Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-07-06

return bat series of inefficient vie
tories and disgraeeful defeats, victories
obtained over men fighting in the holy
cause of Liberty, or defeats which
filed the land with mourning for the
loss of dear and valuable relations
slain in detestsd and impious quar-
rel"
The crippled and wasted condition
OF the Colonists found them lily pro.
pared to meet the still graver ques-
ton: "ls man capable of self-govern-
ment?" Conflicting interests from
within and dangers from without at
once presented themselves and left
the question in doubt. A confedera
ton is one thing,a Republic is another.
A written constitution was required
The rights of person and property
the rights of States as between them
selves, the rights of States in their
relation to the general Government,
the rights of person and property in
the territory acquired and necessary
to be acquired; these questions from
the beginning brought with them con-
fllct and danger.
There was, and perhaps necessarily,
Incorporated in the Constitution a rec
ignition of human slavery which was
opposed to the broader grounds of the
Declaration of Independence. Over
and beyond all other questions, for
eign or domestic, this was the rock
upon which it was feared the Union
would sooner or later be wrecked.
MIR Stephens, of Georgia, speaking
in 1861, said of this question: "Jef-
ferson in his forecast had anticipated
this as the rock upon which the old
Union would split" The prevailing
ideas entertained by him Jefferson)
and most of the leading statesmen at
the time of the formation of the old
Constitution were, that the enslave-
ment of the African was in violation
OF the laws of nature; that it was
wrong in Enthusiastically, morally
and politically. Our domestic trou.
bles growing out of this grave issue
of slavery have been settled, and the
sun of Liberty shines upon a free
people. Our complications with for.
eisn powers have always been peace
ably settled or success determined
upon fields of battle. The heavy
drafts upon our resources and upon
human life made to preserve our coun-
try have been promptly met. The
thunderlngs of angry war are hushed.
The Ship of State h $ passed safely
through the straits of destruction, and
the storms that tore in shreds her
weary sails and surged heavily upon
her steel-ribbed keel are hushed, and
the breezes are ladened with the
happy songs of thriving people, busy
IN the varied avocations of daily life.
Our country stands peerless in the
fore front Of Nations, and we may in
confidence look for the adjustment of
any entanglements with foreign pow
ors upon fair and therefore s4t!sfac-
tory basis. But as nations, like indi-
"iduals, are not always to be trusted.
it is we'll for US as measure of wise
precaution to be always ready to de,
fend the Flag against aggression upon
the rights it represents. TO be able,
willing and Ready to protect the rights
of citizenship IN the person of GU,
humblest citizen in the farthest seas.
In order that danger may never com.
look we'll to the ballot box. 1t is the
source of power, the e:eiga. AS
you regard the honor of your mother
and the virtue of your children, keep
Insullied the ballot:
weapon that comes down a. still
As snowhskos fall upon the sod,
But executes . freemans will
As lightning does the will of God.
Our progress in population, in the
arts and sciences, in literature and in.
vention, in material wealth and all
that tends to make our country greater,
is surprising to know and wonderful
to tell. 1t is high privilege to guard
the interests of country which has
proved itself so strong In war and so
and even indulgent in
peace. In the exercise of the sover.
eign prerogatives, of the elective fran
chise, we should pluck from our politi,
cal system every element that tends
to mar the beauty or weaken or decay
the whole or any of the parts, and to
reduce, at least to politica! cyphers,
any extraneous or foreign influence,
association or power, ecclesiastical or
which debauches the ballot
box. or which presumes to control or
to dictate how American citizens
should vote.
Go with me throughout the land.
You will find that patriotism is found
hand in hand with industry and in
telligence. You find that The music of
the pines of far-off Maine
rivals in cadence the songs
of the hooking birds among
the orange groves of the sea-girt
South. Turning your steps toward
the golden shores of the ocean into
which our Western sun descends, ira
vsrsing the Alleghanies and crossing