The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09

free thought and free speech among the masses OF
the people. 1t has secured the freedom OF reIlslo
and permitted every man, under his own VINE ana
flo tree to worship God according TO the dictates OF
his conscience, no one daring to modest ormake MN
afraid Under the benign influence OF our Tree
institutions the forests of new world nave 0een
feIed. marshes have been drained ana the wider
ness has been made to blossom as the rose caials,
railroads and telegraphs have been Dullt uhltllis
the most distant parts of the country in the bonds
of friendly intercourse and commerce; mllllons OF
happy homes have been created i'll city, town ana,
country rejoicing in the protecting gis OF the Union
churches, SchoOhOuSeS and colleges cover the lallu
and spread faith, and hope and knowledge among
great and free people. Under divine providence we
owe these blessings TO the influence OF the noeTaI
institutions bequeathed TO US by our fathers, ana we
have reason TO be thankful that our lot mas been
cast in this land of liberty and equality and that
ours is the proud distinction OF bearing the name OF
American citizens.
with our liberty that may be abused and peryert
cd into false individualiSm and RIGHTEOUSNESS, ana
that in this way the permanency OF our lnstitutons
may be imperiied. That no doubt, is true but that
is no argument against liberty and in favor of des
potiSm Is not despotism exposed to the same dan
g5erSS Has not Russian absolutism given rise to
Nihilism which at this moment threatens to destroy
not only the empire but the whole social Order
Have not the strong governments OF Europe fostered
a spirit of communism and socialism. which IS now
causing every throne to tremble? The remedy for
the dangers ofliberty is not the destruction Of ber
ty Everything good is liable to be abused. When
God created man a free agent there was the dan
ger that he might abuse his liberty and SIN put II
was better that he should sin than that he should
not be free So il is better even that cyll liberty
should be abused than that liberty should be taken
away but il is better still that it should exist and
not he abused; better that al classes of citizens
should be so intelligent and so NlrtuOus as 10 use
their great privileges not TO their injury but TO
their benefit and il is to be hoped that this will al
WAYS be the case. But however that may be. one
thing is sure and that is that the principles of lib
ertv and equality the principles on which hang
the future homes of the world. The people Of other
nations and cimes are looking 20 Us 10 teach them
the lesson Of SeIf-govenment aud thus help them
to rise 10 a higher plane Of civilization and live
better and happier life 49,,
let us not then be frightened by the dangers which
are iuSeparable from liberty. Let not the aposues
of deSpotism beguile with their grand notions OF
the best government on earth. Let US NOT De
charmed with the fatal spendor Of the strong gov
ernments Of the old world for they are made strong
only by devourng the flesh and drinking the biood
Of their people Let u ee content thar our so' s
in the past be strong not in the use OF great armies
and navies but in the affections OF the whole PEG
pie. Let us be true TO the memory OF our reNulu-
tionary fathers and all viii yet be we'll Let the
history of the glorious past and the lesson, when II
teaches De lndenbY cngraNeh on nul ~ -, -.
us tell this history IN the ears on our Chiulel, la'
the knowledge OF itmay FIJI the latest generations
with admiration and with gratitude. There arr
some pages Of later history which the true patflo.
will ever blush % read and which good men and
honest will strive 70 forgetlc Us pass that by II
i that earlier history which We celebrate this day,
and the rlory Of which is the common property %
the whole country, that We, a. Americans, must
never forget IL i the story Of Mashlistel. ais's
Hancock and jefferson. AMI Adams, the story Oh
Green aud Lee. aud Wayne, AMI Marion anu ho>t
NJ other wprthics q that same time. tur story %
Boston. and bunker hA44s AElfl t4t'ltAttNAA s.-i'
Trenton and Philadelphia and Valley fougc, aud
Georgetown. that would seynl to-day a. matter
~ rSfrinrc rejoicing May the st1Ty make its pro-
per impression our hearts may y inspire "a VIA
loftier PATRIOTISM = decpeg gratitude more gen
ernrs love OF our whole country, aud hrlleT ueFo-
tom 70 the sacrsi cause OF liberty and Jaw. Lei u
rr5lyr that We viii ever b. true o. the Genius 81
America and that the bcneHcsBt institutions u hteA
~, bev,, inherited fr,m our fathers which have f0s
tered our Infancy. protected our youth snd ma1e
us happy aud prosperous 10 eur manhood shAh D
handel down. without flaw % : ereach. - eur
posferiiv And b this great cause the cause ~ lie-
ersv anil equality the cans Of peace and unity, the
cause Of righteousness aud law. let y bow p'c4sc
our lives our s1rtuucs and our slrrcd honor.