Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-08

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Patriotism IL one Of the most essential virtues
in the making up of good citizen. To love
ores country, and to aim to aerye hor best in
forests hourly, il the plain and common duty of
all who enjoy her protection and honor. lts in
culcation and preservation has over formed a
prominent feature in the instructions of all en-
lghtened and even barbaric nations. 1t is al
most an innate Or solf-oxistent virtue. 1t has
surely always been deemed most precious heir
loom, to be transmitted uninterruptedly from
father to son, and he who has been wanting in
it has been by his fellows looked upon with sus-
picion, if not indeed with scorn.
Tho worlds patriots are amongst her very
noblest HEROES; and i'll studying the brilliant re-
cords which fame has preserved to US OF their
undying words and deeds, there ID in them such
agreement OF sympathy, that we almost lose
sight OF the particular nationalities to which they
| belong, and only recognize i'll them the high
type OF universal brotherhood which they have
combined to illustrate aud adorn.
| IN thus alludmg to tho exalted position TO
which patriotism has ever ami every where been
assigned, / will not unnecessarily consume your
tnle by specifying illustri0us names among the
Jews, Persians, or Greeks, or Romans the
French the Germans. tho irish, or the English.
No one eau know even little of their chronicles
| without at onco recalling names that VIII be
| recognized the world over belonging TO those
| who, whether in times of prosperity or adversi-
ty, constantly proved their love and devotion
for the countries which reared and trusted thom
| Amid the mere strife of partisanship and the
petty disputes as to policy, they have maintained
| position peculiarly their own.
l Nor is America without many eminent in-
stances OF the most disinterested patriotism
l Settled by coonsts from numerous and widely
differing nations or governments in the old
world, it could not be expected that at once they
| could transfer their affections entirely to their
new home. 1t waa not until several generations
had been born here, that the varied clements
became OF 80 homogeneous nature as TO feel IN
| common 80 strong an attachment FOR Amorlca
and to Lave no keen sense of the wrongs and
| indignities which had been imposed upon them
by the Kings and Palliaments OF England. that
l they were ready in solemn conclavo TO set forth
| that Declaration of Independence the ninety
ninth anniversary of whose signing wo celebrate
| this day. Since that time, there have never
boen wanting those in all the opposing parties
who have given tho tricet tests of their unseliish
patriotism. May tho numbers constantly ill
crease until all our fair lands inhabitants shall
| bo alike animated with the noble purpose OF
having her accomplish the lofty designs Of her
| Heavenly Ruler and Guide
Their accomplishment has aw ays been beset
with difficulties and dangers. Their origin is d-
vine the Instruments for their fulhment arc
human IN 30 far as we have minded dod and
righteousness. have We becn enabled to oxalt
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| lowed our own conceit- and the dovil's have we
i brought reproach upon ourselves and the whole
people. Tho connection between lteligion and
| real Patriotism ii snro and manifest. Would
that our rulers and the republic at large had al
i wava recognized tlis necessary connection, and
i had uniformly boon governed by religious and
| patriotic motives and principles Ihen indeed
/ would America have been saved from much
| trouble anguish, and loss. and to-day would cor
ruption selfishness. and pride be more discoun-
4 teiianced and dsallowed.
| We arc too apt to forget that national affairs
should be conducted in much the same s,lrit and
| manner a. our private or individual affairs
/ should be. Public sins are no less hateful to
God than personal ones. Tho Divine Grace ~
no less needed by our legislators and rulers Tor
/ the proper coliduct OF the commonwealth, than
| it il by tho samc individuals for tho acceptable
management of their own souls concerns.
As a nation, how haye We recognized those
| truths Where shall We find distinct acknow-
| ledgment of our Christian duties and RESPONSE
bilities If we look for it to tho Declaration OF
| Indepeudcuce tho "rcliance on the protection
| of Divine Providence" (the only language III
Which the existence ~ God is confessed) il evil
dcntly less considered by the heroic signers than
| "t the pledge to each other OF their lives, their
| fortunes and their sacred houor.
If we go still further, and examine the Constl-
| tuition OF tho United States we look IN vain Tor
any recognition of Gods Bong or Majesty or
| Might. Tho avowed object OF the confederation
thus organized being wholly apart, from He
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| welfare and tranquility. there is no con-
fessiou of belief in Ills existence or in
tho uttor vanity and worthlessneHs OF
all plans and efforts unless accompanied with
His blessing and grace. l heartily concnr in
tho sentiments Expressed by those who are
now agltatng n reform III this particular.
Surely, if We do believe in God who ls King
OF Kings, and Lcyd OF Lords, without whom
nothing il wiae, or holy, or strong, we need not
hesitate to express in decided language this our
conviction in that instrument which Is intended
to secure to ourselves and our posterty, the
blessings of union and liberty. Such an ayowal
of belief i'll Him, and reliance only upon His
| umnpotence, could not fail to please and honor
God, aud might do much towards tho giving oil
Il more religious tone to all the several NOM
bers of this now mmonse family.
Itr absence in the National Constitution
could not fail to have All influence upon, and
serve as an example for, tho Constitutions Of
the several States. j have not had an oppor-
tunity of examining all these, or those winch
have seen, loss than one half have any direct
| or indirect reference to tho supreme l3eing.
In the Constitution Of Massachusetts,, 1t
ia declared in tho first article to be the
right as well as tho duty of all men in Society
publicly and at stated seasons to worship the
| supreme Being tho great Creator and PreserVeI
of the Universe" In the Preamble to the Con
stitution OF New Jersey, the people of that State
| are said to be grateful TO Almighty God FOL
the civil and religious liberty which lie hath sc
long permitted them to enjoy, and that they
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deavours to secure and transmit the same un
impaired to succeeding generations"
| In tho Preamble to the Constitution of Ohit
there is an acknowledgement Of gratitude t'
Almighty God and in that of Now York a bare
mention of Gods Being and Power.
| In all tho other Constitutions which l havt
seen there IL nothing, positively nothing, whicl
might not as well have been found in like nstrll
ments of heather or entirely intidel nations. NJ
wonder thst under such circumstances, ther'
arc throughout our land 80 many and so i'lagran
offences against the God who is thus 40 com
monty, and as 1t would seem no designedly
ignored
What a great mercy it is that our chief rulers
have not been 10 forgotful of God, ut least il
[ their public documents. l have beon extremely
/ gratifed to discover by examination that there
1 | has not been President from the days of wash
q ngton to the present incumbent, who has not II
/ his inaugural address distinctly recognized tht
a over.rullng Providence of Almighty God, ant
r implored Ills protection aud guidance through
! out their several administrations Nor has th
I invocation of Divine Wisdom and lIeip beon con
fined to their inaugurals, but in many OF thel
| N IA HOuSp