The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-24
A, Grave an Issue as Was Ever Pre-
sented TO the American People.

selves Independent on the Fourth Of July,
177G. Their independence was in fact estab-
lished only by seven years war. The self
Sacrifices the suiierngs Of that early
struggle, the cost in treasure and blood. i'm
perfectly as they are recorded in history,
I'LL the reader with admiration and rever-
ence for the Sublime courage and patient
endurance OF the infant people who bore up
under them and persevered to n glorious
end. The leader in that war and our first
President is admitted on all hands to have
beon as admirable and exalted character
as figures In the annals OF the human race.
Was that war an unwise undertaking or
was it worth oil It cost? What did we gain
by it2
We gained an elective Chief Magistracy in
place OF an hereditary monarchy. This is
the most important feature distinguishing
our Government from that of Great Britain.
1t is true, the upper House Of our national
Legislature also differs from tina; OF Great
Britain, the members being elected by the
several States for a limited period, instead
OF being hereditary. But the grand differ
ence between the two forms OF government
pertains to the Executive This is the dis
tinction which most perfectly estab-
fishes and most wildly illustrates the
absolute equality Of rights which per-
tains to all native born American
citizens. Any American possessing the pre-
scribed qualifications of age and citizen
ship may be elected President OF the United
States. Without this provision there would
be no such thing practically as the equal
enjoyment OF the highest right. The ex-
tent OF the influence which this has had in
implanting the feeling OF self-respect and
self-reliance in the minds OF the people, and
in imbuing them with an ardent love of free
institutions, can hardly be exaggerated.
We suppose no one can be found at this
day who deprecates as an act of folly the
Revolutionary war. which, through the gra-
dations, first Of the original confederacy OF
States, and afterward the adoption OF the
principal articles of our present Constitu-
ton, ushered this nation into happy exist
ence, and crowned the history OF man with
the character of GEORGE WASHINGTON, the
paragon for all coming time. That war was
wise, and Injured vastly to the benefit OF the
human race.
We come next to our late civil war The
trees are yet young that grow over the
graves OF its heroes. Their name is legion,
for 1t was war not waged for hereditary
leaders, but for liberty, and for country
which every private soldier felt to be his
Uwn and in which his stake was equal to
any other mans The civil war was fought
Tor the preservation Of what was gained by
the Revolution-a Government with Chief
Magistrate for limited term, chosen
by the people from their own ranks,
Us its leading and most essential
characteristic. The cost OF this war,
in money and blood, was tremendous
Yet among the widows and orphans it made,
bAiphr WV lAl'tiA0 ~ l'uAl'ltA NiillhltS7, lltl
one IS found TO complain that the preserva-
ton Of our free Government, with its cleo
tive Chief Mngistracy, was not worth the
sacrifice. The civil war, then, was wise, like
that of the Revolution.
Now our equal rights are assallcd by a
new danger, which never arose before. Our
free institutions, after having proved them.
selves efficient against the assault OF ar.
mies are undermined by Fraud. Money
changers and oliicc-brokers have insidiously
stolen into the Temple of Freedom to make
unhalowcd traffic Of the rights of the peo
Pile. For the first time we have II President
Of the United States who was never electcC
TO that office Thus for the time
being the most important and peculiar
Of all our free Institutions is overthrow
We are no longer in the actual enjoyment 0
the right to have n Chief Magistrate of oul
own choosing. Stcalthlly and fraudulently
1t has been taken from our possession. /
We submit to be deprived Of it in this in
stance, what certainty have we OF recover
ing tin the future? II it can be taken from
Us once, it may be taken twice and thrice; II
may be taken forever. If 1t was worth tw'
wars, Is it not worth protecting now?
The tirst duty Of the whole nation is TO Sc
this matter right. 1t IS the greatest wron.
ever perpctrGtcd in our history. Nothin,
can exceed it in Importance. No obligation
can be more immediate or more imperativ
upon a free people than to restore founda
ton stone on which their liberties rest She
it has been temporarily displaced in tn
practical working Of the Government. Thl
first; other things afterward.
Voices are heard around us counsellln
acqulescence in the great wrong. The
speak not the language of patriotism or {
wisdom Nothing needs to be done nor
certainly, nothing needs to be done soone
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