Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-11

West is pouring in upon us n constant
tide. In l1S0 We numbered three millions; in
/ lSSo We shnlI number ffty millions, and it
would not bestrange IL We should enter the
next century with ninety, and leave IL. If we
shoultsurv i've II, with fonr hundred millions,
and eveli that IS but fraction OF the numbers
that our national territory can sustain. This
rapid and Heterogeneous increase is itself n
peril, and is greatly enhanced by the terden-
cy of Our population to mass itself i'm great
cities. The average population Of our cities
increases at more than double the rate of in
crease In the country at large, and the cities
are charging themselves by absorbing their
suburbs. These great cities become The
haunts and hot-beds of the destitute and dun
gerous classes. Here Communism finds its
most ready and intammable material. Here
the WhislSey Ring prostitutes the ballot and
eebauches Justice. Here crime and pestilence
tester together. Nearly half the crime of
Massachusetts, is committed in Boston. All
history shows that great cities have been the
bane of free institutions. Here the principles
of secessiOn though not avowcd are practiced,
| Chicago, New York, and Boston pullify the
Sunday and liquor laws of their respective
st ties as fully and defantly ms South Carolina
nulific1 the laws of the Union. That ever
euce for law which markc ed our early history,
and which gave to ancient Rome her suprem-
acy in the earth, is beginning TO lose its hold
upon us. We need more reverence for right
| eOusncss, more honesty, Il patriotism broader
and deeper, II love of the state for the sake OF
nation, and Il love OF the nation for the sake of
the world-A spirit that shall hold us to the
more difficult and less glorious task OF living
for our country, as those whose memories we
cherish have died for it.
But, my rr1cnus, 1 nope better things
for my country, although l thus speak
Grand in her birth, and noble in her history,
| believe there is in store for her
II more iIlustrious future. This continent was
not reserved for us for so many centuries
without a purpose. God hasa great work to
accomplish in the earth by those who speak
our mother tongue. The English language is
identified with human progress, and those
who use it are gathering into II closer brother
hood. "Our Fathers raised their flag against
Il power to which for purposes of conquest and
subjugatlon, Rome in the height of her glory
4 is not to be compared. A power that has dot
ted the whole surface of the globe with her
! possessions, and military posts; and whose
\ morning drum-beat following the sun in his
i course and keeping pace with the hours, Cir
4 Giles the earth with one continuous and unbro-
\ ken strain of the martial airs Of England No
| bic mother of IL worthy daughter May their
I. flags never meet again in mortal conflict, but
1 ever wave as they 1loat before our eyes to-diy
in peace and amty, alrl may the red cross of
| Old England and our own Stars and Stripes
! baptized rs they both have been in precious
| blood, go forth together to peaceful victories
among all nations, until oppression and wrong
shall have forever ceased, and He shall reign
supreme who is LORD of LORDS and KING of
] KINGS. re-
REV. L. A. ARTHUR'S SPEECH.
| The next speaker, the Rev. Mr. Arthur, be
gan by referring 10 the great heritage of the
past which we rightly bear in mind to-day
| the heritage of civil liberty-'a government
| of the people, by the people and for the peo-
pie" He alluded briefly TO some of the res
| possibilities which came with the trust AS
we look to the past for guidance and aid so
| shall the men of the future turn to us. The
guide of to-day is yesterday, and the guide of
tomorrow shall be today. The speaker went
on to refer to the principle recognized by all
us lying at the foundation of American indie
pendence, the principle dear TO every heart
that all governments have sprung from the
elective system,-from the choice of the peo-
ple,-and that for their strength and their stu
bility they must look to the consent of those
whom they govern. lie referred to the act of
Magma Charta and the rise of the English
House of Commons and said that 1t was
great mistake to suppose that when English
men had come to America they could lose
their deep affection for their free institutions.
A change of longitude could work no change
in their love of civil liberty.
Mr.. Arthur proceeded to speak of a few les
SONS which he thought the observance of the
day might teach. Referring to the men who
signed the Declaration of American Indepcn-
dence and their acknowledged ability and
| learning, he held that there is pressing need
to-day that we put the best men of the
| country into the high places of National Coun-
sci, and keep them there when their fitness is
| proved. The speaker urged also that it was
time to cut loose from some OF the false talk
regarding the absolute independence of this
people from all others, and made a few refer
cnces to show our constant Indebtedness to
other peoples systems of government. And,
| lastly, viewing this nation independence as
the outcome of fixed and deep principle, he
|
should be referred to the same tribunal of
principle, not that Ola shallow and variable
pi esent experience.
Mr.. Arthur closed substantially asl follows
| my Friends you will lctme say that the vel
fare of our common country excltes my deep
est affections. The love of ones native land
| should be found in every fibre of every heart.
But dare to stand here and say that the only
possible basis for the preservation of true pop
ular liberty is to be found far down in the re
| ligious instincts of man. The great Irish pat
riot; O'Connell, spoke the truth when he af-
| firmed that "the voice raised i'll behalf of ones
country must first go forth in Prayer to God"
| You may point me to nation sunk in sin
! lost in the IpaZes of crime and selfishness,
stepped in drunkenness, Ignorance and profit
| gacy. And then it will be my turn, and
will thcreupon point you to nation utterly
weak in those elements which alone can make
| up the glory and grandeur of people. | will
| point you to nation which shall have but n
! short future, for it is the will of Him Who in
| turn rules the rulers of men, and Who holds
us in the hollow of His hand, the destinies of
the nationsand peoples of this world, that they
shall have strengthened they shall have life
only as they stand before the bar of a true NOR
atty and obey the laws of a Christian recti-
| tude".
The Rev. r. L. Bruce was next intro
duced who after a few preliminary re-
marks thus addressed the vast assem-
blage:
am aware that it is customary on such oc-
casions as the present for the speakers to at
| tempt to fire the American heart by indulgng
in good deal of what is vulgarly styled
| sprend engle. over the past glOries of orr ma