The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-07-07
Senator Aliens Address

taxation without representation" in
the English parliament, became uni
yerSally accepted.
The struggle was transpianted to a
new theatre and came down to an
other age; but, stripped of ali dis
guise, it was the same fierce battle of
the few for political, religious and
industrial domination, and of the
many for the mastery and mainte-
nance of a government in which all
should enjoy religious and political
liberty and industrial equality and in
which involuntary servitude- should
disappear
American independence was pro-
claimed to the world on the day of
which this is an anniversary, but that
was a mere stage or incident oil the
great conflict between the civiliza-
tons of which ! am speaking.
Doubtless the thought of religious
freedom was inspired by the Bible,
and, the notion of political liberty be-
ing corollary, to the Bible is TO be
attributed the first well defined
thoughts of political independence
and of equality in human government.
A new epoch began July 4, 1776.
But this time the scene of conflict was
not at Marston Moor and Nasbey, but
at Concord and Lexington and ended
in the surrender at Yorktown where
the reactionists were defeated There
is an anomaly in nature whereby ma
tons, like individuals, frequently re-
ceive, the moment of their birth, the
lurking seeds Of destruction, and in
the establishment of this government,
while protesting the broadcast individ-
ual liberty of conscience and action
among the people, the republic was in
fact in large measure founded on
African slavery, which was not up
rooted until the emancipation proc
lamation in 1863
The institution of slavery grew and
fiourished during the time of the ar
| tlcles OF confederation and was at full
tide when the constitution was adopt
ed. The northern states had been set
tied by the Puritans and the southern
states by the Cavaliers. Northern
sentiment rapidly formed in its favor.
The northern climate was inhospitable
to the African, but the climate of the
south was cOngenial, and in brief
time slavery was transferred south of
Mason and Dixon's line and grew into
an aristocracy, SO that when the con-
stitution was formed it became SUBJ
Ject OF bitter controversy. The con-
stitution permitted the importation of
slaves to 1903 while the institution
was further strengthened by a provi-
sion that no person held to service or
labor in one state under the laws
Thereof, escaping to another, should,
in consequence of any law or regula-
ton therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but should be de-
livered up on the claim of the party
to whom such labor or service was
due.
| This was the basis of the fugitive
slave law of 1885, by which additional
duties were imposed on the federal
courts in the states and territories.
and on an army of court commission
ers created to issue warrants to claim
ants for the arrest of persons escap-
ing from slavery, investing them with
authority to remove a fugitive to the
state from which he had escaped.
Heavy penalties were denounced
against marshalls and deputy marsh
ails and the constabulary of the free
states generally, for a refusal to exc
cute the law, and officers were direct
ed to summon "bystanders and a
posse commitatus" in any place where
such escaped slave might be found. to
assist in executing the process of ex-
tradition. And the statute provided
that "all good citizens are hereby
commanded to aid and assist in the
proper and efficient execution of this
law whenever their services may be
required as aforesaid. for that pur-
pose" 1t was provided that In a trial
OF the question whether the fugitive
was bound to service and ought to be
returned to the state from which he
was charged with having escaped. the
testimony Of the negro should not be
admitted In evidence, and that the
certificate OF the court, or the court
commissioner. for his return 10 ser
vice should be conclusive III the
right OF the person or persons In
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