The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-07-23
A Country Floating on Questions

The following is an extract from an
address delivered by Dir. Starr ct the
late Commencement OF Randolph
Macon College
The process of crystallization is a
secret, and so is this matter of molding
the legislation Of a republic by the
ballots of the million. There are a
thousand questions yet to be asked
about this experiment of popular
liberty under the reign of law, which,
at one time may be vigorous and bene-
fical and at another time reactionary
aud destructive.
Perhaps l would fail to interest
some who are in this assembly tonight
if l were to paint forest with frozen
rain on trunk and twig or scene in
the artio world with broken ice-pack
grinding aginst the rocks along the
shore or yet another scene among the
mountains of Switzerland where the
visitor may inspect, a cavern cut into
the very heart OF glacier. Ii were
to bring these features of physical
nature within range Of youl eye, with
the understanding that each one of
these mental pictures is SIMPLY de-
signed to illustrate the mode by wich
water takes new form, better adnpt-
ed to the Transmission of light and far
more beautiful in the glow of the sun
shine or under the frosty touch of the
moonbeam, if could fix your atten-
ton upon all this, and awaken your
enthusiasm as student of the Won
derful works of God, what would be the
value OF it all, outside of the custom
airy use of any class of illustrations,
and how instinctively would our hearts
and our thought spring to the consid-
Grafton of that other tropic announced
only a moment ago-what shall be
the destiny Of our native land? The
fanciful method by which nature
chisels the edge of crystal is only an
atom when compared with the monu-
mental fact that this country must
rest upon the question OF thinking
men or perish for lack of that knowl
edge of the situation which can alone
be obtained in each succeeding ably
a free exercise of the right to inquire
with out trammel or restraint, into
men, principals, and events, whethel
they belong to the present age or tC
the historic past.
What would become of us withou
free investigation in legislative coun
ellis free speech on the rostrum and tn,
freedom OF discussion in the news jour
nails of the day?
Abuse Of privilege there may be, ant
yet thank God for the liberty of th'
press.
The pulpit, the school-room and tn
Industrial enterprise Of the people ar
unitedly working wonders every day
but they can neither supplant nor sub
stitute the newspaper.
IfJupiter Olympus should ever com
on a social visit to this country, h
> would fix his mountain seat in the to-
story of printing-office and borroV
editorials for thunderbolts, and swa
y off his three-prong pitch-fork for DO
= Of steel pens, bottle of Stafford's inl
and ream of paper, cut to suit tn
pencil of the universal, the irrepressi
J Bile, the irreducible and the never-t
L be yanquished reporter for the new
> paper.
Who does not like the papers as the
go walking, galloping, flying over tn
country? l like them because the
dare to ask questions, and there is nj
u patriot in the land who cannot unit
|, with me in exclaiming "thank Go
u for the liberty of the press!"
l honestly believe that our nation,
g government is the strongest on ii
: face of the the globe, because its foul
Il dation stones grapple the bedrock
Is common consent in the hearts of q
= the people. And yet the salvation
> the Republic depends, under God, II
4 on spirit of inquiry that shall be
/ conscientious as it it free-the resi-
4 of popular desire to know the wor
and then do the best.
The conditions of perpetuity are e
shrined in the very heart of the col
S pact which binds us together; and Il
Id bond Of Observation-Disclosures around
g. is Gods wall of gold to fence in t.
I'd political salvation of our people.
VI Charlottesville Jefersonian.