The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-10
III IJR b COU RISE
THE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
POLITICAL MORALS.
By non. JNo. "A. HUTCHINSON.

abilities Of securing peace and respect TOR
law, iii a republic il which the popular
will is expressed 50 frequently if he IS
+ asked, why do we trust IN the pacific per
manence Of power. when the visible
means to that end, III the hands of gov
eminent, seem 50 inadequate, what an
swer will he give Great Britain and Ire
land with population ofless than thirty
two millions have L a standing army Of
$4,000 men. Germany, with 4 popula-
ton ofless than forty three millions, has A
standing army Of 42o, 900 men France.
having a population lof thirty-seaeh mil
lions, has aregular army IF 47o, 200 men;
Spain, having population IF seventeen
millions, has regular military force of
$50, 700 men, while the United States,
with 4 population IF forty-four millions,
have standing army Of only 70, 900 men,
To keep the peace, enforce law and sus-
tain authority, protect constitutional lib
erty over an area Of territory more than
FIVE times greater5in extent than the com
bined territories Of Great Britain and Ire
land, Germany, France and Spain.
Having 100000 ballot boxes to guard,
to preserve fairness and peace in the
midst of 5000. 900 Of electors, in this
year 1880, do we need more epaulettes
and bayonets7
Our hopes of peace and social security
rest on no ever-aWning military power,
nor in the espionage Of a secret police;
they repose on mutual confidence, in the
just bond Of written Constitution.
A Constitution of seven plain articles,
and fifteen simple amendments. The
shield Of Jupiter was mythical goat.
skin; the aegzs Of American nationality IS
no. legendary parchment, no gorgon- head
surmounts the buokler, but on the scroll
we see the planssof A mighty temple yge
even hear, in the very yestibule, voice
that repeats itself along. all the corridors,
mall the chambers, saying, "We, the
people, form more perfect union we
establish justice We insure domestic tram
guilty We provide for the common De-
Tense we promote the general welfare;
we secure the blessings Of liberty to our
selves and our posterity. ss
This was the voice--these the pledges
of less than 4, 600, 900 in 1857. How
has the covenant been kept? What have
been the forces arrayed against the more
perfect union; against the establishment
of justice against the assurance Of do
mestic. tranquility Q against the general
welfare7
4 Who hazard tile blessings Of liberty ?
What is the answer Of a hundred years
What reply the $4,000, 900 to.the patri-
otto pledges and performances Of 4 ooo,-
oooP \.
What win Be the response a century
I hence. when 10000 900 must be inter
rogatedP
The strength ofpoltical society consists
|. iii its Iadministraye power, but this power
Is no more competent, no more wise, no
more3virtuous and just than its authors,
The promise Of national welfareis made
to the integrity Of popular virtue.
The topic 5chosenifor this evening IS
some "glaices5 at political morality On
this occasionlth reference Is. to politics,
not ii the narrow sense Of partisan jug,
y glery, but,in the deeper land broader sig
MITIGATION, involving high and pure char
acterand sound craftsmanship.
The politician, shallower than his shall.
lowvessel, struggling on the current Of
mixed, muddy, party politics. the most
clamorous confusion as the distracted ele-
ments circle I'M deceitful eddies around
hiin--does he. ever look upward to high
Ct life, nobler end inpolitical ofganiza-
ton, than the mere contention over. the
spoils Of paltry loaves and fishes
Fisher Ames justly says: Our wis
dom made a government and committed
il. to our virtue to keep, but our passions
have engrossed It, and they have armed
their vices tomaintain their usurpation. 1
Our Constitution and laws form colos-
sal, complex body ofpolitical science.
The bare scheme, the form Of structure
] without the embodied spirit IS practically
dead. IN nature, without thesvital i'm.
: pulse, there IS no development SO in