Year: 1870

and vigorous growth of our social orpaniza-
ton! We must perpetuate our public schools
and labor for their universal extension. while
the standard of public instruction must be
elevated. Living in country where every
man Is sovereign, it becoms us to furnish
the means in our schools for an elevated
standard and extended course of political in
struction. Right views of the true nature of
our civil rights should be instilled into the
minds oil all during their early education, and
text books Of political economy should he
more generally introduced into our public
schools. 1t is the democratic tendency of our
political system, aided by our free schools.
which developes the talent that often origi-
mates along the by-ways. in the retirement of
the country. on the extreme frontier, and in
all the humber walks of life, and elevates
men from poverty and obscurity to the most
important and honorable stations in the COM
munity, oftentimes to the most responsible
offices in our Government. r..r6


The spirit of the age is, "onwardr' and its
progress tends to bring all to the hig hest civ
iliZation. The energy and wisdom of the
Anglo Saxon, sheltered under the agis of free
institutions, may yet work out new destiny
for the nations of the earth. We have now
reached that elevation where, amenable to the
laws OF our own enactment, free aud unfet-
tered, we can work right on to the fufillment
of our glorious mission. Brute force has long
enough occupied the throne of the world; but
-
those of Truth and Right and Justice These
are mighty and must ultimately prevail. The
governing authority must sooner or later con-
suit the wishes of the governed; and the spirit
OF the present. age prompts even the absolute
monarch to consult and consider the wishes
OF his subjects. and consequently he tasks the
intellect and ingenuity Of his ministers in or
der TO convince his people that his measures
are just and right and salutary. The spirit of
the age demands the reason-authority is not
sufficient; Thus sayeth the Lord does not
avail. Demonstration is required. Theories
doubts and speculations fill the world; mind
is active; the press teens with its labor; the
arts and sciences are advancing with unprece-
dented progress. Never before was the world
so rife with improvements, discoveries and
inventions; mind controls everything, and
even the very elements themselves acknowl-
edge their submission. Science has pene-
trated the earth, sounded the sea, aud scared
to the heavens. We have not only annlyzed
the thunderbolt, stripping 1t of its terrors, but
have even seized the red lightning itself and
converted 1t into n useful and harmless power.
Distance Is anuihilated, and the means are
now afforded which would enable us to sound
in the ears of all the potentates and monnrchs
of the earth the fervid, glowing, burning
words of liberty and freedom, instantly upon
their uttcrance by our orators on this natal
day of our republic, throughout the remotest
bounds of the wide domain.


Everything gives evidence of the progress
and triumph of mind and while the age is
one of conflict, IL has now become n conflict
of sentiments and opiniOns-the age of intel
lectunl warfare rather than of physical strife.
Every days experience cOnyinccs us that
this is true. We see and hear and feel it all
about us. Indeed We live and move in the
very midst of the commotion, and cannot es-
cape it if we would. There is no spot so Sc
cludcd as to be secure from the noise and
dust Of the tumult which rises TO our noun
tain SUBMITS and penetrates the most remote
reccsseS.


1t is too true that injustice, intolerance and
iniquity, bigOtry, dishonesty and oppression
have too often within the last decade taken
advantage of the noise and confusion of the
contest, and amid the excitement of the hour
have rode rampant and rough. shOd over right
aud truth and Justice; but Notwithstanding all
the wrong and outrage which we see all about
us and with which earth il filed" we,
ages us to hope for the coming of better and
happier days, and that not far in the the fu-
ture.


Under our form of government. few years
will effect all that good men and true patriots
desire or pray for, and when the blessing
comes the good man always finds it better
than lie prayed for.


Our country, this glorious land, will not al
ways be dazzled by mere pageantry. All these
delusions are temporary and heeting, and will
sooner or later pass away forever. Let us Ia
Dor and toll on with perseverance, but with
hopefulness. .......


The times are not so dark rs they have
been. Indeed they are full of promise, and
the cheering rainbow of hope appears in our
political sky much more frequently than in
the dark days of the past, cheering us to look
forward with confidence to- the speedy coming
of that glorious day when every American cit
izeu can truly say that a. too, am an Amer
ican," and in the full and free enjoyment OF
all political rights and privileges and immu-
mites. When such leading journals Of the
present dominant party as the New York Tri-
bunc publish the following, we need not dos-


pair of the republic or any of its citizens. In
n late issue, nlluding TO one OF President


Grants nominations for leading position in


his cabinet the nominee having been several


years commissioned officer in the late Con.


fclcrate service, IL says:


"This appointment means the recognition


Of twelve millions of our countrymen. They


went in, or were swept in, TO war which left


them defeated and dosolatc. They have, nfteI
frank and manly submission, been treated ns


IL they were forever excluded from trust, were


10 be taught that they really were and woro Il


bc without country. They are at last shown
in tho most signal way that the Government
they sought TO overthrow is magnaniinous "a
forgive and strong enough 10 trust. We do
therefore, most strongly and heartily approve
this nomination, and do not care TO higglc
| over the fact that tho nominee for ono o
| President Grants constitutional advocates


voluntarily entered tho rebel service .u
Lending organs on our own coast hnyo o.


late published much that is hopeful and en-


couraging 20 those who desire above all thing