The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-06-01

instincts and as acquired by experience,
then the self-government of the people is
always possible and practicable. No
greater evil can ever assail this republic
than the loss of confidence of the people
themselves in their capacity for self-govern'
ment; and no greater act of treason is
possible, on this soil, than to cast contempt
on the people, by insinuating that such
government is impossible. What govern
ment is there that rests solely on its
military power? Eyen the great military
powers of Europe rest more on the good
will and loyalty of the people to existing
institutions than on mere force. This is
reliable power on which all the great states.
men of Europe do rely and which they
assiduously cultivate. They constantly
| appeal TO it. They address themselves
| to the love of country which they know to
be in every human soul. And as long as
this exists they have no fear of results.
| Revolutions and reforms in governments
are from within them and are the results
of thought and elevation of the people to
| the conception of higher principles than
they had hitherto been accustomed. Re
volutions must be grounded in reason and
conscience before the natural love OF
pcrmanence, can be overcome. But
for perpetuation of existing forms of
| government no stronger appeal has ever
been made than by appeal to the remem-
brance of what the fathers have done to
| give 10 their children what exists. That
must always be great reason that will
make nation change what the fathers
establishes; and whenever it is done il is
with the conviction that no reflection is
made thereby on the intelligence and
integrity of the fathers. 1t is only the few
who like changes for the sake of
change and novelty. All people
like stability and permanence.
A great crisis or emergency is nothing
else however than divergence from
established conditions, customs or institu-
tions, for the reasons that appear salts
| factory to the undertakers of them.
| When we learn that our fathers In the crises
| Of the revolutionary war and in the war
of the rebellion conducted themselves like
men we their children are profited
thereby. 1t is an evil thing for nation
to be unstable and vacillating; but it is, if
possible, greater evil, for it to be content
| with the imperfect and make no progress
towards the perfect; learning nothing by
effort or by experience This implies
, cowardice, sloth, or, want of principle,
| and it is the equivalent of death and of
i
know how preceding generations acted in
critical times creates national pride in the
past and also points out how, in similar
| crises, it too may act, and should act
if government and nationality would
live.
One of the richest lcgacies of a nation is
its record of heroism and patriotic sacri.
fices. This is of infinitely greater value
than vast territories and mountains of
precious minerals. For the life of nation
| is in its people, not IN its territory and
wealth. Switzerland and Holland, as well
as Greece, have shewn the ideal traits of
national greatness far more than Persia or
Rome And they were lovers of liberty
and of government, and self-culture.
and self-respect. And their histories are
full of the records of heroism and
patriotism in great emergencies. And
that which makes them glorious are the
virtues of the people as exhibited in such
emergencies. For not only are people
tested as TO the virtues they possess. but
emergencies oftentimes create and develop
them. Hence memorials of them are re
minders and instructions as to the deeds of
those who have gone before us; but they
arc also reminders and instructions of
virtues as well as of deeds. And therefore
in two fold way they contribute to
national good.
If all this be true can there be greater
wrong done to self, and Can there be a
more unpatriotic spirit than to be ignorant
of the deeds and the virtues of the fathers,
and to be unsympathetic towards the
emblems and days created for the perpet.
uation of the memory of them.
Then there Is another gain in the keeping
OF Memorial Days The calling to mind
the good that has been accomplished calls
out in the living the sense OF appreciation
and gratitude to the fathers for the things
they did for us. their children, more than
for themselves The privations of the
fathers and pioneers of this Nation were
exceedingly great, and none were ever
greater. But the liberty and the privileges
we have are the fruits of their sufferings
and self-denials. A nation that is incapa.
BILE OF heroic deeds never rises into any
high states OF civilization. Whatever civ.
ilization 1t may have will be n sluggish Inn.
itation of its neighbors, without any desire
to improve upon them or to excel them.
But this is more true of nation which
does not appreciate the heroic deeds of its
defenders; IL surely can not have high
place i'm the ranks of nations for this very
reason. To unite the living present with
the living past is great necessity to ma.
ton at all times
The continuity of the life and deeds of
the past in the thoughts and memories and
affections of the generation of today is a
kind of stability and permaneuce with lex.
ibility and adaptability 10 existing circum.
stances that is far more important than
continuity of forms of government. This
is the kind of permanence that is most ben.
eficial to human governments. 4 perma.
nency that needs no break with history.
but while continuing it, nevertheless. does
not prevent progress to higher conditions
and activities and attainments. This
means life and power increasing and ever
creating new conditions. This is the ideal
for states as well as for individuals. Such
has been one of the chief characteristics of
the history Of the American people. From
the time OF the discovery Of this continent
until now there has been a stream of events
which have made our history one In its re-
suits az the outcome of preceding circum-
stances. and this has been in the nature of
a progress from small things to the great.
hn a. xxla a. Al