Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-11

7
meet the necessities Of the vigorous, ex-
pandng republic they boldly set it aside
. and in its stead established n national union,
founded directly upon the will of the people,
endowed with the fullest powers of self
preservation and Vi,h ample authority for
( the accomplishment of its great objects.
Under this constitution the boundaries OF
freedom have been enlarged, the foundations
of order and peace have been strengthened
$ and growth in all thc better elements of ma
tioltl life has vinds ltcd the wisdom of the
! founders anil given new hope to their de-
} scentlants. Under his constitution our
people long ago ma! themselves safe against
danger from wihoi' and secured for their
r mariners and flag a : Quality of rights on all
, seas. Under this constitution twenty
, five states lave Lccn added to
, the union, with constitutions and
laws framed and enforced by their own citi.
zens to secure the manifold blessings of local
self-govcrnment. Tie jurisdiction of this
constitution now covers an area fifty times
greater than that of the original thirteen
States and population twenty times greater
than that of 1iS0.
/, The supreme trial of the constitution came
at last under the tremendous pressure of the
, civil war. We ourselves are witnesses that
the Union emerged from the blood and fire
of that conflict purified and stronger for all
beneficent purpose of good government
And now at the close of this first century of
growth, with the inspiration of its history
in their hearts, our people have lately review
ed the condition of the nation, passed judg-
ment on the conduct and opinions of political
parties and registered their will concerning
the future administration Of the government,
To interpret and execute that WILL in accord
| u-ith ha fut 1a mi
duty of the executive. Even from this brief
review it is manifest that the nation is reso-
lutely facing the front, resolved to employ
its best energies in developing the great
possibilities of the future.
THE EEsyITS OF THE WAR.
Sacredly preserving whatever has been
gained to liberty ami good government dur
ing the century, our people determined to
leave behind them all those bitter contro-
vcrsies concerning things which had been
irreyocahly settled, and further discussion,
can only stir up strife and delay the
onward march. The supremacy Of the Ma
ton and its laws, should lie no longer the
subject of debate. That discussion which
for half a century threatened the existence
OF the Union was closed 1t last in the high
court of war. l;v a decree from which
there is no appeal that constitution and the
laws made IN pursuance thereof are and shall
continue to he the supreme law of the land,
binding alike upon the States and the people.
This decree does not disturb the autonomy
of the States nor interfere with any of their
necessary rules Of loc.d scil-gOvcrnment, but
it does fix and establish the pcrmanence of
the supremacy of the Union. The will of
the Nation, speaking with the voice of bat
tie and through the amended constitution,
has fulfilled the great promise Of 1776 by
proclaiming Liberty throughout the land
TO all the inhabitants thereof"
TUE coLoEEp RACE.
The elevation Of tie NEGRO race from slav-
cry to the full rights Of citizenship is the
most important political change we have
known since the adoption of the constitution
of 1897. No thoughtful man can fail TO ap-
preciate its henelicrnt elect upon our insti-
tutions and people, 1t has freed US from
perpetual danger of war and dissolution. 1t
added immensely to the moral and industrial
forces of our people 1t liberated the master
as well as the slave from a relation which
wrongcd and enlecbled both. 1t surrender
cd to their own guardianship the manhood
of more than five millions of people and has
opened to each one of them career of free
dom and usefulness 1t has given a new in-
spiration To the power Of self help in both
races bv maxine loIpr ,nnrr honorable IN
the one and more necessary 10 the other.
The influence of this fore will grow greater
and bear richer fruit with the coming years
No doubt the great change caused serious
disturbance in oar southern community.
This is TO he dcpi red, though it was un-
avoidable; but these who resisted the change
should remember that uIdJr our institutions
there was no middle ground for the negro
race between slavery and equal citizenship
There can be no permanent DISTINGUISHED
peasantry in the United States Freedom
can never yield the fulncss Of its blessings as
long as the law or its administration places
the smallest olsiacl, in the pathway of any
virtuous citizen. III. ancipated race has
already made rcmarEahl" progress. With
unqucstioninG devotion t. The union, with
patience and gcntlcucss not won of fear,
they have "followcd the light as God gave
them to sec the ignt.' They are rapidly
laying the material foundations of self-sup-
port, widening their circle Of intelligence,
and beginning to enjoy the blessings that
gather around the homes Of the industrious
poor. They deserve the generous encour-
arement of all good men. So far as my
authority can lawfully extend, they shall en-
Joy full and equal protection under the con-
stitulion and the laws.
sTALwAET lITFEANCE.
lhc Tree enjoyment "i equal suffrage IS
sun IN question, ami a frank statement OF the
issue may ald III It's solution. IL IS alleged
IN many communities that negro citizens are
practically denied the freedom oi the ballot.
In 50 far rs the truth cf this allegation is all
mittcd, it is assevcred that in many places
honest local government is Impossible if the
mass of uncducatcd ncgrocs are allowed to
vote. These are grave allegations. So far
as the latter is true il is Tie only palliatlon
that Can be offered for opposing the freedom
of the ballot Bad local government is Ger
tainly great evil, which ourht to he prevent
cd but to violate the freedom and sanctity
" .e t'.'i' IN 80 Al. :.
government itself Suici,i,. is moi a remedy.
Ii in other lands il Lr Li.,b treason IN com
mass the death of the Liu- il siould be
counted no less n crime Lcr,. Ia slrangle our