Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-14
V0V P0PULI, vOX DEL.
Grafton of ID. T. Mcmillan.

The following is the grafton deliver
cred by Mr.. d. T. Mcmillan, of Ala
bama, at the late Commencement ex-
ercises of the East Tennessee Univer-
sity, and is published 10y request:
The underlying principles of all
systems aud theories, as well as great
ideas and sentiments, should never be
forgotten aud their logical analysis
in any attempted discussion, never be
overlooked. Although, weinvite your
attention, to-day, to a sentiment de-
serving scrutiny, and well defined ex-
position, yet, We can do no more, than
glance at its headlines, outline its
more prominent Misunderstanding
you to tiil out the picture in your
thoughtful leisure, apd more sober i'm
agination.
That the " Voice of the People is
the Voice of God was first enuncia-
ted, significantly, in the distinguished
ancient forum of Roman oratory, by
one, who not only fills large space in
the history of that empire, but, who
is yet the challenged boast of Oratorial
renown.
Was it not this? Must we throw
away our alteration for his wisdom,
and believe it, simply, self-adoring
pride securely mailed? Such a con-
struction is without the pale of charity,
and we shall not accept it. The illus
triOus Cicero intended what afterwards
our own Jefferson so eloquently pen
ned, and what we, practically, as
nation adhere to, to-day, that "All
power is inherent in the people, and
all free governments founded upon
their authority" This declaration was
simply the Republican doctrine, that
the voice of the people was superior
nothing more, nothing less. He was
in advance of the age in which he
lived, and with broad statesmanship
taught well his lessons Of liberty, ever
forging strong manacles for the hand
of future tyranny.
And, IN order that a people may
WELD intelIigently their supreme
powers, and that they may entitle
themselves to rule, there are upon
them great conditions precedent to be
fulfilled; the grand conditions of ed.
ucation. moral as well as mental, from
which flow refinement and culture,
peace and virtue, honor and prosperi-
~ to nation. All these are the COW
eted conditions precedent TO national
renown and grandeur.
The world has ever been a battle
field of virtue and vice, of purity and
corruption, of integrity and treachery;
and spirited contestants for the daZ-
cling scepter OF power have adorned
every age, and every nation. This,
indeed, is the scale upon which to
weigh the immortal words Of the great
orator. This, indeed is their import /;
this their broad meaning.
But, while we essay TO emulate the
good in life, We are aware, at the same
time, that desperate deinsgogues infest
our public marts. Do We not hear
then eXclainl with eloquent, but obse-
qUious fervor, NOX Populi, Vox
Del and, whiir the liu j. yet warm
with the sentence-spurn and defy the
people in their rightful will? Flattery
is upon their tongues. Fraud deliles
their hearts. Deceit is hidden ia every
word.
And, thus, like the perjures COM
mitted in the name of Justice, and the
tyrannies committed in the name OF
liberty, humbuggeries and crimes,
mOckeries and shames are perpetrated
in the name of icve and aff'ection-hof
low and pretentious, though it be, for
the 50 called dear people"
BpbN - WIN VIC
fame and story Of great men, and their
wonderful achievements. But their
greatness is too often written in the
blood Of their iellow-men, and their
every act belittled by the sorded ambi-
ton of self-aggrandizemeut.
Not only in Republican America is
the dear people" the pretext OF
knavery, but, Europe, the "Old
World" as it were, with her grand
past and prophetic future, is full OF
such pretenders.
Behold! one of the brightest stars
in the heroic armament, he who
dashed and crushed nations I'm his re-
sistless rush for conquest. He duped
his people. He duped France. Love
for France, indeed it was the person
ification Of ambition. He gTasped
and throttled the lnightiest OF
petentates. He poured out
the blood OF more than
three millions Of Europe's bravest sons
upon the altar of ambition. And for
what? Forsooth for the glory OF