Year: 1876

we nave passed sately through Jne
first century of National life. The light
of another century is breaking upon us,
the fate, the progress, the prosperity of
our country during that century is, in II
great measure in our hands. The men
and women o. to-day will shape its des-
TIMES for q period, the children of to day
will shape them until half OF the coming
century has pas sed away. In that FIRST
nifty years the troubles which so lately
shook the republic will have passed into
history and the generation of that day
can Ook upon the record with unpreju-
diced ju igment. OF the great actors who
bore part in the civil war on either side
few will be left 70 keep alive the section
al jeilousies which at one time threatened
to destroy the hope of republican liberty.


On this generation rests u great respOn-
siblity. 1t has seen the devotion of the
American people to their country, it has
SEE n the latent pstrio lism OF the nation
brought into action at the menace of dan
ger, and it he seen how quick a nation
Of farmers and mechanics can b. trans
formed into an army Of sold ers when
the government of their country is threat
ened. Thst such struggle the effects Of
which are yet telt in every home in the
lan1 should pass of, and not leave heart
burnings ana regrets is q simple impossi-
bility. Those who have borne the part
o. defeat cannot but regret the failure Of
cause for which they periled life and
its pleasures and comforts. Those who
are victors know that this triumph was
not bloodless one.


tbs 10 pass safely over this period Of
heart burnings and regrets. that is de-
volved upon our generation and day to
accomplish. One result of the contest
was to learn the American people to un-
derstsnd one another moro thor ,ughly to
learn that the pre-c,noeived ideas with
which the men Of different sections had
regarded each other we're radically wrong.
Pride Of section and pride Of birth is all
right-the feeling is a commendable one
If not carried too far; when it amounts to
bgotry.


In the century Arst passed we have
reached what may be termed the fullest
degree Of political liberty. We have
granted political and civil right to that
extent that II would seem there can be
nothing farther done in that direction
The Declaration of Independence, which
declares that all men are created equal"
has been interpreted in its broadest sense,
40 far as placing all men upon an equal
ity before the law is concerned. Viewed
in the abstract as a matter of justice and
right this is condition of society which
should have obtained Immediately after
the colonies bec ame free and Independent;
viewed AS a matter ofexpediency or policy,
1t sa step to be justified only by the extra
ordinary circumstances under which il
was taken. No one will question but all
who are expected to yield obedience to
the law should have voice in the
formation OF the law. yet the principle
wi ich places intelligence and ignorance
upon exactly the same basis can be hardly
correct one. Exactly how to remedy
this condition is question for serious
consideration. II is not easy TO dispos-
ess men OF rights once acknowledged but
it is easy to place y standard by which
these rights may be acquired by others.
Ci7il equality has its foundation in the
immutsble principles ofjustice and right;
political equality can only be gaused
justly by the standard of capacity for
that condition.


Out of the past are to DO gathered the
les ols for future guidance. They arc so
plainly written that IKE who runs may
read" The light of that past shows US
the d'ngers to be guarded against in the
future. Let the present generation pro-
ut " the lesson and the onwa d march
oi the nation through career of glory
An pro- p :rity such . The world has
never seen will be assured.