The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-07-28


blood flowing in their veins, maintained
in luxury at the expense of the people
Look at Greece. The same fertile soil, the
same blue, genial sky smiling upon her
people; the sameainlets, the same harbor,
capable of accommodating the fleets of
the world, the same Olympus. 1t is the
same land where Homer sang and where
Pericles spoke. 1t is in nature the same
old Greece; but the living Greece is no
more Descendants of the same people
inhabit the country now as then; yet what
is the reason of this vast change. In the
midst of the present degeneration we see
| the glorious fragments OF the ancient
works Of art--temples with ornaments and
Inscriptions that excite wonder and a,lmi-
civilization which have outiived the
language they speak upon them all Icha-
bod has written. Their glory has depart
ed. Why is this so? | answer, their institu-
ton and their government have been de-
stroyed. The resource from which sprang
into newness OF life the people that con-
stitute a great nation has gone. The pulse
that once beat high and full has stopped
its throb The life that once constituted
the nation and electrified the human body
and mind, from the cradle to the gray
haired sire, has ceased to beat. These are
but the fruits of thci1 form Of govern
ment, the resource from which their great
Developments sprang, and when once the
institutions of people have been destroy
ed, there is no earthly power to bring back
the germ of life and vitality to kindle
them there any more in that ancient land
OF elo4uence, poetry and song.
The same may be said of Italy. Where
is Rome, once the mistress of the world?
There are the same seven hills. the same
soil, the same resources. Nature is the
same. But what a ruin Of human great
ness meets the eyes of the traveller
throughout the length and breadth of that
down trodden land. Why have not the
people of that heaven favored cline the
this sad difference? 1t is the obstruction of
their institutions that has caused their
ruin, and if we in AN evil hour rashly pull
down and destroy the institutions which
the patriotic band of our fathers labored
SO long and so hard to build up, and
which have done SO much for us and the
world, who can venture the prediction
that similar results will not be our lot
Let us avoid it if we can. Let us not
rashly try the experiment; for if il fails as
it did in Greece and Italy and in the South
American republics, and in every other
place wherever liberty is once destroyed, !
it may never be restored to us again.
There are defects in our Government. |
errors in its administrations, and short /!
comings of many kinds; but in spite of
these errors and defects this country has |
grown to be a great and powerful nation. |
The resources of the country have been |
developed far exceeding any other nation
in the world. We can look around us and |
see peace and plenty smiling from the fire
side VI every home III this broad land |
prosperity in all branches OF industry
agriculture. commerce., art. science. and
every department OF eoucation physical
and mental, as well as moral advancement.
The offspring of the Government, the
fruits of the administration OF the people.
which constitutes our form Of Government.
the outcome OF all these wonderful de
velopments. Without the proper admins
tration of the affairs of the nation, what
important history can be written from the
development of its resources? None what
ever. The historian would lind ii barren
field from which TO draw an interesting
chapter.
No nation or country in the world is
favored with such political privileges as
the American people. Every man has a
voice in the government and the admins
tration OF public affairs. When we look
back upon the century past we can but
wonder at the great development of every
resource, mental as we'll as physical The
" - II
busy mart of trade over which has grown
thriving city. The howl of the Wild
beast and the indiana warwhoop have
been drowned in the busy hum of voices.
| The Wilderness has been converted into
cities, and the thoroughfares of commerce
have riveted together the two great oceans
Gy a chain OF railroads unsurpassed by
any other enterprise i'll the worlds his
tory. Commerce has been the messenger
of mercy which has cleared the western
wilderness and populated its plains. Com
merce has opened the doors of America to
| the oppressed and down trodden of every
! land. Commerce has carried our manu-
features into every cline Commerce has
: blessed the bud of promise to exceed the
/ expectation of the most enterpriSino gen
! ius of the world. The prows of our white
/ winged commerce have dashed over every
sea. No hidden treasure has been too
intricate for our search. The govern
ment has protected and not robbed
these enterprises 1t is to the govern
ment that we owe our greatness. With
out it America could never have been
! what she is. No kingly crown OF despotic
/ chain binds these States together. We