Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1877 — Our Nation’s Progress. [ARTICLE]

Our Nation’s Progress.

DkNIKf, n. MIU.KK. In nearly every hamlet, village, town Hiui city of thin land large bodies of people may be found Slithered to-day for one purpose. red speaker* from (.lie platforms announce what that purpose la? Every American knows well why we celebrate tni# national holiday. I gladly embrace the opportunity to say something about our Nation’s Progress. In doing so I shall not enter upon statistical details, for my time is too limited did I so desire. Allow me then to call your attention to very tew of the majiy general points which are enclosed within this broad field. Scarcely two hundred and fifty years ago a handful of poor, freedom denied, * but liberty-loving, God-fearing people, moored their baric upon the eastern shore of this continent, and, after offering thanks to the Creator for their safe deliverance from threatening perils, erected u banner upon which wns inscribed ‘•freedom of thought and speech,” and founded a colony which has since grown into a pawful nation' numbering forty millions of subjects. The great incentive to emigration from the Old World since the discovery of the New is the belief that the latter offers better opportunities for liberal government. The moment a foreigner landed upon our shores he inspired the spirit of liberty with the air he breathed. The same air was inhaled by the young of the,l?uid as they grew up, giving vitality and vigor to the same wherever .the seed had been planted until in 1770, after patience had ceased to be a virtue, representatives of the several colonies*, met and declared certain principles, among them, “that all men were created equal,” and “that governments were instituted among mon deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” They dissolved the political bands which connected them with the mother cout trj and pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to the defense of the principles they had deolarsA-end the action they had taken. This was the birth of the Republic which to-day you and I are proud to be citizens Of. It was an experiment, The sun hoW cast* his beams down upon nineteen other Republics that have been born into existence since that hour. The tact that Mexico, the states of Central America, the Argentine Confederation, Switzerland, France and other countries have adapted the republican form of government proves that the experiment has not been a failure. y I have already intimated that U would be out of the question for me to follow step bv step the grand strides onr nation has take in the march of progress. In this race -sheda in advance of all others in

almost every respect. As to progress in the arts and aoienoea I only need to refer you to the Patent Office at Washington. Another such an exhibition of man’s genius as shown by the models of machinery and other invention* oannot be found on the globe. And this in a land which, only a few generations since, was a vast wilderness. We are to-day among the most prosperous nations on earth. Eighty thousand miles of raitroads traverse 1 the sane of the country in every direction, covering it as with a net-' work. The oceans three thousand miles apart are connected with aq iron chain; and the distance once required many weary months to travel is now compassed in eighty-four hours. Mails are picked up in Chicago and dropped downin New York, a distance of nine hundred and fifty miles, in twentyfive hours, and it is intended to reduce this time at no far distant day. By the aid of electricity, the use; of which is an American invention, news Is conveyed across the conti-*' uent, and from one continent to another, with the velocity ot thought. By means of the telephone sound may be conveyed an unlimited distance. Printing, although the invention ,es another; people, has been vastly improved by American genin') and skill. The high standard of intelligence of the American people is due tip onr superior educational facilities. We feel warranted in saying that what was oilce eneeringly termed a “system of pauperism” is really among greatest blessings our country extends to the people, for even the poorest tnay now become educated and fitted ior the* higher duties of life. The free school sys tern—i he democracy of education—stands prominently as the best the world furnishes Ibr the diffusion of knowledge. It is a monument of our own, ever refleoling credit upon those who erected it. The right to worship God according to the dictates of one’s own conscience is secured to every citizen of the United Stales. The earlier colonists were stiracted thither because they might enjoy that religious liberty which was dented them in the land of their birth. As a result our constitution assures us. that no law may be enforced respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” A chief reason why governments ongTit not to interfere with religion is because it is a matter resting solely between man and his Creator. Yet as clear as tliis proposition seems almost every other nation has established a form of religious worship by law, and tli« union of church and state is the rule, not the exception. The abolition of human slavery deserves a prominent place in the history of our nation’s progress. It was a curse that had grown up in a large portion our country until it re.iched the magnitude of a great national evil. To eradicate it cost «s an immense sacrifice of treasure and blood. Thousands of heroes —patriots—laid down their lives, and many thousands more of as brave fathers, brothers and sons as ever wore uniforms rushed to the liberation of the four millions of downtrodden beings then in bondage. A fearful struggle ensued; but, with “E Plnribns Unnni” and “Equal Rights to All” inscribed upon their standard, the right triumphed and slavery was wiped out of existence iti our glorious land of the free. With tears ot gratitude and hearts swelling with joy those unfortunate people bless the memory of those who died that freedom might live. Permit me to refer to the peaceful settlement of the late presidential coutest as another grand step in the march of civilization. What other nation could have settled such a controversy without bloodshed? While the incredulous people of Europe were speculating upon the termination of that contest, predicting disaster to the Republic and expecting that the next cable dispatch would announce the commencement of armed hostilities between the factions, we were cooly at work with implicit confidence in the integrity of our countrymen submitting the subtile question* involved to the arbitration of a commission selected for that pnrpose. The people acquiesced iri their decision with the quiet submission characteristic of the Americsn people to the forms of law. Thus was published to the world another evidence that the people are capable of self-goVewumtiU. Future generations may profit by this example. Although my ballot was cast with the great political party which Was defeated before that tribunal I entertain the .belief that had the decision been adverse to l}im who is now the Chief Mag-

istrate ot onr nation he would have acquiesced with the same spirit of dignity which seems to adorn his character. At present we are suffering from a depression in trade, which is perhaps due to and partially the result of a financial experiment that was thought calculated to promote the public good. We believe that only a short time will eiaDse before the end desired will have been accomplished, and that the lesult will be a reaction in our favor. That others share in this opinion is proven ; by the condition of our credit abroad, which unerringly indicates the absolute confidence ot capital fin our resources, ability and honor. The outlook promises better times s tiot far away. The great war cloud passed over, and the lesser clouds which for a time hovered around our horizon have disappeared, and now as we look upwards nothing meets our vision but dear, bright, glorious sunshine. Prosperity Yearns down an approving smile juid seems to say, Well done, America I *■’ * , . When we consider our position among the nations of the earth; When we see around us so many of prosperity; when we .reflect upon our freedom of thought, speech and action, of the blessings Nuid privileges we enjoy, why should Ve not be a haupy people? Who a wi 1 1 blame ns for assembling all aver the land to-day and praising our Creator, singing songs ot gladness, and unfolding to each, other the patriotism which swells in our hearts and must find utterance in speech ?