The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-06-07
NUMBER 35,

with drops OF crystal dew. Thus have
the pages of history been written in
blood and tears; thus from outthe dark
ness OF prehistoric ages men have
risen on the stepping stones of their
dead selves to higher things"
There were no errors in the doctrine
OF the declaration; better expression
OF human rights was never written: but
how did the government which was es-
tabllshed upon these principals, COM
pare with the intellectual conception?
How does our government now compare
in its practical results with the sublime
theory upon which it is founded? In
creditable as it seems today, human
slavery was recognized by the constitu-
tlon OF the new nation: was permitted
by the government of people who had
adopted and defended the declaration
of independence. Before the declara-
tion was century old, the South sacri-
heed every sacred relation in defense of
slavery. A people whose ancestors had
conceived the sublime sentiments of
the declaration of independence and
who had defended their faith on every
battlefield of the revolution, plunged
into fratracidal war which involved
the desolatiOns of their zones, the de-
struction of their country, and the dis
honor OF their flag: did all this with a
courage and deyotion which won the
admiration of the world: did all this
that they might traffic in the bodies and
souls OF their fellowmen. Strange per-
versity of reason; incomprehensible sell
tishness: oh, the meanness and misery
of their blind infatuation.
Possibly their atonement has been
ample and the years have dimmed the
intensity of their infamy, but no day
will ever dawn upon which the ''lost
cause" will be more justifable than of
old, and every coming day will reveal
more clearly the folly of its followers.
In this presence are many who per-
llled their lives in the defense of civil
liberty: men who marched beneath
burning suns: pillowed their brows upon
the damp earth barred their breasts to
storms OF leaden hail: kept constant"
company with disease and death and
endured worse tortures than the damn.
ed in rebel prison pens, that the princi-
Piles of the declaration might not per
lsh. | will not, dare not limit by Ian
gauge, the full round measure OF their
praise.
Veterans of the Union army. I salute
you: on this memorial day, more than
millions of Americans salute you: the
emanclpated black men of the South sa-
lutte you: lovers of liberty in every land
salute you, hail you as heroes, and
crown you with garlands of immortal
fame.
Contemplation of the marvellous de-
velopment OF this country in popula-
tion, wealth and education, its growth
along all the lines of modern civiliZa-
ton, should, 1t seems to me, thrill every
American heart with patriotic pride
But, as in the past, SO today. the con-
duct and condition of the masses in
America are sadly below the possibili-
ties and purposes of our republican
theory OF government. 1t is not my de-
sign to enter upon a discussion of the
causes which have produced these con-
dltlons; or OF the measures required TO
remove them. Such discussion would
be hardly proper and wholly impossible
within the limits of this address, but
do desire, in all confidence and sinceri-
ty to contend that the impending diff
culties and dangers are greatly exag-
gerated: that they have resulted from
causes not Inherent in our political sys-
TEN: that the actual condition of our
people is Infinitely better than that of
any other people on earth, and that all
evils which are removable by means of
Legislation, can, and will in due time
be removed by the honest and intelli-
gent majority in this country in the
manner and by the methods provided
by our present system Of government:
| cannot conclude that the sacrifices of
the revolution and of the civil war were
made in vain. Because, my friends, I
have confidence in the intelligence.
courage and patriotism of the Ameri-
can people, The fathers faltered not
IN days darker than we have known:
our brothers and comrades faltered not
in days darker than the present: the
revolution was successful: African slav-
cry was abolished. and the heresy of
state rights forever crushed by the
calm, Intelligent courage of American
manhood and the unselfish devotion of
American womanhood. The creation
OF the federal constitution was rendered
possible by the intelligent conservatism
of far less enlightened period than
this. 1t was produced from elements
more complicated than exist today, 1t
passed in safety through the trying Or
deal OF civil war, and contains within
itself the means of redressing all
wrongs which are capable of redress by
any system of human government
Let the people realize that more
change, if not progress, has been made
IN this country during the past twenty
five years than was made in any pre-
vious period of twenty-five hundred
years: that universal education, tho in
vention OF machinery, discoveries in
art and science have multiplied in in
finite degree not only the means of
promoting individual happiness, hut
the means of promoting individual
misery: that what were luxuries fifty
years ago, are now regarded as necessi-
ties: that it was not possible for finite
in diligence, even if directed by absol
ute honesty and unselfshness, to anti
cipate the consequences Of our miracul-
Gus development: let the people realize
this and they will have more confidence
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