The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-06-04
THURSDAY. JUNE 4, 1885
ADDRESS GF JUDaEA. ". TERRELL,
Before the Literary Societies
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI,


UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI,
COLUMBIA, JUNE 1, 1885.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
The vessel, which after long and
stormy voyage to distant shores re-
turns TO the port whence it sailed,
though with SparS shattered and sails
torn, is still expected to have some
merchandise which it did not bear on
its departure. Thus l, after an alb
Sence of over Jhirty-fye years, return
for the first time time to this, my
Alma Mater, and though bringing but
little that j can claim as my own by
right of discovery, will express to you
some thoughts and convictions, that
were strangers to me when departed.
Like the waves of the tempest. tossed
vessel they may be little worth, but
grounded, as L believe them TO be, in
the rights of men, they may induce
reflection. This is nay utmost aim
my chief dLsire.
The first public address of my life
was made within the walls of this
University, and my theme was "T1tE
DIGNITY OF LABOR" Now, after
wstching for many yeers the tendency
OF our social system, 1 have learned
to contemplate more closely the rights
of labor. These rights are german
to my subject tonight, and have in
spired its selection.
The grandeur Of this government,
its apparent prosperity,-a lofty
faith in human nature,-the march of
civilation,-the spread of learning
these, and like themes usually inspire
oratory on an occasion like this, and
: minister to pleasure. Yet, by as much
as these blessings are valued, by so
much is it the duty of the citizen to
scan closely The horizon, and observe
the drift of the clouds that threaten
them. For hold that no higher duty
can inspire the American youth, than
that which requires him to study
every danger that menaces civil liberty
Id 6his government, which is now the
grandest. and Is still securing a larger
liberty to larger number of people
than IN any other existing in all this
world.
TEST OF CIVILIZATION.
Civilization, in its largest sense, is
that general advance which popula-
tions realize, when law securing So
cial order represses the tendencies of
man to an aggressive and vicious life
1t is susceptible of continued progress
and its standard will be elevated Just
in proportion as the idea of humanity
is realized, the social and domestic
relations are refined, and the absolute
equality of all classes of people before
just laws, is recognized and enforced
The progress of civil liberty, in the
last hundred years, is traceable largely
to the influence eXerted by the lead
Ing universities in Europe and Amer
ica. Forty-three out Of the fifty-siX
SlgnerS OF the American Declaration
of Independence were classical schol-
arS. The universities were then, as
now, the grand centers in which free
inquiry and independent thought were
encouraged, and where free speech
found its most uptrammelled utter
ance.
Civilization does not merely embrace
the social well being, or even haI pi-
ness of populations; it means the de-
velopment of the Individual life-the
advance Of the human mind under
equal laws-the development of The
individual man. The healthy pro-
gress of civil liberty is dependent on
the condition, thai the progress of the
mental and moral faculties of the in
dividuals who compose the social fab.
ric shall keep pace with the apparent
progress and development OF the
social system itself. This is the true
test of a progressive civilization.
During the Augustin era, civilization,
which had reached the zenith of its
apparent progress, turned back before
the vicious glare of a golden era; for
tie vices which spring up in the path
of avarice, have always suppressed
and strangled the growth of those
virtues which are the necessary condi-
lions of human progress.
\ thousand years OF barbarism in
Europe was the penalty which civiliZ-
ton paid for permitting the avarice,
luxury and vices of the few to flourish
at the expense, and by the labor of the
ignorant multitude. In the curricu>
lum of the studies of this University
there is one devoted to political econ
omy, which embraces the management
of natioA'S resources and of its pro-
ductive capital and labor.
PRIyTE CORPORATIONS.
invite you to consider with me,
from standpoint above and beyond
the domain of party politics, whether
the existence and rapid spread of
private corporations, which invade
private industries, is not a standing
menace to the progress of civilization,
and the existence of civil liberty.
AS far back as 1870, Charles Francis
Adams, commenting on The celebrated
gold conspiracy, OF New York, used
this languages: "For the first time
since the creation of these enormous
corporate bodies, one of them has
shown its power to trample ON law,
custom, decency and every re-
straint known to society, with>
out scruple, and as yet with
out check. The belief is growing
in America that the day IS at hand |
when corporations, far greater than |
the era, swaying power which has |
never, in the worlds history, been |
trusted in the hands of private citi-
Zens, controlled by men, or C mbina-
tions of men, after creating a sys- |
tenn of quietlbut irresistible corruption, /
will succeed in directing government |
itself. Under the American form of |
society there is no authority capable |
of seccessfuI resistance" Such were
the words of warning from the lips of
pure and thoughtful mana the time
when the stability of all values was
unsettled by the bold conspiracy of
bad men, controlling the power of
one corporation. When he said there
was no power capable of effective re-
siStance, think he was mistaken.
HONEST BUSINESS.
No man, or copartaership of men, is
permitted, by. government, If he or
they have visible property which the
hand of the law can reach, to contract
debts and avoid their payment, The
corporation, composed of men who,
when united assume under charter |