Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-02
THE NEW TRIAL
OF POPULAR GOVERNMsNT-THE ADDRESS
OF HON. ". L. WILSON
Before the Alumni Association Of the University oi
Vi-ginia-A Scholarly 0rahun-The Rsal Test
Of the Strength Of Our Instltutons-In-
dusrial Revolution and Increase Of
Physical knowledge.
Ss.cial TeieQrom D ths Rsoister.

Ssecial Teisoronn 10 the Register.
CnARIorTEsvuLE, VA. July This
Is commencement week at the Universi-
" of Virginia, and one OF most delight
ful events on the programme was the
address OF Hon. w. L. Wilson, OF West
Virginia. Congressman from the Sec
ond District, before the Alumni ASsoci-
atinn. The address was delivered this
morning I'm Commencement Hall, be-
fore one of the largest and most atten-
tive audiences that ever assembled in
tho building. His subject was The New
Trial of Popular Government"
Mr.. Wilson began his address by pay
ing Il tribute to his college mates, who
had been rudely called away from their
study by the war, and congratulated
his hearers that they looked on coun-
Try unvexed civil discord.
But war, even civil war, he said, is
not the only thing that tries the souls
of men and the institutions OF coun-
try: the fate of individuals and OF ma
tiOas is Oftener determined by forces
which they fail to observe, and which
only those who come after them fully
comprehend and measure.
The historian who shall attempt TO
survey the progress of the United States
during the nineteenth century, will re-
view not the least important or the least
confusing chapter in the history or
the world. Although the majestic pro-
cesSiOr- of the civil war may be hrst
to absorb his gaze, he will study with
greater interest the effect OF that con-
yulsiOn in our fabric OF government and
our free institutions. He will under
stand that il is not possible so great
conflict should only settle the controyer-
sizes submitted to it. and leave no aold-
ING impress on people and government.
History i'm the larger and more In
Aitructive sense I'm which it is now writ
ten. concerns itself less with individuals
md wars than with the less cOuSpicu-
ous forces that mould or change the
social and moral life OF a people, ana
confirm of impair their liberties.
The history thus written that cor
rectly interpretS the progress
of the United States in the
nineteenth century, will be constrained
W declare that the real trial OF free
lvernment, its severest and most per-
stent strain, was not in the strong
A yind that threatened 20 rend the rock |
= Z she Union. nor in the earthquake OF |
= y e.-eivit war, nor y 5bin the FIRE Of re-
obstruction, but In the still, small |
voice that comes TO this age out OF the |
lecture-room, and out of the College
labratory, out of the workshop of the
mechanic and the inventor. In other
words 1t is not the war with its tempo
rary subsection of the civil TO the mill
tary power, its permanent addition to
the forces of consolidation, It's gift of
freedom, and the franchise TO the slave,
and it's sectional bitterness, that has
ruined our gravest and most abiding IS
sues. but tho Industrial revolution,
born of the progress Of science, of the
sudden and phenomenal increase Of
physical knowledge, with the forces it
PUTS 10 the service of man, the inven-
ticnS II has made, and the stupendouS
changes it has wrought In the structure
Of societv. This is the
Sphinx. that, seated by the
our hardest enigmaS, aud demanding
percmptOry answers to them.
The visible signs of this revolution
are the steam engine, the railroad, the
steamship. the telegraph. It's effects
are seen in now stratidcation OF IN
dustrjal society, redistribution Of
wealth, aud Of the social and political
power that belong to wealth, change
in the meaning OF great words Ike
Manufactures and Navigation, tre-
mendous destruction of accumulated
prOperty rs well as of accumulated
ideas-a sudden and bewildering Hood
OF new names, new ideas, new things,
everywhere in the civilized world, and
~owhere more than in the United
States.
To solve quickly its most pressing
prob,ems. and I'd make just PARTITION OF
the wealth It brings Us, ard NOT permit
II IA become the booty of the strongest
these are the great issues of the day.
or All human institutions zee govern
mont has been sloweSt in growth. In
our patriotic oratory we Speak Of it rs
Something made by our fdtherS, but il
human experience haS(#wrltten any
truth In the blood OF nations, it is that
there is no stable libert EeXcept historic
liberty.
Chisel and brush mag reproduce tho.
human form in ideal beauty, but when
chisel and brush havel wrought their
hest we have but dea@ stone or dead
canvass, and He who ald pne can give the
snark OF life, DEGREES that it must pass
throngh the helpleSsnes3 of infancy and
tbe strons discipline Oh childhood and
youth, before 1t can r Zach the trusty
viSor OF manhood.
The pen OF the Philosopher or states
man may frame Scheme OF govern
r,ent. constitution for free State,
that shall be perfeGE In theory, but when
tba psn has done EtS best, there Is but
Sesd paper. as fAeeting as the sybil
laoves. Behind fhe Constitution, back
sni the frame OF government, must be
free people. 1nd free people is the
rarest. most pEecious and siowest eVo-
lu,ion 10 hiStfry.
Sir. Banc7o 7oit says the materials Tor
bnnding TIC American Constitution
were the gifts of the ages. Sui more
strue is il III At the capacity for building
ard for wqrking such constitution are
~be cift dr. me aces-the "stored VIZ
kTne" and k.nervous drill" Of many gen.
Gations, Igroping, strusgnns', Tvs ng nni;ns i;
y Itoss,sIth goal of freedom, ',.h lI.o',s .hs
9Th aIi becoming familiar VIZ s.aan.o @
nachiney through wnich s, sc"u" .n
works at It's just and OehenS0A'
suits. o,vas
A rslle's freedom is in themselves
not feir form OF t'oyernmens.