The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-01

freedom itself exists, and until time shall
be no more.
keep good, the fairest noblest land that lies be-
meath the sun,
ever one"
Following Gov. Hills welcome, ex-
President Cleveland was introduced and
responded TO the toast,
"ouR PEOPLE,"
speaking thus
The mention OF people may well sug-
gest sober and impressive reflections. The
subject was not beneath divine thought
when the promise was given TO the chill
dren OF Israel, 81 will take you to me for
people, and will be to you God" This
idea OF divine relation to a people is also
recognized in the fervent utterance, "Yea,
happy is that people whose God is the
Lord Wherever human government has
been administered in tyranny, in despot-
ism or in oppression, there has been found
among the governed yearning for freer
condition and the assertion OF mans no.
biiity. These are but the faltering steps
| OF human nature In the direction OF the
freedom which is It's birthright; and they
presage the struggle OF men to become a
free people, and thus reach the plane OF
their highest and best aspirations. In this
relation, and in their cry for freedom,
1t may be truly said the voice OF the peo-
Pile is the voice OF God. The influence Of
these reflections is upon me as / speak OF
those who, after darkness and doubt and
struggle, burst forth in the bright light OF
independence and liberty and became
"our people'-free, determined and con-
Observation-Disclosures the wonder OF the
universe, proclaiming the dignity Of man
and invoking the aid and favor Of
Almighty God. In sublime faith and
rugged strength, our fathers called out TO
the world, 1--WE, the people Of the United
States, in order TO form a moro perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
tense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings OF liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United
States OF America" Thus "our people"
in day assumed place among the ma
tons OF the earth. Their mission was 10
teach the fitness OF man for self-govern-
ment, and their destiny was TO outstrip
every other people in national achieve
ment and material greatness. Ono hun
dred years have passed. We have an
nounced and approved TO the world our
mission aud made our destiny secure. i
will not tamely recite our achievements.
They are written on every page OF our
history, and the monuments OF our
growth and advancement are all
about us. But the value of these
things Is measured by the ful.ness
with which "our people" have preserved
their patriotism, their integrity and their
devotion to free institutions II engrosscd
i'm material advancement or diverted by
the turmoil OF business and activity, they
have not held fast TO that love OF country
and that simple faith in virtue and en-
lightenment which constituted the hope
and trust OF our fathers-all that we have
built rests upon foundations intirm and
weak. Meeting this test, we point 10 the
scattered graves OF many thousands OF our
people who have brayely died in defense
of our national safety and perpetuity,
mutely bearing testimony 10 their love OF
country and to an invinciblo living host
standingready % enforce our national rights
and protect our land. Our churches,
our schools and universities, and our
benevolent institutions, which beauty
every town aud hamlet and look out from
every hillside, testify 10 the value our peo-
pie place upon religions teaching, upon
advanced education aud upon deeds of
charity. That ''our people are still jsal-
Gus OF their individual rights and freedom
Is proved by the fact that no one in place
or power has dared openly TO assail them.
The enthusiasm that marks the celebration
OF the centennial OF the Inauguration OF
their first Chief Magistrate shows the pop
ular appreciation OF the value Of the Office
which in our plan OF Government stands
above all others for the sovereignty
OF the people and is tho repos.
ipry Of their trust Surely such a pco-
pie can be safely trusted with their free
Government; and there need be no fear
that they have lost the qualities which 1T
them 10 be its custodians II they should
wander, they will return 10 duty in good
time. II they should be m'sled, they will
discover the true landmarks none too late
for safety, and II they should even be cor
rupted, they will speedily be found seek
ING with peace offerings their country's
holy altar. Let Us then have an abiding
faith in "our people" Let petulance and
discomfort with popular action disappear
before the truth that in any and all cir
cumstances the will Of the people, how.
ever II may be exercised, Is the
law OF our national existence
arbter absolute and Interchangeable
by which we must abide. Other
than existing situations or policies can
only Justify themselves when they may be
reached by the spread OF political intelli.
gonce and the revival OF unselhsh aud
patriotic interest In public affairs. Ill.
natured complaints Of popular incompe-
tency and sclf-righteous assertion Of
superiority over the bod, Of the people are
impotent and useless. But there IL dan.
ger, | fear that tho scope OF the words
"our people" and all they import are not
always fully apprehended. IL u only
natural that those In tho various walks Of
life should see 'our people" within the
range OF their own vision, and find just
about them tho interests most important
and most worthy the care Of the Govern
ment. Tho rich merchant or capitalist, In
tho center Of wealth and enterprise,
hardly has n glimpse Of the country black
smith at his forge or the farmer in his
field, and these In their turn know but
little OF tho laborcs who crowd our manu-.
factories and inhabit their own world Of
toll, or OF the thousands who labor In our
mines. II representatives Of every element
OF our population aud industries should
be gathered together they would find but
little OF purely selfish and personal inter
est In common, and upon superficial
glance but little would be seen 10
denote that only one people was repre-
sentcd. Yet In the spirit OF our institu-
tons all thess 30 separated In station and
personal interest are q common brotherhood
aud are "uur people" all OF equal value
I a. ii 4. H.