward than is given to those who
adhere infiexibly to truth, honesty, end the
dictates Of good conscience. Do we realize
the advantages which we enjoy to-day? Do
we realize that all ages have lived for US,
given ps the proceeds of their industries,
and the best productions of their minds
Do we realize that we are to-day in pos
session of all the accomplish menfs of past
generations All Of the discoveries in
the sciences ell of the advancements in
the arts and literature are matters of rec
ord, and the record within the reach of
every school-boy. Secured, by the Revo-
luton, with supreme power in the hands
Of the people secured by the Constitu-
lion Of the United States with the most
sacred guarantees for the protection OF per-
sonal liberty with oil the advantages that
bur free schools can give rs, and free re-
ligion IN promote, there can be nothing
to endanger orr national existence, or mar
our national happiness, but our own fol-
les. If we fall, it viii be by cur own
hands, like the bankruptcy of the million
hire who has lived in extravaganza and
luxury. But we shall not fall
Alexander was drunk with victory and
vine Caesar crossed tbs Rubicon, and un-
Ter his feet tramped the liberties Of Rome;
Frederick played the game of robbery
With human lives in Prussia; but be it
that Caesar had his Brutns
Charles l., his Cromwell +; George I'LL, our
9eorge Washington, and may the usurper
# American liberties be sheath for ev-
ry dagger in the land.
In Egypt, and opposite Alexandra, on
IN island at the entrance of the greatest
commercial port in the world. stood the
ar-famed lighthouse named Pharos, 500
Get high radiating, brilliant light
'eAmsd from the summit lar and wide
'ver the stormy waters of the Mediter-
anean Sea. this meteor glowed. inviting
nd guiding the mariner in. May the
God people of the United States, having
n charge the happiness, progress and lib
rites of this and ell future generations,
ling to the love of country, to the living
owe of liberty. az declared In the Decla-