The National tribune., 1896-07-02

As Broadly aud Tersely Defined by the Au
thor of "Ben Hur."

AMEBICANTsM
As Broadly and Tersely Defined by the Au-
thor Of Ben Hur."
TRUE AMERIcANIsM.
Gen. Lew Wallace was orator OF Memorial
DAY at indianapolis, and in the course of his
scholarly address gave definition of Amer
icauism that must appeal to tue highest intel
hgence OF our whole people.
1t is SO clear. so terse, plain that none may
stop to bubble complain. The definition
follows and may well be studied rs the Loyal
Home Workers, whose motto is Progress ana
Patriotism.
There is an Americanism, my feilow-citi-
vpns" I,e said. "to which we are born which
grows with our growth, aud in time becomes
a part OF us. insomuch that we take no thought
of il, any more than we think why we thins.
II know nothing 50 strangely compounded
as it's for say of il truly, IL IS theory ana
with eeual truth We call il fact. An IDEA, IT
is also reality: a childish Thought III sim
plicitv. never ANYTHING more compiicate III It's
application. Plainly stated. it is belief that
this whole country belongs TO us and each Of
us and that wherever We may chance ia Us
boundary lines no man has better rights than
another. more OF them.
"This, ] know. is meager definition, but
INV purpose would be lily served if you were
definition contains. Thousands of our people
never read the Constitution of our country. and
Of those who do thousands are incapable of un-
Outstanding all its parts. In fact, lt rs mot IN
all it's parts an instrument easy TO minds cor
slant in its study and practiced in its inserpre'
tatiun.
when at last the great task of writing its
history is well done, il will appear that the
chapters most interesting to the general reader
arc those given to the development OF powers
mt first vehemently denied by some, and at best
but vaguely guessed or dimly seen by others.
Indeed. the field OF the Constitution is one in
which none but giants move, battling for con-
etructions which we of the masses hear about
with wonder and finally accept with thanks
"A trife over 80 years ago an outgoing Presi-
dent, who had grown gray in political service
declared In face Of deadly peril that the Ma
tioual Government was not vested with power
TO hold State in the Union By coercion. Ills
successor made haste 20 publish different doc
trine and show rs the section and the article
from which he drew it; then we, and our ene-
mics. and all the world were amazed at the ex-
hibition of an undreamt-of strong hand. con-
trolled by ma;chless sense, without which Amer
lea had been undonc.
Thou remem berest how,
In those old days. one Summer noon. an arm
Rose up from out the bosom of the lake.
Clothed in white sHmie. mystic, wonderful.
Holding the sword -
in that instance my friends. IL was the sword
Of Merlin; in this. il was tue sword OF the
Union.
LOYALTY TO THE CONSTITUTION.
il becomes an inquiry OF singular interest
now, what has kept us SO legal to the Constitu-
tionT IL we do not study il, or If SO, many
who do cannot understand it, how has il con-
tinued thing sacred that, any hour from
that Of IFS proclamation the people have been
ready TO defend il TO the deathP How was 1t
that when portion of them broke away and
took arms to assert separate existence, they
chose new name, adopted new flag, abol-
ished the old holiday even, yet in the hight of
their rage voted Constitution almost literally
q copy OF The old one? Such of you, my friends.
Sc will resort to the AmericRuism ] have Just
defined. aud study it, will have solution of the
mystery.
let me latter myself now that / have at
least stimulated your curiosity to the point
where ven wish 10 know more exactly what
that AiueTicanism is ] said il was = belief
that this whole country belongs TO us, and each
of us and that wherever may chance in
fts boundary lines no man has better rights
than another or more of them. Further, it is
the popular summary Of the Consttntion-ihe
part that sanctifcs all tho rest-thnt which led
the brave men 20 whom we are rendering these
TnoBrnlul honers into the baody paths of war.
at orce the aspiration Of their lives and the
cause for which they persisted.
" The country, and the whole of il, belongs to
us aud each Of ns. You over there. own a lull
section OF 1t in fee. aud you have your deeds
for IL, lightning with that of the Government
10 the first proprietor. You own it. Yes but
SO do and all these, the humblest il is essen
iial 70 the unity OF our National dominion and
On that sense you shall not part with square
ifch Of II. without the common consent So
with the States. They, too, belong 70 Us aud
they shall not be taken away upon any pre-
tense by the few who happen to live in them
Unity Of dominion meats unity Of Jurisdiction
Rights Of worth than webs of
spiders spun in uncertain moonshine If there
he not power somewhere lodged 90 inexorably
enforce them Prevalence Of the power TO do
tlFft mighty thing is Jurisdiction Study the
idea ever So little, and down at the bottom of
is you will find my interest in your farms oh
men Of Indiana, and IN your State, oh, men OF
Kentucky!
" All men have rights. They derive them
from nature and society. Ones wants are the
origin OF his rights; his situation is the limit
Of them. Equality is the basis OF the Ameri-
can system OF rights. and therein it's disiinc-
ton from the philosophy of other peoples on
the subject. What rights nnder the law
are give as no trouble. The rule is find what
rs admittedly right Of any other man in the
country, aud that 10 tue exact measure OF your
right aud mine
=" These words convey the proper interpreta-
Aioh OF the Constitution. Never anything
so simple. never anything so convenient
never anything so important. Ii enables the
citizen 10 20 about without a library of law
ID happens next that our rights are not ali of
thefn OF equal importance We have disputes
every day about property; they are mostly of
individual concern. and the courts settle them
There ~ however, set Of rights which shall
not he trenched on. Yon shall not interfere
Win your neirhbor going where aud when he
peases, or with bis security Roing or coming,
OF villa his occupation. il only il be honest.
Most sacred are the privileges affecting Gov.
eminent. Free thought, free speech, and a
baloi-i'Ox for the ascerlRinmeut Of the win NJ
The msjority-of them, would say, they make
The sweet kernel OF our Ame sm-the ir,-
hnitely precious kernel intended for the feed
ing OF the Nation forever"
CONVERSATION CLUR
hxchange of Thoughts and Sentiments by