Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-06-11
Intelligence and Liberty.

WcstoIn MURAL
With the increase of intelligence in
CHS country must come a greater de-
gree of safety to individual rights and
popular liberty. Intelligence and
slavery are never long found in CON-
oanionship. Human slavery has al.
ways rested upon ignorance, and I'M
Ter any system of bondage, instruc-
don of the slave has been an unpar-
aonable crime. Liberty and human
tights may be established by the bra
very of unintelligent human machines
upon the battlefield, and the flag Of
humanity carried to victory by men
who have little conception of the in
tricacies of government or of the just
relations existing between man and
man. But intelligence alone can util-
ize and preserve the glorious fruits OF
victory. In the hands of an intelli-
gent citizenship the foundations OF
popular government and the pillars OF
universal liberty can never be crum-
bled by the fiercest waves of passion
or of treason, and the star of freedom
will grow brighter, and the flag OF
freedom will grow grander and more
imperious as the ages grow older.
Walking over the fields that have been
stained by the most precious blood that
ever coursed through American veins,
and among the vacant chairs at our
firesides and a half million hallowed
graves in our church yards, the study
of the American patriot is how to per-
petuate forever the grand, glorious
harvest which has sprung from all
this sublimity of sacrifice, and TO give
every soul in all the world his natural
birthright, civil and religious liberty.
Such a noble aim of national existence
and of individual purpose. such 10y
atty to humanity, such acknowledge
ment of the universal brotherhood OF
man, such n triumph over the selfish
ness of the early ages and OF early
government, and such an imitation OF
the lofty designs of the Great Ruler
himself, are thrillingly inspiring and
brilliantly sublime. An interest like
this in the common brotherhood by
great people who are tempted to ex-
clusiveness and selhshness by the nat
ural and eXhaustless wealth and beau
ty of their country, and by their supe-
rior power of conquest, streaks the
history of the world with laughing
rays of sunshine which sparkle like
angels smiles amidst the gloom OF
barbarism; it is like summers soft
ness and bloom breaking into the
midst of winter, or q delightful morn
ing following the stormy, frightful
night. Haunting in the breezes that
kiss a republic that was founded in
blood and preserved in blood, and
whose existence is perpetual remind
err of broken family circles, from
which the boys and men of 81 went
forth to do and to die. is flag whose
every shadow is laden with American
sympathy for all mankind, and from
whose every fold and stripe and star
beams a welcome to the enjoyment of
freedom and to home between these
two great oceans. Liberty for all is
written upon the very skies that hang
above our land, across every star that
wrinkles in the night; on all the crys-
tai streams that trip down the noun
tains and through the valleys; in all
our lakes and rivers; on mountain
peaks and amidst the grandeur Of our
plains; on every flower that blooms,
andsin every eve that gazes with pride
upon beautiful America, there is the
spirit of liberty, charity and fraternity.
The whole world is kin is the grand
impulse of the human heart in this
greatest of republics, and beneath the
lovliest flag in the world And to tit
men for the reception of such boon
as our country offers, to secure the
qualification of the patriots ardent
hope for the future. TO preserve what
has been gained, to secure n steady
progress toward still further develop:
ment, and to secure the perpetuity Of
free institutions, the nation bows at
the shrine of wisdom and prays for the
development of the human mind. Give
us intelligence, and no scepter will
ever cross our land; no tyrant will
ever profane our soil with his foot
fall, and cloud will never mar the
brightness of our sun of liberty, or
chill the hopes or happiness of the
humblest freeman who bears the
proud title of American citizenship.
Educate the masses. Fight the enc
mics of popular government with edu-
cation; throttle vice with mental de-
yelopment; teach men their rights and
an intelligent way to maintain them,
and every citizen of this great country
will be an efficient sentinel upon the