The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-22

esty OF the law and sent troops under
Light Horse Harry Lee TO the scene Of dis
turbance. The misguided insurrectiouists
dispersed as the national troops bearing
the flag of the Union approached the To-
cality OF the disturbance.
In 1861. when 1t was sought by armed
force to take the life OF the nation, there
was power in the Government of the Union
to reinstate the national authority over
every foot OF our territory. In that hour
| OF peril to all that was dear to u.s. the gal
liant sons of Pennsylvania were well to the
| 'front.' The people of this Commonwealth
VIII always cherish the memory of those
brave soldiers OF the Union. That our sol
| diers did not die in vain. that the Ameri-
ian people we're able to preserve the ma
.ionai life. that we have now a union OF
hearts and union OF bands. is due to she
| iaet that our fathers established a Gov
eminent tnat could preserve its own life
ana enforce its own authority.
Inc germinal idea of American liberty
| Is local self-goyernment We are home
| Iuieis Oy instinct, a feeling that has its
ioo. IN anection for our own families above
otner families. Each man loves. above all
| and reared.
only short time ago might have beep
| witnessed In London a spectacle which for
magnifieence and splendor has never been
| surpassed in the history Of the world The
| Houses of Parliament went in a body IN
| present an address to Her Britannia Mai
| esty. Queen Victoria. The Lord Chancellor
OF England the highest judicial officer in
| the British Empire. kneeled before Her
Majesty, and remained upon his knees un-
VI he had read the address of Parliament
| He did not kneel because he was in the
presence of a gracious woman-as any
| brave, manly person might well debut
because he was In the presence Of a SOW
ereign. He and those whom he repre-
scented were subjects of single human
being exerting the powers of sovereignty.
AT one time in the history of this coun-
try few misguided men left our shores
and went to the aid of patriotic Cubans
struggling TO be free. They were arrested
and condemned to be shot by order of the
captain general of that oppressed island
When the time came for their execution,
William Crittendeu. one OK the number.
was blindfolded and ordered to kneel, that |
his executioners might the more easily |
take his life The proudspirited man. a |
descendant of a Revolutionary hero. with |
head erect and fearless of death, refused to |
kneel, and replied: An American kneeIs |
only to his God!' In England to use the |
language OF Mr. Gladstone the sovereign |
is the symbol OF the nations unity and |
the apex Of the social structure: the maker |
governor OF the church: the fountain of |
Justice; the sole source OF honor: the per- |
son to whom all military, all naval all |
civil service is rendered
Our sovereign is not he who for the |
time Yields the executive power Of the |
United States. Our sovereign Is the peo-
pie. They are the source of power and jus
tice in this land. Their will Is expressed
by written constitutions and by laws pass
ed in pursuance thereof. and to that will
all must yield obedience. No man here Is
so high that he Is above the law. No one
here assumes to rule by divine right but
only In the mode prescribed by law and
that law comes into existence only by the
consent Of the people acting by their rep
resentatives- Our institutions emphatically
rest upon the sovereignty of the public
will. Upon this principle they must al
ways rest, unless in an evil hour. when all
the guarantees of freedom have been de-
stroyed, we should return to the exploded
theory that the rights of life liberty and
property are such only as are conceded by
those who dominate the people.
May 1 not add that now more than at
any period in our history is it necessary
that we be faithful to sound principles of
government and liberty regulated by law
Our country has reached a critical and
momentous period. and the utmost vigil
lance and the most unselfish patriotism
are demanded from every genuine Ameri-
can. The time has come when we must be
Americans, through and through. We
have no right to turn our backs upon pub {
lie affairs. or to become Indifferent to che
fate of our institutions. Still less have we
a right to enjoy the blessings and protee- |
tfOn OF this glorious land while continually y
saying and doing that which serves to 5
strengthen the hands Of the enemies Of the Q
Republic. Some people have strange way
in which to manifest their devotion to r
z
the Government anything to approve, end I
they never fail. when the nation is having
a dispute with other peoples. to say that {
cur country is wrong and our adve-ssIies i
right. And they do this even white our :
soldiers are in far distant lands endeav- :
oTing to maintain the rightful authority ,
Of the nation. Some have not hesitated to !
say, in the most public manner, that those .
who from jungleS ambush and shoot down 7
cur brave soldiers. are fighting the battles :
Of liberty and doing only what they have :
a right to do. what their honor requires.
rhese men are never happier than when :
attempting TO persuade their fellow-citi
zelS that America is entering upon q dark =
and perilous future and that all so far =.
accomplished for the liberty and well
being of the people will be lost if the
q
For my own part, | believe that a des-
Tiny awaits America such as has never
been Vouchsafed to any people. and that
n the working out OF that destiny. under
he leadings of Providence, humanity +,
Will be lifted up. and power
md tyranny compelled to recognize the
act that God is no respecter OF persons. a
md that he hath made OF one blood all g
iations of men, Let US have an abiding a
aith that our country viii never depart T
rem the fundamental principles OF right p
nd justice Of prove recreant to the high W
rusts committed to it for the benefit not a!
lone OF the American people but OF all
1eu everywhere on all the earth. ei
I'VE have lad our days CT glo1m and dark T
less. We have had political terms that OF
eemed to threaten the destruction of our g
Institutions; and now and then we may bl
ave been somewhat faint-hearted as to
ur destiny and doubted whether all was ! vi
feil fer the Great Republic. But those d,
forms passed away. and We rejoice that
ur appTehensions were groundless We | tt
nay expect storms in the future; for til
othing worth preserving has ever been ! a
chieved by individuals or by nations ex- hi
ept through trials and sacrifices. Take | VI
ourage in the belief that the American &C
eople are pure in heart, ard have no de- bs
ire or purpose other than to maintain the .r
uthority of this nation wherever our flag
cats. ard to preserve unimpaired to the %
.test generation the free institutions given ! 49,
hem by the fathers Taught by the ex- .
erience of the past will stand at our ~,
sspective posts of duty in the firm con- -
iction that the Kind Providence that has -,
ways watched over this people will pre- ~
rive our heritage OF constitutional liberty. ="
Re love the rocks and rills.' the woods 10