The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-08-05

Judge Luoius p. Little's Speech.

Judge Lucius p. Little's Speech.
Judge Lucius p. Little delivered the
following speech at SUNDAY school
celebration near Mt. Pleasant church,
Daviess county, July 18th, 1855.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN The ia.
vorable circumstances under which we
are assembled to-day is matter for con-
graduation. In a land Of peace and
plenty-exempt from the disease that
wastes other lands, surrounded by
churches and schools aud in the full
enjoyment Of liberty guaranteed by
law-we should not only be grateful
to the Giyer Of all good, but mindful
of the wisdom and patriotism that
made these blessings possible. We are
free American citizens. How few are
the lands the sun shines on in his daily
course, out side America, where dwell
Ter therein can say "my fellow-citi
zens?" There is not a country on the
globe where government is established
"i'it ptisoua lbtfty III 81 iaRc
measure exists as we enjoy it to-day.
American citizenship il the source Of
our material and intellectual prosperi-
ty. Credit il due il for all that is glori-
Gus in our past history, and it is the
sheet anchor of our best hopes for the
future. 1t seems not inappropriate TO
this occasion to speak to you on the sub.
ject of citizenship. The members of a
government, subordinate to the ruling
power, are denOminated citizens or
subjects. A subject is defined to be
one who owes allegiance to a sOver-
eign. In so far as citizen is bound
by the law he il a subject of the law,
tn which he Ia subject) owes obedi'
ence. In this sense, however, a king
Of a constitutional monarchy il a sub
magma charter and by other limita
tions on her royal prerogstive. A citi-
zen is member of free State-Of a
republic. The word citizen imports
not only one under control of govern
ment, but also one who participates in
that control. Aristotle defines a citi-
zen to he one to whom belongs the
right of taking part both in the DELHI
erative and legislative as well as in the
judicial proceedings Of the community
of which he is member. A citizen in
the true sense can only exist in free
State. A subject may be citizen, but
all subjects are not citizens. In short,
the citizen combines in himself the
attributes of subject and sovereign.
There was a time in the history of our
country, after its colonization, when il
contained no citizen. Somewhat over
a century ago those born ON American
soil were subjects, and very abject SUBJ
jects of the British crown. These were
colonial governments, but they exer-
cised their limited powers by King
Georges royal permission. The few
rights they supposed they had were
not respected by the British King or
his government. Taxes were imposed
without representation. This act, in
connection with other bad treatment
from the same quarter, aroused that
feeling that resulted in the declaration
of July 4, 1875. On that day this land
ceased to be the home of a subject
people. BY a transformation as won-
derful as that worked by the lamp of
Aladdin the letters of the subjects fell
off, and our fathers stood forth with
free hands and free hearts-free Amer
lean citizens. While citizenship i'm its
coming brought blessing and gladness,
it also brought trial and tribulation.
The revolutionary war followed. For
seven years the tide Of battle ebbed and
flowed. Sometimes the American flag
fioated in victory, but often it was
trailed in defeat. Again and again
were British armies sent hither for our
subjugaticn. 1t was in vain they
whipped the American citizen. He
never knew when he was whipped.
In fact, he had come to stay. The
children of Israel jOUrneyed forty years
i'm the wilderness on their way to the
promised land. The celOnists fought
seven years to win their way from
British servitude to American liberty.
The Almighty raised up Moses to lead
his chosen people. Who will say that
raised up to lead the American people
The old confederate WAS a poor ex-
cuse for government, being defective
i'm plan and inefficient in operation.
Poor as it was, il was better than none
and served the purpose most gloriously.
The present federal government was
framed and adopted in place of that
old confederation. The new govern.
ment was stronger and more efficient
than the old. How strong it was and
is two foreign and one civil war have
gone far to demonstrate. 1t is doubt
less far from perfect-and, like all the
work of human hands, will never at
tain perfection-yet it is the best rep.
entative of republican government
on the globe. Thus far on this plan
the people have shown themselves ca
pable of self-goyernment. If this ex-
pertinent shall fail, if American citi-
zenship shall succumb, it may be
doubted II another republican govern
ment shall ever be attempted in all
the course of coming time. American
citizenship and the nature of true citi-
zenship has been well defined by
Thomas Jefferson. All men are created
free and equal, endowed with certain
lnalienable rights, and among these