The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-04

down the community to teach mankind that
their rulers Cypress them! About the time
when it was fashionable in France to cut off
mems heads as we lop away superfuous sprouts
from our apple trees the public attention was
excited by certain monkey, that had been
taught to act the part of patriot to great per-
lection. If you pointed at him. says The histo-
rian, and called him an aristocrat or monarch
ist he would fly at you with great rage and vio
lence: but if you would do him the Injustice to
call him good patriot he mantle every
mark of JOY and satisfaction But, gh the
whole French nation gaZed at this a. .al as a
miracle, he was. after all, very strange sight
There are in all countries, great many
monkeys who wish to be thought patriots, and a
great many others who believe them such. But
because we often deceived by appearances,
let us not believe that the reality does not exist
If our faith is ever shaken if the crowd of hypc
critical demagogues lead US 10 doubt, we will
remember Washington and be convinced we
will cast our eyes around US on those who have
tolled and fought, and bled for their country
and we will be persuaded that there is such a
thing as real patriotism, and that 1t IS one Of
the pureSt and nobleSt sentiments thaGcan warm
the heart of man.
To preserve the government we must also pre-
serve a correct and energetic tone of morals
After all that be said, the truth is that lib
erty consists more in the habits OF the people
than in anything else When the public mind
becomes vitiated and depraved. every attempt to
preserve 1t is in vain. Laws are then nuhty
and constitutions waste paper. There are al
ways men WlckeU enough TO go any Ie0SLHS III
the pursuit of power If they can find others
wicked enough to support them. They regard
not paper and parchment. Can you stop the
progress of a usurper by opposing to him the
laws of his country? then you may check the
careering winds or stay the lightning with a
song No Ambitious men must be restrained
by the public morality; when they rise up to do
evil they must find themselves standing alone
Morality rests on religion. If you destroy the
foundation, the superstructure must fall. In "A
world of error, Of temptation. of seduction; in
world where crimes often triumph and virtue is
scourged with scorpions,-in such a world GER
tainly, the hope of hereafter is necessary to
cheer and to animate. Leave us, then, the con-
solutions of religion. Leave to man, to frail and
feeble man, the comfort of knowing that, when
he gratifies his mortal soul with deeds of jus
tice, of kindness and of mercy, he is rescuing
his happiness from final dissolution and laying
it up in heaven.
Our duty as citizens is not solitary 1t
is connected with all the duties that belong to us
as men. The civil, the social the Christian
virtues are requisite to render US worth the con-
tinuation of that government which is the freest
on earth Yes, though the world should hear
me, though could fancy myself standing in the
congregation OF all nations, would say: Ameri
cans you are the most privileged people that the
sun shines on The salutary influences of your
climate inferior to the salutary influences Of
your laws. Your SOIL rich to provide, is less
rich than your Constitution Your rivers large
the oceans of the world are less copious than |
you. Your air is not purer than your civil lib |
erty, and your hills. though high us heaven and
deep as the foundations of the earth, less eX
allied and less firmly founded than that benign
and everlasting religion which blesses you and
shall bless your offspring. Amid these profuse |
blessings of nature and of Providence. beware! |
Standing in this place, sacred to truth, dare |
not undertake to assure you that your
liberties and your happiness may not be lost.
Men are subject to mems mlsfortunes If an
angel should be winged from heaven on
an errand of mercy to our country the
first accents that would glow on his
lips would be- Beware! be cautious! you have
everything to lose; you have nothing to gain
We live under the only government that ever
existed which was framed by the unrestrained
and deliberate consultations of the people. Mira
Giles do not cluster. That which has happened
but in 900 years cannot be expected to
happen often. Such government once gone,
might leave a void to be filled for ages, with
revolution and tumult, riot and despotism. The
history Of the world is before us. 1t rises like
an immense column, on which may see in
scribed the soundesC maXims of political expert
ence. These maxims should be treasured i'll our
memories and written on our hearts. Man. in
all countries, resembles man. Wherever you
find him. you find human nature in him and
human frailtes about him. He is, therefore, a
proper pupil for the school of experience. He
should draw wisdom from the example of others
encouragement from their success, caution
from their misfortunes Nations should diligent-
ly keep their eye on the nations that have gone
before them. They should mark and avoid their
errors, not travel on heedlessly in the path of
danger and OF death while the bones of their
persisted predecessors whiten around them. Our
own times afford lessons that admonish
us both of our duty and dan
ger. We have seen mighty nations,
miserable in their chains, more miserable when
they attempted to shake them off Tortured
and distracted beneath the lash of servitude, we
have seen them rise up i'll Indignation to assert
the rights OF human nature; but, deceived by
hypocrites cajoled by demagogUes, ruined by
false PATRIOTS overpowered by resistless, mixed
multitude of knayes and fools, we have wept at
the wretched end Of all their labors. Tossed for
ten years IN the crazy dreams of revolutionary
liberty, we have seen them at last awake and, |
like the slave who SAUNDERS his oar and !
dreams Of the happiness of his blessed |
home, they awake TO find themselves still in |
bondage. Let it not be thought that we advert |
to other nations to triumph in their sufferings or
mock at their calamities Would to God the /
whole earth enjoyed pure and rational liberty, |
that every realm that the human eye SURVEYS or |
the human foot treads were free! Wherever |
men soberly and prudently engage in the pursuit |
Of this object, our prayers in their behalf shall |
ascend unto the heavens and unto the ear of |
Him who 6llcth them. Be they powerful or be |
they weak, i'll such case they deserve success |
Yes, The poorest being that craws on earth |
contending to save itself from Injustice and on |
preston, is object respectable in the eyes of |
God and man. Our purpose is only to draw
lessons of prudence from the imprudonce of
others, to argue the necessity of of virtue from
the consequences of their vices.
Unhappy Europe! the Judgment of God rests |
hard upon thee. Thy suferings would deserve !
angels pity, if an angels tears could wash !
away thy crimes! The Eastern Continent seems |
trembling on the brink of some great catastro. |
phe. Commissions shake and terrors alarm it.
Ancient systems are falling works reared by |
ages are crumbling into atoms Let US humbly !
implore heaven that the widespread desolaton |
may never reach the shores Of our native land !
but let US devoutly make up our minds to do |
our duty in events that may happen to US Let |
Us cherish genuine patriotism. In that there is |
a sort Of inspiration that gives strength and |
energy almost more than human. When the |
mind is attached to great object, it grows to |
the magnitude Of its undertaking A true pa |
triot, with his eve and his heart on The honor |
and happiness Of his country hath an elevation |