Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-31
mays 10 81

1ortn INTO tne nSnl.
The Age of Pcricles began while
the Athenian democracy was in the
throcs of mortal struggle for cl-
istence and that period brought to
light all that was most glorious IN
the genius of Athens. That was ,:le
Golden Age of Grecian democracy.
During that time Greece gave to the
world more great men-poetS artists,
orators. statesmen and philosopher
than has ever been produced in any
period Of equal length.
Likewise the epoch of our CIVIL
War brought forth everything that
was most splendid in the character Of
this nation. 1t was an era of g,ea,
soldiers. The military history of the
world does not present more brlHianJ
among the leaders of the Blue and
the Grey. 1t vase an era of matchless
eloqucnce. Inspire cd by the crisis Of
the times, orators like Wendell Phil
lips. George William Curtis and Hen
ny Ward Beecher plead for freedom
With tongues touched by the Divine
fire. II was an era Of great editors.
alen like Garrison and Greeley dipped
their pens III flames and wrote n
words that burned their unanswera-
bic arguments for liberty. 1t was a
time whom sordid interests were for
gotten by the American people ana
men and women thought, AMI taIN ii
| and worked and lived and died for
the common good.
That epoch in our history no lon
ger appears merely a success of
/ battles and of the marching and
COMMUNICATING of brave men we
are beginning to see that that var
was not an incident, or an accidcr,
OF the times, hut 4 grand clinacteric
! III the agc-long struggle for libert--.
1T appears now to have been an IN
! cNitable event i'll the progress of ire
human race toward its ultimate goal
Of government CT the people. by thn
Ieopie. for the people"
The passion of liberty seems to be
Inherent in man.
In the great morning of the world
The spirit OF God with might unfurled
The nag of freedom over chaos"
1t was this passion that brought A
race Of slaves forth out Of Egypt and
( '''rNN t4iSiil lIulloli. II was tUlS
passion that marshaled half mill
, lion English yeomen at Runnymeade
Meadow 700 years ago. and forced the
tryant John TO sign the treble pledge
that guaranteed the sanctity of a
mans home and his person. Guizot
says that when the Magma Charta
was Wruns from the despotic king
there at Runnymeade it was AS if
some new planet had suddenly risen
on the worlds horizon. and new
world swung sOlemnly into sight"
1t was love Of liberty that brought
10000 of England's citizens before
the gates of Westminster Hall in 1928
with their Petition of Rights" 1t
was the Day of Judgment for Charles
the First, who sat entrenched behind
his doctrine of The divine right of
/ tho King" All about him were those
Puritans stern as angels and relent-
! less as fate. They had grown weary
of oppression. Manhood and charac-
ter were I'm the ascendent The
naughty Monarch trembled. lie
grasped his pen in a hand that shook
with fear ard passion, but he signed
the parchment that gave to England
the right of representative govern
ment.
1t was the spirit Of freedom that
led ether Puritans over the sea to this
new world to lay broad and deep the
foundations of a Republic in which
freedom might reach its goal. Under
this mighty inspiration they suffered,
endured and hoped The climate was
against them. The savage Indians
opposed them and a grasping paternal
government in the Old Country ex-
torted impossible taxes from them I'M
til, with grim humOr they made q
great tea party in Boston Town, and
went out and wrote the Declaration of
Independence. And thus Our faith
ers brought forth, upon this CONT
nent, a new nation, conceived in lib
erty. and dedicated TO the proposition
that all men are created free and
equal" And again 1T was as if a
new planet had risen upon the hori
zon and new world swung solemnly
into sight.
Presently q row issue arose 1t
was this: BY what right is freedom
denied to the Black slave in our
midst? Is liberty limited to those
who have no black pigment in their
skin?
1t is curious fact that in the very
year the Mayfower set said from
Holland q little Dutch ship sailed
from Africa bringing to America a
number of Negro slaves. The insti-
tuition of slavery was established be-
fore the Republic was organized and
grew through the years notwithstand-
ing the fact that the great statesmen,
almost without exception. disap-
proved of it from the first and looked
forward TO its abolition.
The time came when the figure of
this black bondman doomed like a
menacing shadow over the land In
Boston Garrison lighted Il fire brand
and flung it broadcast over the coun-
try. He called it THE LIBERATOR.
The heading of the paper bore the
figure Of Christ rebuking the master
and releasing the slave, while He says
Il come to break the bonds of the OPP
pressor"
The agitation became more and
more intense. 1t was made political
issue. Finally it was proposed to
carve out new slave State west of
the Mississippi, but the Federal Gov
eminent said. NO! Thus far, and no
farther shalt thou CO."
The advocates Of slavery hurled de-
fiance at the Government and-the
War OF Secession was upon us.