Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-07
Abstract of Gen. Chamberl aims Grafton.

What is century, A tbrob Of the
pulse Of time, mere speck in the line
Of history. But in human lives great things
are wrought in a century. What is this
youngest Of the nations that she presumed
to invite the world that old nations Of three
thousand years werc glad, to sit down with
her and compare achievements 2
Philadelphia displays her wonderful ad-
vance in the arts aud sciences. But the
things most wonderful in the annals of the
world are her political IDEAS These ideas
are not the fruit of the century. They were
set before the people one hundred years ago
immortal ideas planted in the mind Of
man and he sees them advance as he rises
to tho consclousncss Of his birthright and
destiny.
Politics is tho art of living, the science
by which men through association help each
other to be free. In truth man finds his
rights in society instead of losing them there.
The flag of a nation represents the political
ideas of that nation. Our flag is the same
old flag it was one hundred years ago. PO-
litical advancement does not consist in new
theories Of human rights and duties. The
flag embraces all these possibilities. All
our fights under it are to realize these pos
sibilities
There are two things that ought to be
said when we examine foundation princi-
Piles OF government. First. Government is
only society expressing its will in accord
ancO with certain principles implanted by
God for the regulation Of human affairs
hence we call government divine institution.
And that is exactly what marks political
progress.
Second. The question is not merely what
is right in the abstract but how far an alb
stract principle of right can be realized as a
legal right. The measure of political ad-
vance is the degree to which that liberty
which is the effect of law conforms to that
freedom which is the birthright Of the soul.
lin using Ireland as an illustration the
speaker referred to the recent motion in the
British parliament to re.establish the Irish
parliament, whereupon an Irishman rose aud
proposed three cheers, which were heartily
given. Just then the chime of bells in the
Catholic church began ringing. Design
could not have equaled impulse and chance
in this CASEY
This advance is recorded in the constitu-
ton of nation. Constitutions grow uE
towards something not from something. 1t
is our part to look forward toward the reali.
cation of true freedom. Our work is all
before US. The effect Of looking behind is
seen in the immobilty of Oriental civiliza.
ton. Our fathers fought the war Of the
revolution simply on faith between
man and man. Their ideas of the rights o.
men gave them unity and strength. After.
wards came the articles of confederation
which failed because they did not express
the peoples true thought Then came the
constitution that recognizes the unity of the
people. The law Of the nations life is in the
adjustment of interests, in the regulation Of
the questions of political economy. 1t ii
our duty to enter into the spirit of these
ideas and execute them farther along thu
line. The ideas which inspired our fathers
we're immortal. The realization Of then
belong to mortals more or less imperfect. II
is our business to carry them onward. W.
must not be satisfied with the past one hun
dred years. We have as much to do in thu
next one hundred years. We shall only be
worthy of our fathers if we carry forwarG
their work and ideas. Great things ar
coming be steady; also be ready.