Year: 1876

cal warfare the opprobrium OF nidel Powers is the
warfare Of the Christian King OF Great Britain De-
erinned to keep open market whcro men should DO
bought and sold lac has prostituted his negative for
suppressng every legislative attempt to prohibit or to
RESTRAIN the exccrable commerce There Is no pas
sage fine this in the Declaration Unfortunately
II hit TOO hard upon some interests close ut home
which proved strong enough to have it dropped from
the final draft But though lost there. It's essence al
most coeval with first publication ofGranve Sharp
in England the same object. undoubtedly peryaded
the agitation which never ceased in either country
until nnal legislation secured victory The abors OF
Sharp and Wilberforcc, OF Garrison and Buxton as
well as many others, have placed them upon an emf
nence o. honor throughout the world But their srus-
gle, which began IN 1857, was Lot terminated Tor
period of twenty years On the other hand appears
IRON the statute book in 1894 II enacted by the
Congress OF the United States in these words rhat
vessel shall be htted for the purpose OF carrying on
amy aa mrne IN slaves ro 20 vny cisn
Inhabitants thereof to be disposed OF as slaves "
This brings me to tho fifth and greatest OF all
fruits OF the charter Of independence. The procama-
s0n OF liberty TO tho captive through great part OF
the civilized world. Ii would be tedious for me to go
into details describing tho progress OF the Revolution
that has changed the iace OF civilization The prn-
cple enuncia,cd IN our precious scroll has done its
work 10 Great Britain in France and mos, OF all in
the expanse OF the territories Of the
OF the Russas who OF his own nero motion proclaimed
that noble decree which liberated from seridom at
stroke %. .0O0, 900 OF the human race The noble act
will remain forever one OF The grandcs steps toward
the elevation OF mankind ever taken By The will OF
a sovereign OF any race IN any age. But though freely
concedns the spontaneous votion or the Car in this
instance do hesitate TO affirm that but for Tho
subtle essence Infused INTO the political sentiment
the age by the great Declaration OF l776, he
would have been inspired with the lofty mag.
nanimity essential to tho completion Of his work.
next and last TO the remcmb ance OF the fearful
conflict Tor the maintenance OF the grand principle 10
which had pledged ourselves at the outset OF
national career and which have by the blessing
of the Almighty, come safe and sound. The history Is
fresh minds that there Is no need OF recall
ing it's details neither would do so II there were on
n day consecrated hko this to the harmony OF tho
Never was the first aspect Of any coDtontion
surrounded by darker clouds yet viewing as we must
IT'S actual ISSUE At no time has there ever been
rejoice in the present aCd LOOK forward to
still brilliant future Now that the agony over,
who is there that Will admit that he does rejoice Mt
the removal OF tho ponderous burden which weighed
down our spirits In earlier days The great law pro-
claimed AT the beginning of our course has been at last
fully carried out No more apologies tor Inconsistency
to caving and evilmiEdcd obJectors. No more
welcome comparisons with the superior liberal ~ of
absolute monafchs distant regions OF the earth.
Thank God, there not man who reads the soil
Of this broad land void of offence, who the eye OF the
law does stand on the same Level with every other
man. If the memorable words OF Thomas Jefferson,
that apostle liberty, had done only this would
alone serve 10 carry him aof. high up among the
beneacors of mankind. Not America alone, but Eu-
ropc and Asia, and above all Africa. nay, the great
globe itself move In an orbit never SO resplendent
now


Let nc now sum up In brief the results arrived at
by the enumeration OF the great law of liberty in
I776:-


l. 1t opened the way to the present condition Of
France.


o 1t brought about perfect security for liberty


3. 1t led the way in aboshng the slave trade which,
in lis turn prompted the abolition o slavery itself by
Great Britain, France, Russia, and, last OF all by our
own country too


Mr. Adams asked what Americans have still to 60 to
continue the progress OF liberty and civilization? He
counsecd the careful imitation by all citizens Of the
noble example OF Washington whose purity Of patoiot
ism he contrasted with the selfish character OF Ma
pocon. In conclusion he SAID d-Iet u.s. then, discard.
ing all inferior STRIFE hold up to our children the
ample OF Washington As the symbol, not merely Of
wisdom, but oil purity and truth. Let us labor contin
ualy TO keep the advance civilization il becomes
us 10 do alter tho struggles OF the past so that the
rights to hfe to liberty, and the pursuit
OF happiness, which have honorably
cured, may DO firmly entailed upon the
eniarging generations of mankind. Aud what Is
It, pray you tell that has brought TO the cee
braton OF this most memorable duyg Is 1t not the
steady cry of excelsior 10 the most elevated regions
OF political purity secured TO us by the memory of
those who have passed before and consecratcd the
very ground occupied by their ashea Gorousiy in
deed may II be said Of II in the words OF the poet


What's haow'd groundf 'Tis what gives birth


To sacred thoughts IN souls OF worth


Pcacel independence Truth go forth


Earth's compass round.


And your high priesthood shall make earth


All haliow'd ground.