The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-14
THE NEWS AND ERvER TUESDAY MORNING, April a. 1896.

best Or all. an uLGDBI LEIdDl1 anglo
saxon self-relance and independence.
Til Jamestown and in Plymouth their
simple prayer to God was that for them
aud their children the seed-time might
be followed by the harvest. But the
seed was liberty, equality, self-goyern-
ment. and the harvest was to be a ma
ton OF equal laws, rights and priyi-
Ieges, where each might fashion his
own fortune and all have protection
IN making the most of themselves. I'm
migrating at different Hines and from
different places, with variety of creed
ard life, scattering along the Atlantic
seaboard, living under diverse infu-
ences, vet they became a homogene-
ous people, but with a jealous regard
FOR Individual freedom and local self
government. Union began in the
need Of concert OF action for CONNER
cial relations and a common defense.
Tt strengthened i'm mutual suffering
and sympathy in the struggle between
England and France for supremacy
over the continent. It was finally
welded in the common resistance to the
tyranny of the mother country The
pioneers of Virginia and Massachu-
setts had encountered like perils and
had a like experience in their struggles
and4 success. Their sons had fought
the same enemy on the plains of Que
bee and in the valley Of the Ohio. Their
leaders had together planned for the
protection Of their common rights and
liberties. Lexington and Bunker Hill
marshaled to battle people already
united under great principles and for
great purposes, and for whose success
they were ready to pledge each to the
other, their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor
But with this unifying influence
there was always present second
great policy, the right Of local self-gov-
eminent, the individuality of the colo
MES and colonists. Indeed this was
an essential condition. No statesman
could disregard it; no union was pos
sible without its recognition. 1t
was early manifest in free
dom of worship. The Puritan OF
New England, the Dutchman Of New
York. the Quaker of Pennsylvania the
Roman Catholic of Maryland, with only
the Potomac separating him from the
English churohuan of Virginia, and
the Huguenot of the Carolinas-all
lived in peace, which by peril and mu-
fual interest strengthened into a COM
mon fellowship, but each asserted an
individual right he would never surren-
der. In any union freedom of Worship
was the first necessity. lit was depend
emit upon and emphasized the right Of
local self government. For safety there
Wasunion, for liberty, self government,
it was safety with liberty. union with
self government. So the declaration of
independence bound the colonies each
10 the other by most sacred pledge, as
sertinQ mutual dependence, individual
autonomy, and united independence,
and declaring that these united colo
MES are and of right ought 70 be free
and independent states
Then followed the weary years OF
common action in a feeble congress and
of common suffering on the field Of
battle Victory and independence
found the colonies united, but under an
unstable government with disintegTat-
ing tendencies. Then Of necessity was
evolved the Constitution ITO form O
more perfect union" and sit the same
time t'to secure the blessings Of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity. The
colonial seed had reached republican
fruition; the national government had
received it's charter; and an enduring
republic, the indestructibleu union Of in
destruotible States, had been establish
ed.
FORMATION or CONSTITUTION.
IN the formation of the Constitution.
and especially in itsdeyelopment under
amendment and construction, there
were discussion and difference Of opia-
ion over fundamental principles ami
the proper scope and functions Of goT-
eminent. This was natural, necessary
and wholesome i'll free and inteIli-
gent people and led inevitably into di-
vision of parties. The very freedom Of
thought, speech and action guaranteed
In the early amendments meant such
result. Political opinion was not To be
coereed or controlled, nor unauimity
over policies or candidates to be expect
ed. Agitation, discussion, not silence
and Indifference. were the eternal yig-
lance" which should preserve liberty
So were evolved political parties with
their policies and leaders, their duties
and responsibilities. The time was ripe
and the leaders were ready Three
stood foremost in public esteem, con
spicuous for their services, their influ-
ence and leadership. First came Wash
ington, loved by a whole people whom
he had led to victory, established il
peace and then governed with a deyot-
ed patriotism and inpartiality which
knew no party division and could not
limit his influence to party lines. With
the confidence of all and just to all, he
could preside over a discordant cabinet
end govern q divided people, but could
not be a party leader That work must
fall to his subordinates. So Hamilton
and jefferson became the recognized
leaders of distinct schools of policies
and parties which each upheld with
signal ability and mguestioned patri-
otism. To Hamilton, fond OF English
preeedents, reluctant to trust the peo-
pie, doubtful of their capacity to gov
ern themselves, a strong government
seemed a necessity, for their welfare
and happiness. and for the preserva-