The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1886-07-17
P0UJADE ON POLITICS.

| We have been called the Greatest n;
ton Of the Earth" This hackneye
phrase has been so much abused that
often brings a smile to the lips of think
ing men. We are not the greatest ma
ton in the extent of territory, not in pop
ulation, nor yet in military strength
The British Empire, with its hundre,
million, and the Russian, with sixty.fiv
million. both exceed us in population a
well as in area. Our army of $4,000 il
but handful to Britains' of 10000
and Russia's Of over 1000, 900. France
Germany, Austria, Italy, all of which to
gether would make but small corner o.
our country, have each a standing army
moro than ten times as great as ours. A:
to our navy, it is subject of ridicule.
Is it true then that ours is the greatest
nation Of the earth? In the sense in which
the words arc often used, / am proud, as
an American, TO say it is not For those
standing armies, represent tyrrauy. In
them the bone and sinew Of the people
are concentrated, and upon them the
wealth of the land is expended. Why
To support some man, or some family, in
the claim to right which belongs to God
alone. Still we are great as compared
with the nations; for this nation was con
ceived in the faith that there is some.
thing greater than material greatness
it was bora struggling with its own
mother, shedding her blood and its own;
and proving in the event that might does
not make right---that there is something
better, noblcr, stronger than brute force.
1t is because this Government has been
true to that idea, because it has pro
tectcd for hundred years more free and
happy people. more sovereigns of theil
own political destiny than the number OF
oil the truly free men that ever lived
before, that we are not merely the great
eat nation now, but the greatest thai
has ever been on this planet as far q,
history tells. It il in this that the i'm
portant nations of Europe--those that
have namcd-are inferior to US. Because
: government is only truly great or good
as it guarantees liberty, and
through liberty happiness to the people
Whilst we are enjoying liberty so great,
n Government so good-whosc wheel.
move with so much precision-so littl,
We almost forget that we
IRE governed; the great French peopl,
IRE in these very days playing with
liberty as with toy, and the British
Empire with its great armies, its i'm.
nense fleets Of iron and steel, and its
Of wise, brave, and true men,
n its old age and suppositious wisdom,
hardly knows that it is doing, what it i.
most surely doing, that is gradually rid
ling itself of king craft. And for the
'ther kingdoms--an American born and
'red cannot comprehend how Or why peo
'le, masses Of reasoning beings, can live
n them and even seem to be content.
The other day in Bavaria the mad King
lrowned himself because he was no longer |
bile to spend tho peoples money. H. |
lad been spending it openly--not merely
tealing it; but robbing them before Their
yes---and spending their money for his
wn selfish uses, not allowing them to
participate in his pleasures at all. And |
when he had drowned himself, what did |
he people do? Did they rejoice that the
monster had departed: No! So i'm.
nersed arc they in ignorant bondage that
hey made great cutlery of grief 1t i.
lmost impossible to believe it. Were il
matter Of long ago We should say it was
lot a truth, but fabrication of some
'artial historian; but it is occurring be.
orc the eyes of the world to-day. They
make as much show Of grief for him as
We would for the death of great man.
1t is useless to indulge in those rhetori.
'al flights common to the day we celc-
'rate; but with your indulgence | will, |
n my own way, make some practical re.
iectiona on our present position. The
,ast is dead, as if it had never existed.
ave that its lessons of history yet live
20 teach us how to act in "the living
present 1t is not enough that Wash. |
ngton was good and great--and by the |
way, our presidential candidates arc not |
sbused go much as Washington wa,-a
act which shows that we progress. It |
8 not enough that Lincoln inspired from |
lbove if man ever was inspired guided |
he nation through the darkest hours Of |
to existence TO receive a martyrs crown
Is the day Of peace dawned upon US. 1t is
Tot enough that the noble Grant, whose |
'ecent death has made him hero Of the |
lime, wss wiso, brave and true to that |
.xtent which constitutes greatness in its