The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-21

isenship shall be exercised; hcw revenues shan
be collected and In what manner conceded evils
shall be dealt with.
Verify We appear to be peculiar treasure
above all people. Who shall say it Il not due
TO the fact that We have obeyed the voice and
kept the covenant' The voice that was heard
in the bower when the Secretary read the dec.
larations Of our first organic law with respecs
to the essentials Of good governments and tho
covenant that was made when that pioneer
audience responded with cheers that made the
forests echo"
More than six thousand churches proclaim
our fidelity to religion md morality; more than
thirteen thousand school houses and colleges
are standing testimonials TO our appreciation
for education; an annual expenditure OF moro
than ten millions Of dollars indicates our pres
ent generous contribution for its continued
maintenance and advancement; morethan nine
hundred newspapers are constantly disscmin-
ating knowledge, and human bondage has
never ut any time been known within
our borders. These are indisputaOlo
proofs that tho faith has been Kept"
But 1t has been kept not fer our own good alone.
The whole country has shnred with US the bless
ing. Had not this territory been 80 dedicatsu and
devoted to free institutions slavery wouldhavc
controlled the destiny Of the Union,
or, falling in thacv been SUM
ciently powerful to have destroyed 1t. u
went down in the bloody triaf Of strength, be-
cause that standard Of righteousness, OF knovl'
edge, OF liberty, OF human eqnality had here
It's legions OF brave defenders Without their
help the sonspirators who sought.
by wnr and blood-shed to uphold
and enforce the teresy Of secession, weuld have
triumphed; but with 1t the Constitution was
saved, purified and perfectcd; oil men were
made free and equal, and the last menace TO the
forever. Such are some OF the achievements OF
the century that is gone. When their far -rcaoh-
ing consequences are considered, II becomes
manifest that II is not possible to express with
words, an exaggerated estimate of their import
ance to mankind.
What now Of the century upon which we arc
enterings Only God knows. 1t does not seem
possible that there can be wrapt up in the next
one hundred years so much OF development as
has been made during the last-and yet there
may be more. The last fifty years have signally
eclipsed the next proceeding fifty. Had this
truth been foretold, who could have given 1t
credence' But whether we are to continue this
marvellous march Of progress or not, we STAND
charged with responsibilities as grave as those
which rested upon the fathers who attended our
first inauguration. To them was confded the
duty Of laying the foundations, TO us is entrusted
the superstructure. Had they failed there would
have been disappointment. II we fail there will
be both disappointment and destruction. For
In that event we dash to pieces alike the hopes
for postcrity and the splendid works that hsve
| been wrought. We must not fail; and we shall
not II we but adopt for our guidance the lessons
| Of the past. They teach us that we have sue
| ceeded because we have been governed by tho
great ideas of morality, education, equality and
| q disposition to take care of our own country.
Let US, therefore, apply and be governed by
| these same dens as we go forward in the dis
charge OF the duties Thus ire before us. To this
ANDY vp1uY pard md
| short of the requirements Of the highest stand
| ard of right; put the light OF truth in every
mans way; permit no distinction founded on
race color nationality or occupation, and re-
member always to promote that which
| Is calculated TO advance America. But II we
would advance America we must especially re-
| member TO always STAND firmly for the peoples
| right to be honestly heard at the ballot box. To
guarantee this right by constitutional and statu-
| tory provisions, and then allow it to be abused
| is o fraud disgrace. 1t strikes fatal blow
at the very foundations Of free, popular govern
| ment. 1t is just cause Of congratulation that
| such crimes have been suppressed in Ohio. May
| the day soon come when the same can be said
| OF every other State in the Union. Until then
| there can not be- and there should not be, any
relaxation OF effort to secure such q result. The
flag of the Nation must mean absolute protec-
tion In the enjoyment OF all his rights TO every
| man who looks with allegiance upon its folds.
| 1t must mean more. 1t must continue to repre-
sent to all, wherever it may be carried, peo-
pie who have sense enough and patriotism
enough to take care OF their country in o bust
ness way. We must dig our coal out of our own
hills and our ore out Of our own mines. We
must raise our own WOOL have our own facto
ries, Irnaces rounvries and machine-shops,
In so far as God has blessed us with natural 70
sources and ability to use them, we must decline
to depend upon others. BY their development
we must give employment to our labor, invent.
i've genius to our mechanics, home markets to
our farmers. q domestic commerce to the sec
tions that will bind them together in yet strong
er bonds OF union and insure peace, content
ment. prosperity and independence to the mf'
lions of freemen whose happy fortune It is, AM
will be. now and hereafter to have this land TO
their priceless heritage.
If we meet the full measure of our obligations
in these respects those whose lot 1t may be Il
look back from the close OF our second centur.
to its beginning, can pay to us the highest pos
sble tribute of praise by simply repeating wha1
we are justly proud and gratified to be able Il
say to-day: "Our fathers obeyed the voice ant
kept the covenant, and we are, in consequence
n peculiar treasure above all people, kingdom
| of priests and an holy nation