The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-02-11

beg your pardon for bringing them to
your notice at this time.
We are living, ladies and gentlemen.
| at period of time and In state of
society to which the world has never
seen q parallel. How many nations in
| all the annals of human knowledge can
boast OF such history2
A body of talents have been called
| forth that has enriched human knowl.
edge by the accumulation of great
masses of useful facts and augmented the
power and comforts of civilized man by
miracles of mechanical invention.
The expansion of commerce, manufact-
ories and the useful arts, the progress in
scientific discoveries, the accumulation of
| wealth and the material advancement of
every kind Is truly marvellous.
Steam, electricity, gas, telegraphy and
photography have multiplied the instru-
mentaii,ies, while science, philosophy,
literature and art have steadily moved
forward along the line of all these
| achievements.
But wants have multiplied as civiliza
tion has advanced, and with the multi-.
piled wants and the increased freedom
OF the Individual have come antagonisms
inevitably incidental to inequality of
condition.
While the rights of life to use ones
faculties in ali lawful ways and to &C
quire and enjoy property are morally
| fundamental rights antecedent to consti-
tutions, which do not create but secure
and protect them. Twill government,
surrendered to the agents of the people"
asks De ToQueville, 'be a government
strong enough to Withstand the enterpri
ses of factions to confne each member
OF society within the limits prescribed BY
law and TO maintain all in the secure and
tranquil enjoyment of the rights of per
| sons and property, without which liberty
| is little better than d name2"
How shall the evils of municipal gov
ernment, the poverty, the vice engen
dered by this pfopoItionate growth of
urbane p( pulation, be dealt with as that
| growth continues2
How shall immigration be regulated
so that precious institutions may not be
| threatened by too large an influx OF
those lacking in similative power and
| inclination9
How shall monopoly be checked and
the proceeds of accumulation yield to
that equitable distribution which shall
undo excess and each man have enough9
How shall the individual be held to
the recognition of his responsibility for
government and to meet the demands of
public obligations9
How shall corruption in public and
private life be eradicated? These and
like questions to these must be met and
solved by our people; and only will be
| answered liz such a manner as to hallow
the name of liberty by making 1t the
synonym of free institutions, morality,
patriotism and Christian civilization by
the farmers and wealth producing masses
of the United States.
Perhaps some may consider this too
sweeping an assertion; but, ladies and
gentlemen, where in all the hoary annals
of history have we ever found an act re-
corded fer the esta ablishment of liberty
and the perpetuatlon of tree institutions
as coming from kings, prlnces and their
nobility, or from the moneyed arlstocrat
and purse proud millionaire2
When peculiar circumstances threaten
ing the destruction of our government
have arisen, where has succor most read
lily comc from but from the laborIng
masses. and especially from the tillers of
the soil. Where was the mind devel-
oped, the slnews strengthened and mus
cles hardened, of a Lincoln, Garfield
and their coadjutors, that enabled them
to grapple the helm and steer our ship.
of state into harbor of safety, but in
their early labor on the farm.
Then, ladies, and gentlemen of the
Farmers Institute, stand erect, nor bend
the knee nor bow, but speak your own
free thoughts.
Why should you, who have made the
world a realm of beauty and unfurled
the flag of hope over desert, vale and
mountains; why should you, like slave,
cringe to the nod of pride and bend to
the soil your hand has taught to bloom
as fair gsrden2 Why should you shut
up your soul ss in tomb2
o, stand erect; throw off thy fetters,
and speak thine own free thoughts. Thou
art man! W. 81. 81. DUFUR.