The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-18


1t may be worth your time anC
attention on this occasion, to entel
into a retrOSpectiOn of the past, tC
dwell for a season upon the cUndi
tiOns and circumstances OF he peo
ple that stood at tile foundation o.
our republic and grasp some of the
causes that impelled them on to 8
series of actions that resulted In sc
satisfactory success, a success
that lett 20 those who came after
them a government, republican in
form, full of promise, broad anG
comprehensive, replete with power
to secure and protect all individual
rights, even TO the age of progress
siYe ideas and liberal thought, and
at the same time possessing power
to maintain the sovereignty OF
government in the hour OF internal
connections and the direSC agita-
tiOns.
This success came at the close of
long and bitter strife. A struggle
under the most unencOuraging cir
cumstances. But the results were
complete, grand and glorious. Let
US trace some of the many causes
that led to this struggle; perchance
while so doing, we may become ami
mated with the same spirit of pure
devotion to those lofty principles
that inspired them, and catch, it
may be, some of their characteristic
zeal; and, l may say, nnsullied
patriotism; and with that old mis-
toric determination, created anew
in US, seek to perpetuate those
heaven descended doctrines of free
thought and equal rights, and by
virtue of the strength received from
their sacredness, TRANSMIT them to
our posterity.
The most potent cause presented
to nay mind, "was that found" in
the language of the historian, 'in
the natural disposition and in
herited character of the colOnists."
The reasons offered by their
fathers, for leaving Europe and COM
ing to this western world, made an
enduring impression upon them.
The remembrance of the many
acts of unkindness and oppression
they had received had no tendency
to induct into their hearts a love
for European institutions. "For
six generations they had managed
their own affairs, and their Situa-
ton and surroundings would
lead them to a republi-
can or democratic form OF govern
ment.
Their fathers had left the lands
of kings and potentates. The broad
Atlantic lay between them and the
thrones CT mOnarchs. Their eyes
had never beheld a crown, and the |
they had received from |
those who wore these comets Of
power was not Of such a
nature as to win their admiration
Or irespect. l havel no doubt
hat the personal character of |
George III, had much to do in form
ng the determination of the
colonists. His total dis
'egard for all civil rights, and his
larroW-mindedness, calling to his
men Of the same type as
himself, thus forming a government
he natural tendency of which was
10 ALLEVIATE the hearts of the coloniStS
against him and his kingdom. His
lespotic sway drove men from
Tim rather than drew them to him.
5 gain, the colon'sts had obtained
experience in their
vars with the French and the Indi-
ms; and through them had estaO-
ished d confidence in their own
.bility to defend themselves and
heir country against any encrOach-
nent upon their rights from any
'ower, especially that they had
earned to detest.
In religion they were not Ortho-
IOx, bat. had disSented from the es-
ablished church, and sought to
Worship God according to the die
ates of conscience, allowing the
rod Of a free world to shape and
OTm that conscience through the
Ontact of the influences into which
o had led them. They seemed to
artake of the nature Of !
he very elements that en-
ircled them. The sound of the
uShing waters amid the New Eng
md hills seemed to fined an echo
d their hearts and send a thrill of ,
berty and freedom through them.
he very mountains and wales into
Thich they went to erect their
ONES and their affairs, reverberated ,
18th the songs Of independence, and ,
ne air they inhaled but made more
ealthy and strong, and vigorous
1e bone, sinew and muscle of those
tho were born to be free men.
Can you wonder that they had t
lie hardihoGd to endure the strug- I
Ie?
These are the men of whom $
rankin wrote TO some of his Eng
sh friends, even at this early date: s
Americans will fight. England
as lost her colonies forever" Who
yer heard of people who had /
we'd under the benign influence of t
publican government conserving l
go back to the thraldOm of mon '
,chialinstitutions. True. they have a
trGgaded, but under Vitiating in
Iences.
Another cause advanced by the C
storian was the Indictment Of '
rance. 1t is held, and l think t
stly so, that France would never q
ave agreed to the treaty by which Il
anada was coded to England, had 6
# France entertained the idea Il