The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-06-04

II ]
and ARISTOTLE were truly gres
men; but they never uttered sue
political maxims as these. The,
seemed never to have grasped th
idea of the universal brotherhood O
man. And l will venture the asser
tion that now, in this. the 18th cen
tury, there is net Statesman or
diplomatist to-day in Europe bu
whose mind and actions are sWayeC
by caste, and whose views of geV
ernmeut are circumscribed by thl
glory and prosperity of his owl
country. To an Englishman, all the
world may sink-so England sWims
To a Frenchman, German or {
Russian, all the world is suspected
outside of his own realm. AS 8
proof of this witness the mammoth
standing armies of Europe. To-day
the sword of Europe is sheathed,
but it takes two and one quarter mil
lions of men in arms to keep it there.
But the great heart of America
beats in sympathy with all nations.
Conscious of no design upon the lib
critics of others she suspects none in
them. She only wishes to see them
free and happy and prosperous.
The truth is her glorious banner was
never formed for conquest-except,
indeed, it be the conquest of peace
and good will. Now for a century
she has seen star after star appear
upon her azure folds, but so peace.
able has been its character. that
whenever it is carried among all
peoples, kindreds and tongues, they
hail it with joy, and when they think
of their own wrongs the muttering
thunder swells the anthem of our
American song,
''The star spanged banner, oh long may it wave,
Ger the land Of the free and the home of the
brave"
Now, my friends. to US all, it is an
untiring pleasure to drink in the
beauties of the varied landscapes
but we dislike to come in contact
with the bogs and quagmires of
earth. So we love to praise our lib
critics and to dwell upon the glories
Of our country; but we dislike to
come in contact with the dangers
which threaten them. We now en-
,er upon this portion of our task to-
lay. We have just stated that our
system of government is
ounded upon the consent of the
governed and depends for it's per-
,etuity upon the wisdom. virtue and
,ducation OF its citizens.
This Government may justly be
ermed co-partnership of sover-
,igns, who, by the ballot, at stated
lines, set apart certain ones into
legislative assemblies to enact laws
or the whole, and after the will of
he majority. Now, if this definition
# our Government be true, then the
'ublic welfare imperatively demands
he education Of every one of these
0vereign eitizens. To set the mat
er in the clearest light. let US sup.
ose an extreme case. Suppose
hat our National Congress and
tate Legislatures were composed Of
nlearned, ignorant men, represent
ng an ignorant constituency. Sup.
ose them wholly unacquainted with
be intricate science of political
conomy, or with the principles of
government. How
ong, think you, would our liberties
tand? How long before we would
IN into the widest anarchy, and
some foreign Alexander,
'asar or Napoleon lead US to the
7ildest conquests? Yes, my friends,
here is a responsibility resting upon
ach one of US to-day, and We can
OF shun it, aud dare not If we
ould and charge it right home to
be hearts and consciences of each
ne of my audience now, aud tell
ou. that the American citizen who
eglects the enlightenment of his
wn mind and the education Of his
is an enemy to himself and
and clog and incubus
pom the body politio,
The greatest anxiety in the mind
fthe true American statesman to- l
ay, if he were not afraid to say so.
the danger of the ballot in the
ands other unlearned and ignorant {
Itizens. And it is no wonder.
Vho can estimate the power and in
uence of the ballot in free gov
ga weapon that comes down as still
As snow-hakes fall upon the sod,
But executes the freemans will
As Lghtnings do the wiz Of God.u
THE coLoRED RACE.
And while / intend these remarks
, apply equally to all conditions In
'ciety, take the liberty 10 remark.
specially to our colored citizens.
hem we are glad to see in so large