Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-11


true doctrines "That all men ar,
created equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inaliena
bic rights" etc, and "that TO secur,
these rights, governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just power
from the consent Of the governed thai
when any form ofgovernment becomes
destructive of these ends, il is thcright o
tho people to alter or abolish il, and t.
institute new government, laying ID
foundation on such principles, and or
ganizing its powers in such form as Il
them shall seem most likely to efiec
their safety and happiness, n.s
These doctrines, if maintained and
adhered to by all similar bodies as well
as by all lawmakers and law-expound-
ers, will secure ''peace on earth and
good will to men" or, as some render
1t, peace on earth to men of good will.
III pIusonting sucil thoughts ana re
Elections ms seem to be pertinent TO the
object had in view by this imposing
demonstration, | shall pursue such
method as my ieeblencss, under the
pressure OF crowding suggestions, may
allow and direct.
THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION.
My theme is the paper you have
just heard read-that Declaration of
Independence, with its truths, princi-
Piles and doctrines which were sent
forth TO the world on the ever memora-
Bile birthday of all real Constitutional
Liberty, with the ringing of bells, the
firing of cannon, and the joyous shouts
from the hearts of millions from the
Penobscot to the Altamaba. This
Declaration, with its principles, en-
bodies the text of all shall attempt to
say. Whatever reflections may be
offered in relation TO the past, the pres
ent, or the future will be closely perti-
nent to the absorbing theme.
Let us, in the outset, inquire into the
nature and character of the paper, the
meaning Of its language and prnciplcsj !
as well as the true purport Of its an
nluncements.
First, then, what is the meaning of
the words--''that all men ARE created
equal ?" Is il that all men are created
equal in sizc-in physical, mental, or
moral structure Not at all. We all
know this is not true Does il mean
that they are all equal in their indi-
vidual and social relations or rights
That these relations and rights between
parent and child, guardian and ward,
employer and employed, teacher and
pupil, governor and governed, are all
equal Not at ALL This meaning
would destroy the very organization
of society, and defeat the objects for
which all governments should be
formed, as announced in the text. The
great truth uttered by these words is
that all mcn-all mankind--of what
ever size, race, color, or cline, have an
equal right to Justice in the admins
tration OF civil affairs, and that no one
however high, has any rightfnl power
to wrong another, however low. The
rule of justice here laid down is the
Scriptural rule "As yc would that
men should do to you, do ye also to
them likewise" Again, what is meant
py tne woru Peopie' where ~ Is an
np'.eou 'n"' " 70 'nc i'sn' oi 'nc pco,
government when they think proper
to do so '? Does it mean any pro
'0oJ'o Iii =, ,n~ naS ~ ",seou'ones "y.', W. w
;.aa M S,".o es ~ s"o Psopa1 ppI' ~ "y 0'Ean
H. IT,, Js"ue o,a,is. ,.,;,p."S ."d'ns
sn.yaSl ~ PJpsi oeu n..., "
81, SIN .n"a''e,s' r neans, ~, ,vno', I'M
,rni,s M po"J aaJ ~. ~, ,;nhtG,, ~ PaD',s
,',,o,,,,a, 49, "ua ~ @ % Sa,a O"v,s aa. y,
81. ~ s,' e., 'ylu Va psoP's
Cnn oog ,,,on!goaI'I % anJ I ~, I, y I'm, "
or';''n a"o"',.,,,atia e b % a;,.,, oe ,"o @ son
sno,SS, un'on''o',ao,9 o ,isae =, u.c,y
suJ sue" a;s,. n,J.o ~ sn osso e " Institute .
M anu '''s'n.a,, m'''.'.n, saen n,s " o'e,n
n''a,,;,"d ,,,;,,' om ,,,i n a,'a, 0 nI "nL
.,'a,. M h;,. % hoa, ,,,a.se,ie, 90 suon
20 | ~, u"y I'm as, ;.si,I ~ P,gsI.''o'
;,s m aans,;,man, alanan,s nud T. 1 h ~
a ,so as ~ oa",, sha,i aoo,, Z ~, ,;,'aI 1uJ
y, 10y ss, 40 " .s'.' sn' .ssm .Sa mo3t .'., ny nno
ness Of tho entire community. The
doctrine is, that human beings, singly,
are separate and distinct organizations,
endowed by nature with all those
rights necessary for their individual
safety and happiness, and that as men,
sngly, cannot protect these rights as
well as in organized society, and hence
governments are instituted Society
so formed constitutes an aggregate
organism known as the State, which
thereby becomes political and moral
person and that the sovereign rights