Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-10-20

Of our great Nation has its system oI
common schools, and on hill and IN
dale, stand the citadels OF our institu
tions, tho common school houses. In
these strong castles of the people oul
Nations future pride and hope are
learning those lessons which will pre-
pare them to defend our eountry's in
stitutons against the assaults Of any
open or secret enemy. In the begin
ming, there existed laws which abridg
cd the freedom OF speech, aud Of The
press. Now, any freeman may, with.
out fear, proclaim his opinion TO the
world, and an unshacklcd press may
thunder forth its denunclations of evil
Bnt the true grandeur OF our Ma
tion is not in hs vast population, not
in its mighty cities and splendid pala-
ces, not even in its glorious common
schools and untrammoled freedom OF
opinion. The true grandeur Of our
country is in its invisible but Omni.
present atmosphere Of freedom which
is above and around all this material
grandeur, IN its divine sunlight Of lib.
erty, in whose benign warmth the
rarest flowers Of poetry and oratory
spring heavenward, and the most mar
velous and heaven.born genius bios
SONS and develops. Its true grandeur
is in its typical American citizen, a
true knight of II knightly race, whose
only armor Is the breastplate Of free.
dom, whose only weapons are the
truths Of liberty, whose mind and
heart arc free from fear, and whose
hands are employed in dong good to
his fellow.men. But will the grandeur
Of our country ever iadeg viii the
star Of her glory ever pale and die ?
The patriots heart is chilled with pro.
phetic fear when he remembers that
IN the past other glorious Nations have
risen, hourished, and then gone down
to ruin and death. Dark iorebodngs
shadow the joy Of his heart when he
reflects that corruption may iasten
upon our Nations life, and end in dark
disgrace our country's existence. He
trembles for the future when he thinks
that his people, forgetting their man.
hood, may degenerate into horde of
cringing otfice.seekers, who will leave
no means, however unworthy, unused
in their mad pursuit OF the lgnis Fatuus
which will lure them onward to the
destruction of their oountry's glory.
How, then, can our country's present
exalted station be maintained =? First
let our people rise in the majesty Of
their power and brand with eternal
iniamy, and consign TO eternal dis.
grace the man, whatever be bis name
or station, who is engaged in corrupt.
ing the purity of our Nations life by
the Infamous practices of the politi.
clans. Let the people stamp with
everlasting condemnation the men who,
surrendering the lofty independence Of
true manhood, go begging and barter
ing for the offices Of the land. Let
every American citizen resolve that
he will possess a patriotism so pure
and lofty, an integrity so invincible,
that the shafts Of temptation will fall
harmless at bis feet, and public and
private corruption ever find in him
dreaded foe. And young men OF the
land, to you is given the sacred duty,
the exalted privilege, of preserving
our Nations future grandeur A few
more years will come and 20, and
those whose names and deeds have
made our country peerless among the
Nations will have passed into the
realm Of tho land of death.
Yours it will be to take up the task
which has fallen from their nerveless
hands. May 1t be your high and holy
resolve to well prepare yourselves for
the great work which awaits you.
Give to mind aud heart that culture
which God intended they should re-
ceive. Cultivate unswcrving recti |
tude, n lofty independence, and true
patriotism. In the strength and pride |
Of young manhood go forth with will. !
ing heart and hand, and may you so
live aud labor in this glorious land of
ours, that through the centuries of the
future, the star Of our Nations glory |
may shine with increasing splendor
until, by its efulgent brightness, tyr
amy and oppression are driver from
their last dark hiding place, and UNI.
persaI freedom shall forever be the
heritage Of man.