New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-05
SENATOR H1scocK At WOODSTOCK.


Those who are inclined to believe that the
former times are better than these would do
well a,tentively to peruse the address which
Senator Hiscock, of this State, delivered at
Woodstock yesterday. The Senator does not
take pessimistic view of these United States.
lie does not think it necessary in order to exalt
the fathers to debase the children. His con-
ception of the manifest destiny of the Repub-
lie and the American people will not permit
him to take backward glance when he is
searching for the golden age He discovers
nothing in our history or in our contemporaries
Gus life to sustain the proposition that we are
degenerate sons of the fathers whose memories
come UP for eulogy with each recurring Fourth
Of July.
OF course, within the limits Of brief speech
Mr.. Hiscock could do little more than glance
at the patriotic subject which he had assigned
to himself Nevertheless, he makes Il strong
presentation Of his side Of the contention. He
detracts nothing from the glory of the heroes
who founded tho Republic, but reminds those
criticising the statesmen and the political life
Of to-day that the Constitution which was
framed by those heroes contained the great
vice Of slavery. Seventy years after the work
Of tho founders of our Government was COM
pleted, their children made a successful war
against slavery, and strengthened and purified
the Constitution by means Of the three great
amendments which secured the fruits Of the
bloody struggle. The Senator sdlfully draws
this striking contrast, which bears so severely
on those who take lachrymOse views of our
present. The Americans of 1889 were worthy (;
the Americans Of I861-'85 not ess so and
If to-day" remarks the Senator occasion
should call. every man and wonnn-from the
Executive Mansion to the humblest homo Of
honest manhood-every man and woman would
I'll his or her allotted place; and if that occa-
sion should be sufficient to call forth manly
qualities in the highest excellence and perfec-
ton, tho heroes, statesmen and patriots of this
generation would successfully rival those who
have preceded it,"
Passing from men to measures, Senator His
cock proceeds TO inquire if those Of to-day are
more corrupt than those of the past. He argues
that persons answering the question in the
affirmative have not read history, and he main
tains that the moral sentiment of our people
as exhibited in politics is as pure as the moral
sentiment exhibited in religion, law, commerce
and domestic industries. Civilization, he points
out, is the entirety Of nations condition and
peoples progress, so that whoever proves the
political immortality Of a generation must i'm
peach its administration of government and its
honesty in private life. Nor will the Senator
admit the truth of the familiar assertion that
the growth Of wealth and the massing of large
material forces are a menace to the freedom
and integrity of the individual. He meets this
charge by observing that the prosperity Of a
people is largely conditioned upon the increase
Of their wealth, that tho civilization Of nation
is measured by the surplus produced. Is great
wealth used as power of oppression Yes I;
but il is also used for the organization of long
lines of railroads which have the effect Of
cheapening to the people the cost OF transpOrta-
ton and of manufactured goods. The Senator
discussed other phases of the economic ques-'
tions under consideration for the purpose of
establishing the point that our material pros
perity is calculated to develop and advance, and
not to wreck the country.
Senator IIiscock's theme was admirably
chosen. If the pcSsimists are right, then the
Fourth Of July has ceased to be an occasion for
patriotic fluctuations and has come to be mere
ly the unpleasant reminder of the distressing
fact that Uncle Sam is baclslider. But they
arc not right, and in helping to set them right
and to vindcate the present against their as
sauts, he has rendered a valuable public service