The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-15

rarely, if ever, come. Another important
cause of our success has been the character of
our countrymen--espec thatr capacity
for self-government, which has thus far been
transmitted with little loss from our colonial
ancestors. The early colonists had come from
nearly every European nation-from England
and Scotland, from green Ireland, from sup
ny France, from the picturesque banks of
the Rhine, from the dike-encircled Businesses
of stout little Holland They were, with few
exceptions from the middle class of Europe
an society. They came for different pur-
poses-chiehy for religious and civil liberty.
They were Protestant and Catholic. Al
though differing much in certain respects,
they had become assimiIated under similar
conditions of conflict with the wilderness and
the Indian, in the habit of self-reliance, and
the love, and, to large extent, the practice
OF local self government. They were born
Republicans. The change of institutions
which the revolution effected ID little in
t1uence on their character. It simply recog-
nized in form what in large degree existed
IN fact. 1t is one of the best grounds of our
hope in the permanency of our institutions
that they had their origin in the natural con-
ditions of our society, and that they truly
represent The spirit and practice of our peo-
pie for many generations. Still there is no
doubt that our national success has been
largely due to the nature of our institutions
| will not dwell to- day upon a subject
which has so often been discussed before you.
1t is sufficient for me to reassert that the
Declaration Of our fathers has been no IN
meaning tissue of g;ittering generalities, >"
but was indeed the most compact and preg-
nant statement ever made by man of ever
living abstract truths applicable alike to all
mankind in all ages and countries. The man
who shall attain in any land to the wisest aud
justest conception of human society shall
only more fully confirm and illustrate the
doctrines of that renowned Declaration. |
need not say to you that the Constitution
which our fathers afterwards adopted was
far more conservative instrument The men
who formed our government were no theo-
rists. They believed in liberty limited and
made effective by law. They did not sit
down to frame Constitution, as men have
since done in France several times and some
other countries occasionIly-beginning their
work by throwing away all the experience of
former generations and razing to the ground
the old structure of their society-mistaking
always revolution for reform. They reorgan-
lied what was good in the old They left
unaltered that which they had proved valu.
able by experience. They sought to build
on the solid structure of English freedom
which they had inherited government
adopted to their new situation and the
changed conditions of their society, vet re-
tanning some features of that of the mother
We might wish now that they had
been less conservative. All how many
angry discussions could have been avoided
had they defined more fully and precisely
the relations of the national sovereignty and
that of the States What anguish! What
amount of blood and treasure What alien
atoms of fellow-countrymen had been spared
this generation could they then have provid-
ed in that instrument for the freedom and
equal rights of all men, without regard to
race, creed or color! How many broken
hearts and vacant homes it has cost us to
harmonic the Constitution with the Decla
ration Happy are we that we are permitted
to-day, with preserved Union and reunit-
ed people, to rejoice at last in the consumma-
ton Of our fathers work. They built as
wisely as they were able. AS one of the
number expressed it, "the Constitution, if
not the best conceivable, was the best possible
under the circumstances" 1t was long be-
fore even this was adopted by all of the
States, and probably at no time before or
since, and only in that moment Of patriotic
devotion, could one as good have been vol
UNFAIRLY accepted by all of the original
states The Constitution is the organic law
of that portion of the American continent
which we occupy. 1t made of us one nation.
1t constitutes the strongest bulwarks of our
liberties, guarding us on the one hand from
the wild misrule and anarchy which would
surely result from the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
Union and the separate existence Of Earring,
jealous, self-interested states; and, on the
other, from the crushing weight of one con-
soliiated imperial power. Our safety lies
in conformity to its provisions. A departure
from these would engulf at last the best
hopes of freedom and the world in anarchy
or.empire. Long may it live in its integrity
and supreme dominion over all sections of
our common country and all its citizens. |
may but add, that it is the spirit of our in
and their recognition of equality
of right among all men, "of dependence
of government upon the people, " of the
of rulers to the ruled" which
has impaired such energy to our people, has
attracted to US so many from other lands, has
'fered such free opportunities of action, and
las so stimulated our material and intellect
lal development.
That which chiefly concerns us now
8 the preservation of our institutions
n their original vigor and purity amid
he rapid expansion of our population,
he increase of our states, the changes going
Onward in the constituent elements and
character of our people. Certainly never
nave we so much needed the thorough edu-
cation, moral, intellectual and political, of all
classes of our citizens-especially in our
Southern States, where the means of educa-
ion have been so scantily supplied. Intel
icence and virtue are still and will ever be
The chief supports and the indispensable re-
uuisites of free Institutions. More than ever !
DO we need to cherish the old regard for law
and that moderation of spirit which is the
first principle of self government.
It is the unwelcome Office of the speaker on
this anniversary. like the ancient prophet,
to call attention to some of the perils which
attend our national progress and sound
note of warning.
SEGTIONALISM.
Aud first, I note the peril attending the
sectionalism of our political parties as one of
the most important and immediate that con-
Germs us as a nation. Peculiar circumstances
have arrayed again the states south of Mason
and Dixon's line solidly on one side of our
political questions, and the Northern states,
with almost equal unanimity, on the other
side. There are some members of both the
great parties in either section, but the great
body and strength of them both stand thus
sectionally opposed. 1t is of little conse-
quence now to inquire what has been the
cause of this. 1t is sufficient to know that
it exists, and that it is diseased and dan
gerous condition of the body polite. There
is, ordinarily. nothing alarming in the politi-
cal agreement of large number of our states
on he one side or the other of our leading
issues. But the solid union Of the same
states which were so recently arrayed in con-
flict with the national government-knowing
that on political questions proper they do not
agree, and that they are united for sectional
purposes only--constituting thus nation
within automatically awakens the
deepest solicitude, and will continue to do
this while this state of things exists. I'm
doubtedIy the mitigating influences of time
i I 1ko