The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-08


tans of New England had insisted that the new
government should be all Puritan, or the Catho
lie of Maryland that ii should be all Catholic, or
the Quaker of Pennsylvania that it should be all
sOmbre and broad-hatted, or the Protestant OF
Carolina that it should he all heretic, or the
Dutch of New York that 10 should Danish all
creeds and become purely commercial and av-
arcious, manifestly consolidation would have
neen impossible. But they wisely and with char
ity for each other, resolved in the spirit OF free
dom and reciprocity TO forever divorce church
and State, and so far as individual actions were
concerned to wisely limit them only IN the
bounds of that immortal senunciation OF liberty
in law, $50 use thine own as that thou mayest
NOT injure another"
And so I insist upon the popular exercise of
this spirit of charity aud process of assimilation
in public affairs, not that any ones religious
faith shall he interfered with or their personal
liberty res strained, except as they may he so eX-
ercsed as to iniure others or produce discord IN
civil life but fear that some, even OF our eccle-
siastical organizations, are so in love with and
egotstic of their peculiar faith, that, like the
people prior TO the Revolution, they are incilned
to compel all persons to come to their standard
OF morality, both in faith and conduct, and can
not regard those whu differ from them IA other
than unworthy heretics, To be despsed IN polltl-
cal and social life well in religion. such
people would never consider the character of
citizenship of the country as approaching the
beauty of perfection until all were uni ed under
one faith, one creed, one rule of conduct, ana
that should be the one which they follow. In
the enunciaton of this doctrine, for the poll-
ical wellbeing of the people, l do not
mean that the protestant III religion, for
example, shall yield up any necessary part
convictions. nor that the Catholic shall become
any the less devout in his adherence TO the dog
mas of his church, nor that the liberal free
thinker should be forced to subscribe TO doctrines
his reasons and affections did not emb race. Let
them all enjoy their faith in free Thought, for in
every case IL will make them better citizens; but
insist that so far as governmental and civil
affairs are concerned, their charity aud fOrfear-
anee for one another shall be as broad as hui
mainly itself, and their admiration for an Amerl-
can citizen be generous as the mysterious i'm
pulses of patriotism, aud that all tenets aud
classes OF faith shall, in contemplation of the
common, mutual blessings of this splendid gov
eminent be buried in the higher aud nOber
| thoughts OF one God one country and one broth
erhood. Follow the example OF the wise men of
| the Revolution, and let no one demand or expect
that bis chosen doctrine, or his idea of human
conduct shall be the sole guide and character of
| public life and governmental affairs, thus asking
| that which in the very beginning would have
made the republic impossible.
The other source of power for the accomplish
| ment OF this reform is in the common public
| school system 1t is the great leveler of ieal-
| ousies, the depository of our liberties the hope
| OF the republic care not whether il is main
| tanned from the special revenues derived from
the sale of Intoxicating liquors or other evils,
specially set apart or designated for that pur-
| pose, or by the appropriation of other money
found in the public treasury so that 1t is freely
aud fully maintained. For when money from
variOus s0urces-Ot revenue is once cOmmingled
in one common treasury, care not whether the
farce of saying that the money used for public
school purposes has come from certain evil
source is enacted or not, but insist tnat the
amount so appropriated shall only be limited by
the amount of money which can be probably
used
Governor Hamilton concluded his address
with picture of the ideal American citizen of
the future.
He said: sIsither by education in the common
schools or by processes of reciprocity and
sanitation with his fellow-men he has learned TO
love his country and all its institutions with I'M
wavering, constant devotion, and proud in the
identity ana unity of its people, he regards them
the great household of human rights. In his
private reflections, his Judgment or his con-
science has led him to become an adherent of
some body of the great Christian faith, or, per-
haps, he prefers to hold communion with
the great heart OF nature itself; but what
ever his belief, he does not let it destroy his ma
tionallty. or obtrude itself arrogantly in public
affairs, and he does not demand that his neigh
bors shall all conform to the exact standard of
his perfection or incur his displeasure. He is
thoroughly Informed by reading. education aud
observation in the history of his country, its
constitution and laws, its policy and insritu-
tlonS. He does not hesitate TO give his counsel,
and express mis- candid Judgment and convIc-
lions on all public questions and measures
He does not hesitate nor consider it degrading
to take an active part in the politics of his coun
try from the beginning, and thus aid in mould
ing its policy, and shaping It's destiny in the
right direction.
"He does not deem it disgraceful for him to
attend with other frllow-citizens, although they
may not be as perfect he, the political eau
cuses, primaries, conventions and elections for
he deems it of great Importance that the wIsest
and most capable of counsels shall control ami
direct them properly that bad elements may
not obtain power; that bad measures may not
triumph in the hands of bad men, and that vir-
tue may prevail. He intelligently votes for
men, not on account of their former nationality
for he cares not to inquire of thar, but because
they are worthy, honest ana fit for the position
and because they advocate correct principles
He does not desire that officers should represent
any certain class. race artificial division of
people, but TO represent the wishes and princ-
pies OF their constituents in the methods and
councils of government.
''He gives mis- adherence to this or that political
party because he believes in tae purity of Its
PRINCIPLES. and
the correctness OF it's ideas of policy, and
not because 1t can adroitly deceive into It's sun
port the largest number of national classes by
meaningless and vapid phases in so.called
platform. He is not an office seeker. nor an
office despser; but, true patriot that he is he is
content to live proud and happy citizen, con-
templating with satisfaction and pride the
grandeur and prosperity of the republic OF, at
the call of his fellOw-men or his country he il
ready and cheerfully willing to bear any part of
the responsibility, and TO faithfully execute any
trust or task imposed upon him, whether it be 10
discharge the duties of offices of honor trust or
profit, or to bravely fight in the ranks of its de-
tenders to preserve its honor and integrity. He
has pride and faith III the nation. He reioices
In the name of an American citizen, and in the
hands of such as he our liberties are secure and
the republic is SAFE.
NOTES.
Next year the lecture course will last through
two weeks, and some of the most learned men
in the country will deliver addresses.
Yesterday closed the lecture course and it has
been a marked success. The addresses nave
been very interesting and the attendance good
Hon. Thomas II. Nelson, of Terre Haute was
on the grounds yesterday, and was mistaken for
Governor Foster, of Ohio. Apologies are now
forthcoming.
Last night the exercises consisted of discus
sion of Governor Fosters subject, practical
Treatment of the Temperance Question:" by Dr.
Ryland T. Brown and I. A. Goodwin.
Superintendent Sherwood yesterday rendered
Governors Porter and Hamilton a special train
to Acton, which was gladly accepted, as the dis
tingushed excursiOnists 'got left" by the morn
ing train.
Prof. o. P. Jenkins, formerly of Moore's Hill
College, but lately of Johns Hopkins University
was ON the ground yesterday. He has recently
been elected professor OF natural science at the