San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-07-04
New Considerations OF the Rights OF
Man.

Man.
AFoURTu OF JULY REMTNIscENcE.
1.-Two years ago wo took occasion to make
an extract from Fourth Of July address
under the above title, prepared by the edi'
tor of the FREE Press in the year 1850 and
published juno 80, 1859, in on Indiana pa.
per then edited by him. Our present issue
coming on the 4th, we are reminded to
mako some further extracts as pertinent
TO the occasion, and as exhibiting n record
OF so old q date, the correctness of which
time has vindicated, ami which is in entire
harmony with our present editorial course.
5 The position taken rs to two cent single
letter postage for instance is here announced
nearly forty years before it became the
law, though the three cent rate was adopted
two years later. At the time this address
was penned five to ten cents according to
distance were the rates, and no longer than
four years previous, they were 12l to pa
cents, the latter being the rate for distances
of over five hundred miles. In like man
ner it will be seen that our position on the
Rroat question Of common schools and
universal education was that which we en-.
terrain and advocate to.day.-ED
Another indication that the princi.
Piles of Republican government are
coming to be better appreciated, is
to be found in that feature of nearly
if not quito all the recent State con.
situations, which gives all elections
directly to the people. 1 should
characterize this rs sensible If the
people are capable of self-government
in Gods name let them govern them,
selves. Don't interposo any round
about methods of coming at the thing
showing despicable distrust of then
capacity or virtue, but give them SUI
preme command of the ship of State.
Educate them; teach them their rights
and their duties; and if the ark of
Liberty be not safe in their hands, in
vain may you search the earth for n
sanctuary for it!
Another encouraging indication of
progress, proper to be noticed it this
connection, is the cheap postage re.
form. We have already gono some
what in this direction, but not far
enough. Nothing short of two cents
single letter postage, a proportion
ate rate on newspapers, and the
abolition of the franking privilege,
should satisfy the people. Facts and
figures demonstrate that under
this system the department would, in
a few years, support itself; and trust
we have among lis no sympathizei
with the dark ages, born five hundred
years too late, who would be in favor
of raisinga rereRue out of the CORES,
pondence of the people
1.-The feast of reason and the flow of soul
The Declaration, in the passage be
fore quoted, after asserting tho in
alieuable rights of man, goes on tc
declare, "that for these ends"-tc
secure these rights-"government.
are instituted among men, driving
their Just powers from the consent o.
the governed Fellow citizens,
am confident that. the language ]
have just quoted admits of and de.
serves better appreciation than,
fear, it commonly receives. since
time began, men have iabored under
false notions of government They
have esteemed it as something beyond
their comprehension, have been wont
to look upon their rulers as far re
moved in nature from themselves
and TO cloihe them with attributes q
divinity. They have received It's
clightest favors as acts Of grace wor
thy Of their homage and alteration
and endured its worst cxacticns Will
reverential submission. To .ostor
delusion so favorable to thcir usur
pations. kings and priests yelled thoit
deformities in drapcry Of purple ard
cloth Of gold, and used many oihc
imposing arts And Sir William
Blackstone insists upon the imp0T
lance Of these oxtrinsic insignia o
power, in order to inspire IN th,
minds Of The people a kind Of sscroc
awe Of their rulers Bat whatcvCi
may be the proprieiy OF To-.cy %
such notions Of government IN mon
arches add iesP5tisLs- they are car
tainly cut Of place il q rcTubl5c- Oa.
cihzenssbolldnct. Lie the 5dolatslsO