The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-02

political institutions have no exemplar,
no archetype; and we are trying the ex-
pertinent which no nation ever tried, of
throwing the government into the hands
of the people. II is an experiment which
has Oft been assailed. and which must
prove eminently successful or fearfuliy
disastrous. The result will depend upon
the intelligence and virtue of the people
The will of the majority is for good or
for evil. 1t is our law maker, or our law
breaker. The fear of the bayonet may
nut down the mob, till the mob becomes
strong enough to put down the law. Ana
when il has achieved this, it will turn It's
suicidal hand upon ITSELF The produc-
ton of a Boneparte was the natural result
of the state of mind in France during her
revolution, as a Washington was
America at the commencement OF our
revolution. France could not possibly
have raised up Washington, nor Amer
ica Boneparte during the periods OF
their respective revolutions. No nation
can long be governed by any power but
such as is adapted to the character of their
people. A Nero and Claudius are not
the cause of the misery of the people over
whom they rule. but the consequence OF
their vices and ignorance. Onward the
nation is going with astonishing rapidi-
ty, in population and wealth, in civiiiza-
tion and refinement. and in all the means
of promoting any object which shall seem
desirable. We must not accustom our
selves 10 think that our glory Is secured
when our national treasury j. overflow
ing. or our experiments Of multiplying
gold. are successful. What constitutes
national glory? What i the renown we
should most covet for our great and -four
ishing republics Not that Of surprising
other nations ia extent of territory, ply
sical improvements, and overgrown
wealth. Many nations have risen and
persisted and len no memorial but tradi-
tionary fame Of afIluenee, or crumbiing
monuments Of physical power.
The glory Of our country l., that % con-
tains people eminent for moral and in
telleefual wealth: that il j. the home Of
the free. the intelligent, the virtuous /;
that here i an entire nation well educat-
"a in all that i essential 10 form and
elevate the individual citizen, and rear
him up pillar in the great and harmon
ious fabric Of society. This can only be
accomplished 10y seeing % IL hat the pro-
greSs of mind and morals keeps pace
with the growth of outward prosperity.
The characters that have moulded our
institutions-the faith that has sustained
them, aud the heroism that has preserved
them, should be kept before Us in the
celebration of such days as these. We
can not dwell too constantly upon the
noble lives that have become such an ex-
haustless inspiration of our citizenship.
Free institutions such as ours are found
ed in sentiment, must live upon senti-
ment, and are doomed 10 die with its de-
cav. The ceremonies of this day have
their moral effect they are of greater
worth than the victories Of battle fields,
and are the most beautiful in the bright
calendar of glorious things. Let us then
cherish and perpetuate this inspiration OF
our citizenship and never suffer il to grow
dull or to be tarnished by any neglect.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty
no citizen can escape sentry duty. Ii is
not enough to honor the dead, we must
carry the burden which they preserved.
They are heroes free from strife, we are
soldiers of it. And you, Veterans, are
this day doubly endeared TO the Repub-
lie, but in no sense relieved of response
hility. You must be equal to the hour of
sacrifice, and now as then, feel that your
duty to your beloved country is the great
est your lives-for that your comrades
died, for that you live. And what eoun-
try for which to livei
4 country when it first clothed itself
with the prerogatives of sovereignty
numbered but thirteen feeble states with
only three millions inhabitants, occupy
ing the small familiar strip of territory
lined on one side by the Atlantic ocean
and on the other by the Allegheny noun
tains, but whose vast outlying bounda-
ries are now watered by the great Pacific,
the Gulf of Mexico and the Artic ocean !;
comprising in fact, a continental chain of
zones, sweeping in hemisphere magni-
tude. from the mountain crests of eternal
SHOWS to the reign of perpetual flowers; (;
its census of population has gone toward
with similar strides of amazing aumenta-
ton, rolling up free, intelligent and
powerful citizenship of seventy million
people. Never before has the world wit
messed so superlative an illustration of
the capacity of man for self-government,
never before has the glory of man, in his
unrepressed enthusiasm and unfettered
activity, been confirmed by achievements
so splendid and enduring, the influence
of which will reach forward to the setting
of the sun of time. Under the gracious
blessing of heaven, we can boast OF
career more renowned, diversified in
character, and more boundless in IFS re-
suits to the human race, than that of the
most commanding empires ofthe past, of
whatever name or period, enjoying
fame as wide as the world, and as eternal
as the stars.
If we be true TO the great duty of edu
eating and improving the minds and
souls of the people, if we be inspired with
an ardent love for our country, and a
profound reverence for her constitutions
and her laws, if we be filled with patriotic
devotion to Old Glory as the flag of free
dom,-prosperity will never enervate,
corruption debase, nor venal populaee
coDsummate the destruction of our glori-
Gus Republic. Should it in future years
be assailed, and "war wing its wide DESC
lation," and threaten its destruction, like
the youth in Paris who, hearing that
Mirabeau was dying for want of bloc I,
cried out ''Mirabeau must not die, take
my blood, put it into his veins, and let
me die. but let Mirabeau live ~ an
army of seventy million people will rise
up as did the mighty hosts of freedom in
'6l, and barring their breasts, say once
again This Republic must not die take
our blood, let US die but the Republic,
bought by the toll, and suffering, and
blood of our ancestors, must not and shall
not dier
From the pinnacle of opportunity of
which God has placed us, we look down
on the centuries yet to come. We stretch
our hands into the future with power 10
mold the destinies of unborn millions.
Men that now take their part in the affairs
of this nation will soon pass away, and
others will succeed them in whose ands
the mighty problems of the nations fu-
ture are TO be wrought out. Oh Am sri ca ,
oh, my countryi Behold the transcend
ant triumphs before thee, Ii is heaven
that inspires the task assigned thee, God
calls thee To the 'front.' The pulses ofthe