The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-27
ANGLO-SAXON.
GREAT IDEAS.
AnsfO-Saxon the { In m pion OF
Grand Ideas.
(Cld Homestead

"Eyery race" says writer, (Which
has deeply impressed itself on the
human family has been the represen
tatiye Of some great idee, one OF
more, which has given direction tc
the nations life and form to its civi
lization. Among the Egyptians this
seminal idea vas life, among the
Persians it was light, among the
Hebrews it was purity, among the
Greeks 1t was beauty, and among
the Romans it was law
The Anglo-Saxon is the champion
of the two grand ideas-splritual
christianity and civil liberty. Two
ideas beautifully linked together by
the cords Of nature and made doubly
indlssoluble by the glorious laurels
that crowned the efforts of the great
race that proclaimed them its guid>
ing stars.
From the earliest events in his
history we see the Ang(o-Ssxon dis
playing those naughty, daring, in
vincible yet noble traits of character
which were impaired to his nature
by the wlld, rugged, and stormy
country from which he came. Al
every step in his onward progress
they haVe characterized him in sub
ltme efforts to maintain his freedom
of thought, his freedom Of speech,
and his freemdom of action, When
his simple, crude, yet lofty concep-
tions of divinity were hampered
and bent into rigid formality by the
imperious Roman pentlf, with his
all-grasping ambition for conquest
and subjugation, his firm convictions
and daring spirit rebel!ed against
the authors of his injustice. The
great reformation Of the sixteenth
century was not b accldent origi~
mated among a Teuton.c rather than
a Latin people; 1t vas the Ere Of
liberty burning in the Saxon heart
thst famed up against the absolu-
telsm of The pope.
The Anglo-Saxon' love for civil
liberty, has uulagging efforts to Sc
cure it, and the heroic manner in
which he has always defended 1t
have made it in its lnftiest and pur>
est meaning Synonymous with his
name. To some, like the Swiss, it
has been permitted by the sufferance
Of neig ghbors; otbera, as the French,
nave made sad and futile expert
ments with If, but the people whose
love for liberty has won it, and whose
g MUS for self-government has pre-
served it, is pre:eminent and alone
the Anglo-Saxou. The noblest races
of the world have always been lovers
Of liberty. That love ran strong in
the early German blood, and has
profoundly Influenced the institu>
tlons of all the branches of the great
German family, but it was left for
the Anglo-Saxon branch fully to re
cognlz, the right Of individual liber>
ty of action and formally to declare
it the foundatooR stone Of govern.
ment.
The Anglo Saxon's noble courage
and heroic allegiance to his convic>
tions have marked at almost regular
intervals the varied history of Eng
land with crimson stains Of fratrici.
dal wars. The unvarylng tendency
of his free and daunJless spirit re-
specting authority. but resisting its
abuse, has been to look over beyond
the circumscribed sphere of his &C.
tion within which he was held bv
the monarchy and aristocracy OF
England to that long coveted utopisn
ideal where the fruits and rewards
Of his lofty ambition and unconquer.
able energy might flourish under the
benign influence of democracy. Ac.
tuated thus by the purity of bis prin
ciples and cha6ng under the discon-
;ent of the rapidly augmenting
and painful intrusions upon his lib.
erty, be makes before the admiring
gaze Of the world the grsndest move
Of his history. Bidding farewell to
bis over-exacting mother country, he
bold y tears the star Of empire west
ward and plants his banner emhla>
zoned with its lofty duplex motto
upon the trackless wilds Of America
1t is now that we see him lear
with bound iato the full splendor
and might of his genius IS he rolls
back the curtain upon the grandest
epoch iu the worlds history. His
wonderful genius, bis all conquerine
enterprise, AMI his love for liberty
! eouali.v and fraternity inV,o0ratac