National Republican., 1875-07-22
oUR NATIONALITY AND POWER OF PER
PETUATION,

G64Oh14ONs
The wisest of men sometimes exhibit
convincing proof of occasional dissertations
of intellect. Lord Macaulay was no ex-
ception to the rule, and during one of his
most noticeable periods of darkness he made
the prediction that the twentieth century
would probably witness the overthrow of
"the American system of popular govern
"ment." He supported this prophetic
declaration with the idea that the poor,
coming with increasing population, into
the control of majorities, will make laws
sustaining a warfare against capital. In
some of the later teachings of the Commune
the same idea is advanced. But Lord Macau-
lays prediction will not be verified, for it
has no foundation either in truth or philoso-
ply, and the dead Englishman is not more
quiet in his grave than our fears concern
ing the duration of our Government In
the very things which alarmists most depre-
cate, such as increase Of population, low
wages, universal suffrage snd the exactions
of capital we have some of the finest har-
monies in our system of Government, and
strongest assurances of perpetuity. Bril-
liant and swift as our progress is it is i'm
peded, however, by political enemies, by
those who inculcate pernicious sentiment,
by those who make an utter failure in at
tempting conception of our resources and
capacities, and by those who so far forget
patriotism as to proclaim from places where
their prcclamations are heard, ''This is no
nation" Ifthe great and sacred right of free
speech compels us to hear the expression of
a sentiment so atrocIous, so devoid of every
thing which gives lustre to the American
name, we are glad it comes from heart
sectional in its sympathies, from head
which is section of the busy workshop of
treason, and through lips constantly
wreathed with serpentine, Kissing letters of
secession. james B. Beck has uttered a
sentence, the words and lines of which
constitute heayily-draped pail bearers pre-
ceding his name and fame, as an American
statesman, into supreme and everlasting
disgrace. .
Here it is: eyes, gentlemen, there is that
Contemplate word, pation-the word that
"no good Democrat uses when he can find
any other, and when forced to use it.
" always utters it with disgust. This is no
nation; we are free and independent
" States Nation 'contemptible
word;" Zone that no good Democrat uses
uttered with disgust" 1--WE are free and
Independent States. Yes, and alone by
the grace of God and the valor of the
North. We would now be in fragments
and at the mercy of the mob had Mr.. Beck
and his friends, the "good Democrats"
succeeded in their attempt to destroy us as
a nation. His remark is not only one of
rank treason, but is Indefensible- utterly
lacking in brain that it sounds like the jib-
bering of imbecility itself. Somewhere we
have read that nation is body of people
the same country and united
under the same government, and we have
read also that it is noble thing to cultivate
national pride, to contribute to the national
strength, to assist in building up national
glory, and to be ready to defend nations
honor. The poetry, eloquence, learning
and invention of the North and the South,
the East and the West, together make up
the fame of the American nation among
the nations of the earth. Free and inde-
pendent States" as such, have moth.
ing to do with it. The name
of Henry Clay does not shine
for Kentucky alone, nor that of Daniel |
Webster for the State of Massachusetts,, but
for the American nation. Is our literature
pareeled out among the States2 Ifso, how
large is Kentucky's sharef Have Kentuck- |
ians a pride in the great revolution of 1T6 |
If so, by what right, for their name was
not known until years after the treaty of |
peace. The assertion of Mr.. Beck is really |
too' silly for consideration, but it reveals |
he depths of humiliation Southern Dem |
;ratic statesman is willing to sound in or
Ter to accomplish the dearest and sole OBJ |
ect of his life-the breaking up of our |
True Americans have proven
heir willingness and capacity to meet and
Iill such foes Of the Union, and they are
till as willing and able as ever. SO that not |
wen from these ministering spirits to Lord
hscaulsy's prophecy have we any fear for /
he perpetuity of our national Government.
Neither are We alarmed on account of the
Increase in population and the possibility
" lower wages for the working people, and /
or these reasons the Republican party Is
till in power, and viii protect the people.
rhe platform adopted by the National Con-
7ention at Philadelphia in June, 1872, con-
aims this plank: "We are opposed to fur
fther grants Of the public lands to corpo-
rations and monopolies, and demand that
. the national domain be set apart for free
homes for the people" And in its next
National Convention it will be repeated
With emphasis. In this connection it has
fresh meaning and because the Rritish