The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-20
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1877.

to satisfy. Roads must be constructed,
rivers made navigable, the powers OF
nature made subservient to the uses OF
man, youth instructed, and many
opment of his nature done, which
could only be accomplished by
cooperation under the guidance and
control of government. Besides this,
as man increased and multiplied, and
spread out over the earth, cOngregating
In separate tribes and communities,
government became still more neces-
sary for the purpose Of protecting each
of these communities from the incur
sions,and attacks of the others. [ have
required to these elementary ideas
about the origin and nature of govern
ment, in order to remind you OF the
stituted--of it's necessity to the happi-
ness and welfare of man, of the impor.
tant interests that are confided to it, of
the great benefits which it is capable OF
bestowing, and for which indeed we
must look to it alone. This government
is the representative and embodiment
OF what we call our country. How in
finitely important it Is to US that we
should have country that loves us, and
IL we would have country that loves
us, is it not necessary that we should
love our country.
The development Of civilization and
Of International law has not been favor
able to the sentiment of patriotism.
zen of the world. It is hardly possible
for us to conceive of the deep devotion
which the ancient man felt for his
country. In those old days q mans
country was the only spot on earth In
which he had any rights. To the whole
universe beside he was stranger or an
enemy. III he placed his foot upon any
foreign soil he left all rights behind,
and was subject to any outrages which
cruelty or rapacity might see fit to in
fiict. II shipwrecked upon any foreign
shore, he was subjected to the dangers
OF plumber and enslavement; Ii cap
tured In war, his person and effects be-
came the property OF the captor. His
1t contained his family, his friends, his
hearthstone, his pendtes and the tombs
of his ancestors, but because it was his
sole refuge and fortress. What wonder,
then, that he loved, venerated and de-
feDded it
Hence Punishment became the heavi-
est punishment that could be inflicted
for the crimes OF citizen. If you would
appreciate the horrors of this penalty,
read the letters Of Cicero to Atticus,
written during his exile. The lamenta-
tions of Job under all the tortures Of
divine wrath, and Of Pe1lico In the soil
tude of a loathsome dungeon, are tame
in comparison with the walls OF Cicero,
with friends and enjoying
every comfort of life, but eXiled from
Rome.
Country is more than father or
mother" says Socrates, "and whatever
violence or whatever Injustice she in
fiicts upon US, we must submit without
striving to escape from it," Such was
the ancient idea Of country and Of pa
triotism. This enables US to appreciate
the true Roman spirit with which
Brutus asks, "Who Is
here so rude that would not be O
Roman? Who Is here SO Uile that would
not love his country"
Although, in the progress of civiliza-
ton, the relations between the Poop les
of different States have been placed
upon a more benevolent basis, so that
the man who can travel may find pro-
lection in any country, yet 1t remains
true that the vast majority Of men must
pass their lives within the dominions OF
LILO uttblOu W buOy OClObS1 edh
must look to its government alone for
all the protection and benefits which
are instituted in order to
bestow. We are told by the wise Vat
tel that "the love and affection which
man feels for the State of which he Is a
member Is q necessary consequence or
the wise and rational love he owes to
himself, since his own happiness Is
connected with that of his country.
This sensation ought also to flow from
the engagements he has entered into
with society. He has promised to se-
cure its safety and advantage as much
as is in his power; and how can he serve
it with zeal, fidelity and courage IL he
has not q real love for it ?"
Having thus attempted to enforce the
gotten That this duty OF the citizen is
attended with correlative obligations on
the part of the State. The State Is
bound to secure the citizen in the pos
session and enjoyment OF his rights, to
preserve, protect and defend him, and
to provide and enforce just laws and adj
In an imperial or mon
archical government, where the soy
ereign is independent of the people, it
is possible to conceive that the greatest
hate and bitterness Of feeling between
different portions OF its people might
coexist with the most perfect perform
ance OF the correlative duties OF the
State to all its citizens and OF all citi-
zens to the State. But, in republican
where parties divide upon
this very question of hostility to
each other between different sec
lions of the people, and where
the majority ordain and constitute the
50 that it is but the repre-
sentative of the sentiment and will Of
that majority, it is apparent that such
a state of affairs is Incompatible with
the peace and happiness OF the State.
II the minority bear hatred and malice
to the majority who create and estab-
lish the government, it cannot be ex
pected to love the government which
ranrosapto ap5 will nrdipo rilv enfaron