Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-05

member that all this happened before
the development of ths bOs s.ed Gree k
and Roman civiliz alton, and be moderate
with your pretensions; for your land OF
yesterday, Of any peculiar merit, for your
aspirations 10 advance your condition.
To all Of which interjection of my AT.
ricRn prompter make but 8 short re-
ply: By his own showing he sppesls
only TO what wss years ago aud not to
what now is. What are the imperish-
able monuments cor structed so long
ego but memorials OF an absolute an
tiquity, TO be gsz.d at by the wandering
traveller as examples never to be copied.
Itouce devoted to special forms OF di.
vine worship, the faith that animated
the structures has not simply lost its vi
tality but has been buried in oblivion
forever. What are catscombs but futile
efforts TO perpetuate mere matter, after
the living principles have vanished
away? Why not apply them to advance
the condition of the survivors? How
about the sacred book to which you re-
fer? Does it not record an account of
sa emigration of an industrious and
conscieutous people, compelled to re.
treat by reason of the reckiessness of an
ignorant ruler? And how has it been
ever since? Although conceded to De
by nature one of the most favored
regions of earth, the general tendency
has been far from indicating O eorre-
spondiug degree OF prosperity. Then
the splendid memorials of the past ages
testify hy the soIitudes around them only
to the vanity of indulging ia Idle sspira-
tons. The conclusion, then, to be drawn
from this spectacl5 is not of lie, but of
death; not OF hope, but OF despair. Lol
have presented to you in this pi ture
three types Of humanity, as exempt fed
ia the lcial systems Of the world.
While the African represents the past,
and the Indian cliDgs only to the pres.
sent, it is left to the European and his
c0ngenitor in America persistently to
follow up the object OF the a ivancement
Of mankind. First, the retrogrsde; Sec
Ond. the Stationery; third, the advance.
Which is it 10 be with US? We can only
judge Of the future by what has been in
t ,e past. Is there, or is there not pecu-
liar clement not found in the other races,
which has shown so much vigor in
America during the past century, as to
give him fair right to count on steady
advancement in time to CONS? 1 con-
fidently answer for him-there is. 1t is
his devotion 10 the tinciple OF liberty.
Do you ask ma where to find it in
words? Tur ! we, then. at oncs to the
immortal scroll ever firmly associated
with the solemnities of this our great
anniversary. Thsre lies imbedded
in a brief sentence more OF liviag and
pervading force than could have ever
been applied to secure permanence to all
the vast monuments OF Egypt or of the
world. We all know it well, Tut will
repeat it: "We hold these truths to be
self evident: First, that all men are cre-
ated equal; second, that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with inalienable
rights; tHird, that among them are life,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness"
] have ever cOuaidared these significant
words as vested with virtue 30 subtle
as certain to ultimately pervade the
ab0des of mankind sll over the world;
but repeat them altogether from the
solemn stray Of charges against King
George which Immediately follow in the
declaration. These may have been just,
or they may not. Iu the long interval
OF time which has passed, ample oppor-
tunity mas been given to examine the
with more calmuess than
when they were freshly made. May ven
the sovereign was iu reality such grila,
cruel tyrant as he is, painted, and
whether fbe ministers of his dsy were
so malignant as We may be led to infer.
TIE passage OF hundred years ought to
insure calOness in reviewing all judicial
decisions in history. Let me say, If 1
may be permitted to express an humble
opinion, the grave errors of sovereign,
ministers and the people were not so
much rooted Ia a spirit of will!ul and
passlonate tyranny IS OF thN6 ruperssi
tious independence which has marked
the policy OF that country in later times
down to comparatively recent da'e. A
very little show Of sympathy, Iesdy
ear to listen to alleged grievances, per-
maps graceful concessions made in sea-
son, disposition to look at the colonisis
rather as brethren than as servants to
squeeze something out OF, in short, a
fellow ship and not haughtiness, might
have kept orr affections ss Englisbm en-,
perhaps down to this day. The true
guidance was the treatment Of the colo
MES as burden instead of blessing. an
object out Of which to get ss much and
give as little as possible. Least of all
was there any conception of cultivating
common affections and 8 common inter
est. The consequence OF the mistake thus
made was not only q gradual yet q
steady alienation Of the people, but to
teach them habits OF Independence.
Then came at last the appeal to brute
foTcs, and all was over. Such seems to
me the true cause Of the breach, and not
30 much OF wiilful tyranny, and 1t is
quite SO jus .ifiable reasol for separa-
ton as any or all more vehement accu-
sations so elaboTately accumulated in
the great declaration of 1915. Passing
from this digTt ssion, let me r, sumo the
consideration OF the effect OF the adop-
ton of the great seminal principal which
! have already painted as the pillar of
fire illuminating the whole of our later
path as an independent psople. That
This light has been no mere fisshy,
Pickering or uncertain guide, but stead
i,y directing US toward the attainment
of new asd great results, beneficial not
more Immediately to ourselves than in
to the progress of other ma
tions OF toe world, it will be the objsct
of the reet of this address to explain.
The speaker reviewed the chief OBJ.
iacts which have bean secured by the
republic during the century, and sketch
ed the causes which led to the war of
1872, which, he said, was waged in part
under the cry OF free trade and sailors
rishts-s severe trial, but one abun-
dantiy rewarded by the benefit gained
for liberty. From the date Of the peace
with Great Britain down 10 the present
hour, 10 cause OF complaint has occurred
for the impres sment OF an American cit
izen; no difficulty in distinguishing cit
izenship has been experienced. even
though no change has been made In ths
language common to both countries.
In short, no more men have been taken,
whether on land or on the ocean, by
force, or on any pretense whatever.
enough. however, fifty years
later a question Of parallel import sud.
denly sprang up, which for a
moment threatened to present some
nations in 8 position precisely reversed.
Tne naval commaI der of a Uaited
States vessel assumed the right to board
q British pas asgenger steamer crossing the
sea on her way home, and ssizs and
cary off two American citizsns. Just
ss proceeding he was Immediately re.
sented, snd nssqusDty there was
new step in favor OF liberty on the
ocean. For the security Of the civilized
world the great waters are now open
to all nations, and the fIg of any
nation covers all who sail under it in
times of peace, and Great Britain her.
self, in times long gone by, has merited
- q 10 ~ fura NJ ~ fha ooaor Do