Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-06


in the 12 old Southern States has
advanced nearly one-third, while the rate
of taxation is diminished. Free labor
produces the great Southern staples as
amply as before, and is welcomed to the
new Industries. 1t pays taxes on property
of its own valued at nearly 800, ,000, 900,
while for the children of former slaves
there are nearly 10000 schools of every de-
gree with an enrolment of more than L.
100000 of pupils.
The great question is settled. Other
questions, indeed, remain which will
sternly try our patriotism and our wis
dom. But they will be appealed to the
ordeal of battle no longer. They will be
settled in those peaceful, popular and par
liamentary contentious which betlt pa
triotic and intelligent republican people.
do not mean only that party politics and
measures will be so discussed. | mean
that great fundamental questions like
slavery in the last generation, questions
of Immigration, of citizenship of admins
tratlve reform, of the suffrage; questions
Of local bearing and interest, but of a
national import and consequence, can be,
and henceforth will be, discussed every
where in the Union. Let me mention as
illustrations two of these questions, which
are in the highest sense questions of the
country and not of party.
Webster said at Bunker Hill, Just as the
vast immigration was beginning, 1--WE
are placed at the head of representative
and popular governments We shall be
recreant to the duty of that headship if
we permit the fundamental conditions of
national repUSe of he security of personal
rights, of good laws, and of just admins
tration, to be imperlled by the ignorant,
lawless, idle and dangerous overflow Of all
other countries. We are the occupants
and guardians of this country, and with a
kindly heart and hospi' able hand toward
all the world, we must prescribe the con-
dtions upon which the world shall come
here. 1t America is to remain the head of
free governments and the hope of liberty
IN the world our first duty is to remem-
ber that constl utional liberty has its own
laws and conditions, and that only by re-
specting and enforcing them eau liberty
for ourselves and for all men be pre-
served.
Akin to this is the problem of the suff-
rage. Subject TO the constitutional guar
antee of a republican form of government,
and of no discrimination against race or
color, the regulation of the suffrage is
wisely left to the States. But the action
of every State upon subjects of a common
interest necessarily affects the Union.
The suffrage is the maln-spring, the heart
of our common life, and whatever affects
il injuriously, touches the national SEN
sorium and the whole country thrills. No
community politically founded upon the
legal equality OF the suffrage can habitu-
ally disregard that equality without moral
deterioration, growing indifference to
the authority of law, and destruction of
the democratic epublican principle. If
ignorance and semi-barbarous dominance
be fatal TO civilized communities, not less
SO is constant and deliberate defiance of
law. in national union of States where
fair elections are assumed, systematic fraud
or violence or suppression of votes, in the
event of closely contested poll, would
inevitably destroy the conviction that the
apparent result represented the actual
will of the legal voters, and that result
would be challenged amid violent dsor.
der. 1t is not enough that national cleo
ton be fair, it must be the national con-
viction that it is fair
No honest man should delude himself
with the theory that this is 4 local ques-
ton. In New York there Is very large
class of ignorant, un-American voters,
who barely speak our language, who have
no knowledge or practice of free, popular
institutions, and who are alien in tradi-
ton, sympathy and spirit. II is class of
no single nationality, but is gathered from
all other lands. 1t is large enough to con
troll the State, and as the electoral vote of
New York is very important, it might
easily decide a national election. But
whatever its ignorance or degradation,
this is class of legal voters. They have
been enfranchised by the law upon which
rcSt all our rights, and if by fraud, or
force, or by any Illicit method this class
of voters should be deprived OF their legal
right, it would not be a New York ques-
tion alone. Virginia, Mississippi Maine,
Minnesota would be equally concerned.
The national peace would oe lmperilled
until that deprivation ceased, and either
the right to vote were legally annulled or
freely exercised. Ii there be a national
question, question, which vltally inter
ests every American clIizen trom the Pen
ooscot to the Rio Grande, q question
which, while Americans are Americans,
will not be set aside, but must be honora-
bly, entertained and patriotically adjusted,
it is the question of a free legal ballot.
The perfect freedom of speech and
perfect fraternity of spirit which now
tor three days have glowed in these hearts
and echoed in this enchanted air are the
forces that assure the future OF our be
loved country May they go before us on
our mighty march, pillar of cloud by
day, OF fire 10y night. Happy for us, happy
for mank md, If we and our children shall
comprehend that they are the fnnda-
mental conditions of the life of the repub-
lie. Then, long hereafter, when IN
country whose vast population covering
the con tlnent with glory ol civilization
which the imagination cannot forecast,
the comp leted century of the great battle
shall be celebrated, the generation which
shall gather mere IN our places VIII rise
up and call us blessed. Then, indeed, the
yielded his most precious benediction
aud in the field of Gettysburg, as we now
behold it, the blue and the gray blending
in happy harmony, like the ming!ling hues
OF the summer landscape, we may see the
radiant symbol Of the trlumphant Amer
lea of our pride, our hope and our joy.
The number in attendance to-day is not
near so large as yesterday and the enthu-
siasm is much less plentiful. ro-nght the
banquet was -eryed at the Springs hotel
The following monuments were dedi-
Gated to day The Fifth New York caval-
ry, near Round top, Gen. Hammond, Col.
i. y. Penheld Maj + ;. h Ryder and Col
A H. White taking part;l4d int n ry,
'Garuard Tiger on Little Round Top
9th New York First Lond Island volun-
reers, known rs Beecher's regiment, on
Culp's hill Rev. Thomas X Beecher of
Elmlra, y. V, orator; 3rd New Hord ln-
dependent battery, near The Bloody
Angle" Mai Gen, ". ;, Ro~crans, era
tor Battery B, New York artillery, Rev.
w. NJ Beauchamp, orator; 18Th New
York Independent battery.
AT the business meeting of the depart
meut IN the cemetery to day it was de