The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-07-11


their laudations of this glorious land which
offered an asylum of liberty for all mankind.
Coming down from the first half century.
lust fifty years. to the one huudredth anniver
sary Of our National Independence, I AGAIN,
by invitation, delivered an Grafton in The
same place and town where gave the fitch.
Here was opened wide and almost limitless
field for the review of the past half century
Invention and improvement had revolution.
ized every branch of material enterprise
There was new creation old things had
passed away on the farm, in the workshop.
in the factory in al these, old machinery
had been thrown aside and new had taken ito
place.
/ Never before in any nation in the world .
history were there such rapid strides of nro.
gress as during the second half century ~
our national life. The rise of Rome. at mn
time after it was founded on the seven hills
by Romulus and Remus, bore no comnarison
in advancement to this new western Repub.
lic
| In reviewing the past, on the one hum
dredth anniversary, it seemed to finite
minds that invention and improvement had
exhausted human ingenuity and that but
little of possibility renamed to be achieved
Eight years have since elapsed. Science.
discovery and art, during this brief period
have already added largely to the wonderous
| improvements recorded at the end of the
second fifty Years. Forty-two years more
and the l50th anniversary will be reached
provided misrule aud revolution shall not
have overthrown the government What
will then be the advanced condition Of This
i fhn IL
dict. If the government 0f the United
States shall endure thousand years, it
seems hardly probable that events of such
magnitude will take place in any fifty years
as those which occurred during the second
half century of our national life. TIE
emancipation of three million slaves will
alone be thrilling chapter in the nations
history
| Fellowcltizeus take no delight in saw
| ing things to mar the pleasure of this ami
versary occasion, but should be recreant
to my convictions of duty were 10 pass in
silence some of the departures from the bet
| ter old-time ways. While our country pos
sesses all which in the general estimation
of mankind passes for national greatness, it
must be conceded that as people we have
| deprecated in moral integrity. American
| politics have degenerated new kind of
candidate for Office began to be born within
che pact forty years Before that period the
candidate had the virtue of modesty, and
waited to be invited to take office: the mod.
ern candidate has lost that virtue; he does
not wait to be asked to accept Office, but as
pires for it with as little reserve as hungry
| beggar asks for food. Availability now
more than qualification determines nomina-
tons for Office. The average member of
Congress often records his vote on questions
of governmental policy more from personal
and party considerations than from regard
to the interests of the country.
We haYe fallen on evil times; crime in
every conceivable form startles rs by every
days report. ] will not attempt to portray
the depravities that stare US in the face.
If statistics may be relied upon. capital
offences are more frequent in the United
States than in most countries Of Europe
While there has been marked advance in
every department Of science, there has been
falling off of craftsmanship especially is
this true in the Congress of the United States
lduring the past half century. The men in
the Senate and House of Representatives
whose words once commanded the respect
of the people of the nation, have passed
away, and their nantes have not fallen on
their equals. The like Of those historic
men who once adorned the halls of the
national Legislature are now not there
Whoever now visits the national capitol will
not be inspired with reverence as he looks
upon the assembled wisdom of this great
Republic. The old-time decorum of the
House of Representatives has departed, and
not unfrequently the scenes remind the
spectator of boisterons old-fashioned town
meeting.
The Senate OF the United States, which
half century ago had the reputation in
Europe and America Of being the most tai
ented, noble and dignifed body If legisla tors
in the world, cannot be conceded that honor
now. Political machinery and money have
aided many to obtain seats in that body who
would not otherwise be there
! What is true of deprecated craftsmanship
is equally true of Congressional oratory.
Where are the orators of former days. whose
powers of eloquence moved audiences ia
crowded halls and galleries, as the wind
sways the trees of the forest They no
longer hold dominion in either house of
Congress. Does the depreciation of states.
manship and oratory indicate intellectual
degeneracy Probably not; there are other
reasons, which time does not allow of men
ton.
Fellow-citizens: 1t is not nay intention to
speak disparagingly of our country. AL
though it has its defects, it is after all the
same grand Inheritance bequeathed to us by
our foTefathers. 1t has faults, but the sur
prise is it has not more. In view of the
mass of iliteracy that has flowed in upon us
from all parts of the globe, it is almost mar
velous how the pressure on our institutions
has been sustained These drawbacks will
be overcome. Our hopes for the future are
based on wider diffusion of education and
the moral and intellectual elevation of the
masses. The mission of the church and the
school is to save the Republic. have not
the spirit of prophecy, but have firm con-
viction when the people become thoroughly
tired of longer tolerance of the causes of de-
pravity and crime there will come reaction
they will rise superior to their present es
tate, and higher and truer civilization will
have supremacy.
| Fellow-citizens: The people of these
United States have grand destiny before
them, if they will rightly claim it. No ma
ton in the. worli has like opportunities for
such sublime achievements as this, under
wise administration of government.
| Our trust is In the future intelligence of
the people, and above all in Him who con
trolls the affairs of States aud Nations. Our
| Union we will cherish
Sail on, 0 ship of State;
Sail on. o Union strong and great;
Humanity with all its fears
With all its hope of future years,
Is hanging breathleSS on thy fate:
We know what masters laid thy keel:
What w0rkmen wrought thy ribs of steel;
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope.
What anvils rang, what hammers beat
In what forge, in what heat,
Were shaped the anchor of thy hope.
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'TiS of the wave. and not the rock