The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-20
Tho Centennials-What They Mean.

Tho CenteDnialS-W nat 1ney NAeah'
The North Carolina centennial is duly ce'e'
bratcd to-day. We are sure its purpof' Us
fully understood by those who will 90 IL
honor. We wish we were as sure that CEN
sepnisls arc as well understood everywhere
As in Meckcuburg.
Nevertheless, these ccntcnnialS OF the
Revolutionary events which cndca III freeing
this country from the authority OF Great
Britain must force public sentiment 'h'o
line Of thought and reason that cannot DC
favorable to tyranny. The independence OF
The rcoplc-the msjcsty OF tho people as the
Source OF power-thc inyioiabi!ity OF the
Constitution, the sacred covenant for the
protxction O. minoriticS and the prcscrva.
tion of the equality of StatcS-a!e the very
Nth and marrow Of the Revolutionary
resolves and the Revolutionary principles.
Certainly When we study these sentiments
and PRINCIPLES in the light of the Tires OF The
Revolution. and with feeling Of reverence
for our Revolutionary fathers, we cannot be
inbibing principles Of wrong and oppres-
sion, and intoxicating feelings that prompt
one section Of The country TO measures alien
to other sections, or to desire the admins
traton of public afflirs in an unequal and
unfair manner towards any OF the States.
The more We study the principles and eX-
amp!es Of our forciatEers the more We de-
test oppression, the more we hate partial and
unjust measures, and the more we must be
inclined to harmony and fratcrnal goodwill,
and, in short, TO JU>TICE, which is the per-
lection Of ali honest and good dispositions.
Unless these feelings and principles are
cherished and cultivated By the centennial
celebrations those celebrations are abomina-
tions in the sight Of the graves Of The nome
Flthcrs Of the Revolution. They are an IN
sui. 10 iatrlctism-an outrage upon reason
and right. But VIC cannot believe tina, they
arc in vain. They must do much good.
To apply them practically and With 40 en-
Eghtencd delibcralon Let Us consider o0c
point. Our ancestors were Indignant at The
denial Of reprcse nt,,ion in government
which taxed lhtm-thcy were angry at the
idea that the Government OF England, I'm.
acausiuted with their real wants and diSpo-
s;tions, was maxim" laws for them. They
denied the Justice CT the exercise ot That
power by legislature incompetent from
want o. knowledge TO exercise it wisely and
Justly. These were the great grievances Of
our ancestors.
Now, let us ask, have not our northern
rulers imposed upon III the very same wrong
in most aggravated forms! Without KNOW
ing our wants or approaching The nccc>Sl-
ties of our condition they undertook 10 make
laws tor US to reconstruct oW %0ctciy-
reconstruct our social fabric under c!rclim'
stances complicated in their nature; ANA 80
10 reconstruct it that itarlu! di>aglecIcnts
lat were natural and iucladicabc were de-
claret ,qualn!cs by law, aud civilization IT,
self was held in ;.bcyaucc. That Is uhquc>-
1ionably more than ever England Oh! III
wrong and outrage towards cilr ancestors.
Now, Uhcn We a:e shouting ana shooting
OVER the hcrosm Ci our ancestors aad the
grand principles OF human Liberty which
tg.y established We snail utterly fail to
profit by their great examples If We omit 10
remember hoH this country has thus tscli
furnished examples worse than were ever
displayed in the measures Of England to-
wards our proud.spiritcd and noble fore
fathers.
DO not let Us forget this national scandal.
We shall violate every Revolutionary
p.mciplc" if We fail, in sight OF The sacred
graves Of our Sircs, TO plight our faith anew
to those principles and to the Constitution,
and 10 that right and justice upon which the
Union and the Constitution were founded.