The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-01-04


and selected for this perpetual, enduring,
and eternal honor, as the representatives Of
her birth and growth the opponents Of her
purposes and her conviction the apostles
of her mission and the prophets of her
destiny, these less illustrions ciiizsns-John
Winthrop and Samuel Adams.
The race TO which We belong is chayac-
terized by resis.less energy. Descending the
slopes OF the great central Asia,ic plateau
in prehistoric times, it has moved west
ward through Europe by some mysterious
impulse, subverting empires, displacing
populations, substituting languages, i'm
posing new policies and institutions, and
giving Iise TO an organic series of nations
which have succeeded each other like the
annual harvests Of the earth. 1t was not
till the seventeenth century that this great
column in its prodigious migration reached
the shores OF America, and found here for
the first time in its eventfGl march an un-
limited field for unrestricted growth and
development. To an unoccupied continent,
whose river valleys and mountain ranges
compel national unity, it brought the ideas
which il has preserved amid all vicissitude-;
ideas whose vigor had successfully resisted
the notifications Of climate, sol, and phys-
zeal conditions which had defed repres
sion, and when restrained by power too
great to be overcome, had preferred deserts
and Unacceptable solicitudes rather than
eneryating submission to tyranny. Re-
iusing to adulterate its blood with inferior
races, it had not degenerated nor lost its in
tellcctual methods aud traditions. II loved
to make laws ard then 10 render obedience
to them. 1t preferred charters TO the
sword. 1t was profoundly religious and ex
pressed lis faith in ,olemniiies and creeds.
Since the Christian era there have been no
great political movements that have not
had their impulse In religious sentiment
The idea OF Messiah has preserved the
national existence Of the Jews during two
thousand years of persecution, and Of die
pers;un to the uttermOst parts OF the earth.
The dogmas Of Mohammed changed the
destiny of three continents. The protest Of
Luther against Romanism gave direction
10 the whole current Of modern history
The Reform nation gave the Commonwealth
10 England and the Puritan to America
Foremost among these pioneers was John
Winthrop, a voluntary exile, seek
ing unrestricted liberty of con-
science. The little community
that gathered around him necessarily
assumed political relations. The idea OF
personal freedom and Independence per-
meated the fabric and became its control
ling impulse. As new colonies crossed the
sea, the necessities Of defense compelled an
association upon the same principle, and
when at last the e1sctions OF England grew
again to be intolerable, Samuel Adams be-
Of tho ial a, ttaa v.olitsnot
gospel that all men were created equal
In the interval that has followed the
final removal OF exterior obstacles the ideas
of Winthrop and Adams have advanced
with memorable vigor, subduing continent
for their hahitstIon, and moulding with des-
poiic sovereignty the institutions and laws
of forty millions of men. Ii has been said
that the Puritans came TO America to wor-
ship God according to the dictates OF their
own consciences, and 10 compel everybody
else 10 do the same Whether this be true
or not, it is certain that the political sys-
TEN based upon the ideas Of Winthrop
and Adams has been inilexibly aggressive
and iutolerant. During the early years of
the Republic il regarded with increasing
discomfort the advance of human slavery.
Its opponents were lot warned in time.
Democ-acie5 are generous bat they are
Jealous. They endure much bat when they
are wronged they sometimes take more
than their due. When dissatisfaction as
sumcs the form of resentment, one volume
of nations history is closed and another
is opened.
The irrepressibie conflict was proclaimed
and the contest waged with increasing in
tensity. Political complications deferred
the crisis till the issue was precipitated up
on the plains of Kansas, and John Brown
OF 0sawatomie there raised anew the stan
dard Of universal freedom under which lie
marched TO Harper's Ferry, and which the
nation seized at the gsllovs of Charlestown
and bore in triumph to Appomsttox court
house. Whatever may be said of the
policy or experience of these great move
ments, history will not fail to record that
those who inherited the political prin-
ciples of Winthrop and Adams
were ineXorably logical and courageous,
and that they shrank from none of the
of their convictions. They
were not only determined 10 be free them
selves, but that all who were accessible 10
their influence should be free also
whether they wanted to be or not. They
promptly relinquished the rights of con-
euerors, and admitted the vanquished to
the full exercise OF unrestricted citizenship
Following their doctrines to their logical
conclusions they made citizenship national;
they enfranchised the illiterate millions
who had been relieved from bondage and
intrusted them with the ample perogatiyes
of freedom. 1t was a terrible experiment.
S.lf n,e I'D g..
such a stress before. Whether it will
survive the shock remains to be deter
mined. The portentous emergency that
confronts US to-day is one Of its inevitable
results, and 1t will require the active CO.
operation of all the higher forces of society
to prevent destructive organic changes.
The tendency Of the Democratic idea in
America has not been destructive as in
other countries. 1t has not striven to tear
down, but to construct and build up; to
repair and not to wssie. 1t has always
exhibited an impulse toward the coalition
of all its elements. Whether in the feeble
days Of the colonies or the succeeding era
of our growth and glory, this instinct has
always been visible and it has developed
into a purpose whose conservative and
benefcent influence cannot be overesti-
mated, rot only in the present but IN all
future crises that may threaten the nation.
This purpose is national unity, the deter
miuation that the United States shall be a
great continental Republic, powerful and
indissolcbie, offering a refuge and asylum
to all who love liberty, and sovereign among
the nations OF the world. To realize this
sublime conception incredible sacrifices
have been made. Personal rights for q
long period were cheeriully surrendered.
Armies and navies have been organized for
military and naval operations commen-
surable in magnitude with the great fields |
upon which they were conducted. Hun |
ireds of thousands of lives have been sac-
rifced and hundreds of millions Of treasure |
expended to establish the national iIteg- !
ritv. II ia not too much to say that this |
purpose is 20 deeply imbedded in the |
convictions Of the American people that it |
,an never be abandoned. 1t has cost too |
much to be peacefully surrendered. We
sre now in a transition period. We have |
acquired . habit Of subordinafion, and |
nav confidently anticipate the acknowl-
dyed supremacy Of law.
In view OF these considerations. this in
eruption of the proceedings Of the Senate
n the presence OF questions Of momentous
interest ceases to be inopportune or formal
d is an admonitioa OF profound signi6-
.sncs. Massachusetts turns from her war