Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-06
GRAFTON
BY HON, JAMES Mem. SKATER,
JULY 4, 1885.
An ELOQUENT and Striking Histori-
cal Reyieu-Our Independence, Its
Accomplishments and Results.

Accomplishment and Results.
| Following is the address OF the Hon.
James Mem. Skater, delivered in the As
sembly chamber of the Capitol at Sacra
mento on Independence Day;
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :
| Were this Government TO be animated,
| were these United States their individual
| ity and all their political institutions, to be
at once destroyed or restored TO the domin-
ion of Great Britain, it would he apparent
| to the most limited mind that such reha-
| Utilization could not exist for 4 day. The
approximate equality of power, the dis
lance, the different traditions, the conflict
inc opinions as to the source and extent of
governmental powers. and the principles
| and forms of administration, would estab-
lish with both peoples the conviction that
| the new relation was neither desirable nor
possible
The present conditions of these nations,
| however, is not that of 100 years ago.
| Then on one side was power, contempt Tor
| Americans, disregard for all amenities of
intercourse, arrogance and injustice in the
exercise OF authority; denial OF all inter
! ference or representation in the formation
of laws which they were required to obey :;
| a practical denial of the right Of complaint
and petition. On the other side was weak
ness and unavailing remOnStrance.
1t, however. had a possession far more
reliable than mere physical strength-that
conscientious self-respect that refuses to
abandon duty because its discharge in
wolves personal loss that lofty courage that
is intensified by opposition, is undisInayed
bv difficulty. and unterritied by disaster.
They had, further the forecast, the faith. the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen, which enabled them to
see US as we are now, and 10 feel that the
glory of their act vas to be perpetuated for
all time, and that a great nation was to
speak praises of their names, and its min
listers of religion everywhere were to utter
thanks 10 God that in its great necessity he
raised up those great souls, the Moses and
Joshua of our history, who led the people
through many tribulations out of the house
of bondage into this glorious land of liberty.
WHAT CAUSED THE REVOLUTION.
With many the belief is entertained that
certain tritling extortions OF the British
Government were the causes that led tc the
revolt of 1776. That the enforcement Of the
tritling taxes alluded to furnished the occa
sion of the revolutionary contest admits of
no doubt. The real case was, in the opinion
of the people, as 10 the righttul power Of
the Government that controlled them, and
whether the power asserted was consistent
with the rights of men. The seeds Of free
thought upon religious and political topics
had borne fruit in America, and such con-
dition of mind had been attained that the
policy Of the home Government, as 1t was
termed. could only have effect by the Use OF
menace or actual force. The natural result
ensued-revolt and actual war.
The differences of opinion of the actors
in the war of the Revolution were generic,
and they arose from the characteristic quail
ity of the men collectively and individually
regarded In rejecting upon these distinc-
tions a thought occurs TO me, which am
almost inclined to believe is Il mere intel
lectual yagary.
UNLIKE MEN NATIONS GROW.
They are not born. Sprouting from the red
earth, ages elapse before their growth is &C
complshed Like men, for character, habit,
opinion and occupation, they depend upon
their habitat, its geographical situation, its
climate, its fruit, and their surroundings.
The sacred books of the Hebrews assign 20
the three SONS of Noah the perpetuation of
the human race. OF these the two elder
remained in their birthplace-the Asiatic
and African world.
| do not attempt to- reason as to the
cause but state a remarkable and dis
tinctive difference in the evolution of the
races at least supposed to have descended
from Shem and Ham, and what has been
called the Japhetic race. While the politi-
cal and moral maxims of Mencius and Con-
fucius in China, originating four hundred
years before Christ, the sacred books of
India of still earlier date, are among the
most remarkable of intellectual produc-
lions, they seem to have lad little influence
upon the physical and intellectual pro-
gress of man. With slight notifications
it may be generally said the people are
| largely inferior in all the higher attributes
of humanity 10 their Western contempo-
raries. Their religions are, on the whole,
materialistic and idolatrous. In Africa
they have their fetish in Egypt they have
as objects of worship the sacred ichneu-
mon, the bull and crocodile; in India, idols
-Juggernaut and with Burmah, the bull
and the elephant; in China, the spirits Of
ancestors and whatever else the imagina-
! ton NAV suggest The spirit of evil is
worshiped equally with the good; their
religious as well as their political notions
seem to be retrospective. They turn their
! backs upon Western progress, and with
one at least appreciatiye Devotion adore
the sun and its symbol, the sacred fire.
PArE1ARcHAL GOVERNMENT.
| In all that relates to government they
| have ALWAYS adhered to the patriarchal
! idea Ii was Moses that led the Israclites
from Egypt The Kings Of Jerusalem and
those that fought against elch other, com
mdnied and sacrificed their subjects with
out question. The Northern hordes fol-
! lowed Timour at his call. and Cyrus and the
! great Zenobia fell from the possession of
undisputed authority. Except as qualified
| by European interference, measurably the
same state exists to-day. Most of Africa is
governed by its chiefs. China and Japan
! have nearly absolute monarchies. The
! King of Burmah murders his subjects at
| his will. The Satraps and RajahS OF India
| yield nothing to their subjects, except as
| dictated bv British authority. The Persian
monarchy is nearly absolute. From the
\ Mediterranean eastward, including the an
| cient Nineyah, Bagdad and Babylon, and
| throughout all the Northern Asia, the no.
made people are all tribal and obeying
their tribal chiefs. Generally, It may be
| said that throughout all these vast domin-
| ions republics have never existed, and all
republican thoughts or aspirations if they
ever existed. died unknown, in the hour OF
their birth.
us 8ESJ Its.
The result is barbarism everywhere. The
ruler is simply the opprcssor of his people
Caste exists and controls all things The
,ow-caste men hold life often ut the will OF
the higher If he but touch the food OF
garment of his superior, he renders it
unclean, and subjects himself to severe
punishment. Cruelty and license are
everywhere. Polygamy is legalized, and il
required the exercise of the British power
to put an end in India TO polyandria, OF
plurality of husbands.
Cunning and craft have usurped the
place of craftsmanship; avarice and greed
exhauS: the public resources, only to feeC
the Golfers Of laziness, sensuality and crime
With few exceptions, there is little learn
ing. For the common people there are nC
great seats of learning -colnmon schools a:
we have them are comparatively unknown
No great useful physical discovery, no in
vention in the mechanic arts has, in tn,
later centuries, had place there. Theil
condition has been at best stationary, ex
| -.