The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-07-09
GRAFTON.
BY M. MCINTYRE, ESQ.
Delivered at the city OF HiIisdaie,
July Ath. 1s7s.

1
tutored by fear trembled at the mo-
mentous possibilities OF the hour; lips
that would smile on death turned pale
and quivered, as they whispered with
bated breath the emotions that control
led them; hearts that could stem the
battles shock undaunted, palpitated
with terrible suspense; high in the
steeple stood the old bellman grasping
with nervous hands the iron tongue OF
the bell; a boy was stationed in the
hall below TO give immediate signal Of
the result. Hours passed on. HOPE
was fast giving away TO fear, when
slowly the door swung wide and n
voice exclaimed, 'It has passed p
Wild with excitement the watch-boy
clapped his hands and shouted, "Ringl
Ringl" and ten thousand voices drown
ed the clamor Of that grand old Lib
erty Bell" n ID proclaimed liberty
throughout all the land to all the in
hsbitants thereof.
At that moment the immortal ins.ru-
ment to which you have just listened
was consummated, That declaration
instituted a new era in the history OF
civil government. Then was present
ed to the world the first system OF con-
stitutional government based upon po-
litical equality and the general consent
of the people. Most governments had
been the creations OF accident, or the
result Of unforeseen events, rather than
the accomplishment OF design. Lib
erty had previously been enjoyed only
as il was wrested from oppression, or
as il had been reluctantly granted TO
silence popular clamor. or 10 appease
rebellious faction. Chartered govern
ments called republics had indeed ex-
isted, but they only granted limited
privileges and restricted civil rights. -.
In all other political organizations the
people derived their franchises from
the government Under this declara-
ton the government derived it's power
from the people. The potentates Of
the world were astounded. So great
subversion of established principles
could not be accomplished without
convulsion. England's pride and Eng
lands interests could not permit such
radical reform. Seven long years Of
warfare proved the principles announc-
ed invincible. Needless is IL for me to
repeat the oft told tale. Familiar as
household words is the story OF that
long and gloomy night OF warfare un-
til at last the day star arose on high
aud the dream of free government OF
the people, by the people, for the peo-
pie became an established living fact.
Prophetically did the patriot Adams
say, This day will be celebrated by
succeeding generations as the great
anniversary festival. 1t ought TO be
commemorated as tho day OF deliver
ance, by solemn acts Of devotion to
Almighty God. IL will be solemnized
with pomp and parade, with shows,
games, sports, guns, bells, boDfres
and illuminations from one end OF this
continent TO the other from this time
forth forevermore.
1t is this spirit Of gratitude and pa
| triotism which convenes US here to-day.
| Here again do we offer our VOWS Of
| fealty to the genius OF our institutions
But does il not behoovs us to remem-
Der. amid all the hustle and pomp and
pageantry of the day, the future is yet
before? Is il not wise that while we
celebrate the wisdom and patriotism OF
those who bequeathed TO Us this price
less heritage, We look well to those
means and measures which shall pre-
serve il? IL is not enough that our Ma
tional birthday should open with tre-
mendous noise long drawn out and end
in pyrotechnical smoke. Two years
ago we all journeyed back to our birth
place and in old Independence Hall
celebrated the event Of our majority -
A certain amount OF the effervescence
of callow youth must cease, now that
we are entering the years of manhood.
Let US, then, view some OF the Difficult
ties and dangers that await us, and
mark out those principles for our guild
ance which shall ensure the perpetuity
OF so noble an enterprise so nobly be-
gun.
To my mind one Of the greatest dan
gers TO which our institutions are sub
ject is the power Of political parties. -
Men always have and probably always
will differ as TO the measures and men
that shall control them. IL is highly
proper and necessary that great parties
should exist, in order TO act as a check
and resistance TO oppression. No OPP
preston il so dangerous under our
form Of government as the domination
Of a great political party. The tyran-
ny OF an Executive, or the usurpation
OF power by an American General
would result in his speedy execution.
The despotism OF party misrule would
be acquiesced in as the result OF the
peoples choice. IL is false and per.
nicious theory that our government
should seek the greatest good Of the
greatest number. The safety OF our
institutions is based upon the welfare
aud prosperity OF ALL. BY the ballot
we should simply decide what the ma
iority believe TO be for the benefit Of
all. That victory alone is permanent
which elevates and ennobles the van
quished. No majority can maintain
stability and ignore the rights OF the
minority. Equal aud absolute justice
10 every human being in all our broad
land is alone the rock OF our salvation.
Political parties have forgotten or
forsworn this great fundamental prin-
ciple. The acquisition OF maintenance
OF political power is alone the great
object Of their ambition. To accom-
plish this no demagogism is so treach.
erous, no rascality 80 vile, no disloyal.
~ so odious, no injustice so foul, but
that unthinking party followers will
obey party behests and applaud the
means employed. though justice and
eternal right be trampled upon in il,
unscrupulous course. Statesmanshir
has been made subordinate to degrad.
ing system OF mercenary partyIsm, in
which public purposes give way 10 the
cohesive power Of public plnnder.-
Party rule has pandered TO every po
iitical vice and furnished incitement to
every kind aud method Of political
corruption. It has debauched public
morals 30 that extent that dishonest
public servants are the rule and honest
ofiice-holders the exception. It ha,
abolished the virtue OF honest opin
ions, making loyaty TO party superior
10 loyalty 90 country. IL has conform
ed our public men into partisan trick
sters and knayes, converted popula
elections into contests of fraud, mad,
the ballot-box an emblem OF licentious
ness, and subjected all the affairs o
state 10 the sinister DEGREES Of tyran
py more arbitrary and more unscrupu
lous than any other the world has eve
kuovn.' i challenge successful contrs
tlictiou ilrst the statemants Just ex
pressed. however harsh and unpalata
bic they may seem, are other than On
simple aud absolute truth as TO both q
the great parties which have so lon
controlled our government. As 90 Oh
p new party which Is so rapidly attain
, ing the dignity OF an influential power
/ -. can nplv fuIna hv tha r,.aaau..