Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-04-29
: with responsibilities which neither our fathers
nor the men of fifty years ago could possibly
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THE DEAD HAND OF SLAVERY.

THE DEAD HAND OF SLAVERY.
: But the most formidable problem for popr
: Lar government which the opening of our set
ond century presents, spring from sourc
which the orators of fifty years since forbor
TO name This was the system of slsve labor
which vanished in civil war But SLAYER
had not been the fatal evil that it was. if Wit
its abolition its consequences had disappeared
1t holds us still in mortmain. Its dead han,
is strong, as its living power was terrible
Emancipation has left the republic exposed t,
new and extraordinary trial of the principle
and practices of free government A civil
zation resting ulsn slavery, as formerly il
part of the country, however polished and or
nate, is necessarily aristocratic and hostile tc
republican equality, while the exigencies Of
such society forbid that universal education
which is indispensable to wise popular gov.
eminent. When war emancipates the slaves
and makes them equal citizens, the ignorance
and venality which are the fatal legacies OF
slavery to the subject class, whether white OF
| black, and the natural alienation of the master
class, which alone has Political knowledge
and experience, with all the secret conspira-
cies, the reckless corruption, the political
knavery, springing naturally from such a situ-
alton, and ending often in menacing disorder
| that seems to invite the military interference
and supervision of the governmental this
accumulation of difficulty and danger lays a
strain along the very fiber of free institutions
For it suggests the twofold question whether
the vast addition of the ignorance of the
emancipated vote to that of the immigrant
vote may not overwhelm the Intelligent vote
of the country, and whether the constant ap-
peal to the central hand of power, however
necessary it may seem, and for whatever rea-
son of humanity and justice it may be urged,
must not necessarily destroy that local self
reliance which was the very seed of the Amer
lean republic, and fatally familiarize the coun-
try with that employment of military power
which is Inconsistent with free institutions,
and bold resistance to which has forever con-
secrated the spot on which we stand.
THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLIC,
These are some of the more obvious changes
in the conditions under which the republic is
to be mrintained. ] mention them merely;
but every wise patriot see and ponders them.
Does he, therefore, despond? Heaven forbid!
When was there ever an suspicious day for
humanity that was not one of doubt and con-
fict? The robust moral manhood of America
confronts the future with steadfast faith and
indomitable will, raising the old battle-cry of
the race for larger liberty and surer law. 1t
when this day dawned But with him it sees
through and through them, and with him thanks
God for the glorious morning. There is, in
deed, fashion oi skepticism of American
principles even among some Americans, but
it is one of the oldest and worst fashions in our
history. There is cynicism which fondly
fancies that in its beginning the American re-
public moved proudly toward the future with
all the splendid assurance of the Persians,
Xerxes descending on the shores of Greece,
but that it sits to-day among shattered hopes,
like Xerxes above his ships at Salamis. And
when was this golden age? Was it when John
Adams appealed from the baseness of his own
time to the greater candor and patriotism of
this? Was it when Fisher Ames mourned
over lost America, like Rachel for her chill
dren, and would not be comforted? Was it
when William Writ said that he sought in
vain for q man fit for the Presidency or the
great responsibility? Was it when Chancellor
Livingstone saw only a threatening future,
because Congress was so feeble? Was it
when we ourselves saw the industry, the COM
meroe, the society, 1.-THE church, the courts, the |
the conscience of America
seeminglyy PROSTATE under the foot of slave
ry? Was this the golden age of these senti-
mental sighs, this the region behind the north |
wind of thrse reproachful regrets? And Is it
the young nation which, with prayer and faith, |
with untiring devotion and unconquerable |
will, has lifted its bruised and broken body from
beneath that crushing heel, whose future is
Nay, this very cynicism il one of the foes
that we must meet and conquer. Remember. |
fellow citizens, that the impulse of republican |
government, given century ago at the Old
North Bridge, has shaken every government |
in the world, but has been itself wholly un-
shaken by them. 1t has made monarchy i'm
possible in France 1t has freed the Russian |
serfs 1t has united Germany against eccles-
iastical despotism. 1t has flashed into the |
night of Spain. 1t has emancipated Italy and |
discrowned the Pope as King. In England
repeating the disabilities of Catholic and He |
brew, it forecasts the separation of church |
and state, and step by step transforms monar- |
chy into another form of republic. And here |
at home how glorious its story! In tremen-
dous war between men of the same blood
men who recognize and respect each others
valor-we have proved what was always
doubted, the prodigious power, endurance,
and resources of republic, and in emancipa- |
ting an eighth of the population we have at
last gained the full opportunity of the repub-
lican principle. Sir, it is the signal felicity
of this occasion that on the one hundredth an
niversary of the first battle in the war of
American Independence, l may salute you,
who led to victory the citizen soldiers of
American liberty, as the first elected Presi-
dent of the free republic of the United States.
Fortunate mani to whom God has given the
priceless boon of associating your name with
that triumph of freedom which will presently
bind the East and the West, the North and
the South in closer and more perfect union
for the establishment of justice, and the secu-
rity of the blessings of liberty than these
States have ever known.
Fellow citizens, that union is the lofty task
which this hallowed day and this sacred spot
impose upon u.s. And what cloud of doubt
so dark hangs over us as that which lowered
above the colonies when the troops of the
King marched into this town, and the men OF
Middlesex resolved to pass the bridge2 With
their taith and their will we shall win their
victory. No royal Govetnor, ineeed, sits in
yon stately capitol, no hostile fleet for many