02
Rioiit is Might.
their firm determination to resist the op
pressor; on the other side one of the
proudest nations on the face of the earth,
possessed of a well-disciplined and exper
ienced army, backed by immense wealth.
One thing, however, our forefathers had
which the British did not have, and that
was the glorious sense of truth and right
at stake. Many 3 ears of toil and of suf
fering, many lives laid upon the altar, was
the price which was paiil for the precious
boon, hut at length truth and right gained
the day, and the struggling colonists sent
those fattened sons of hiMirj reeling back
to their homes, and the world acknowl
edged its n free- people the nation, which,
one hundred years ago as a tottering in
fant, was taking its first steps in the direc
tion of proud independence, now grown
to full manhood, stands one of the proud
est nations on the face ot the earth; and
none dare molest or make afraid 11113' who
claim piotection from its glorious banner.
But what is it that has given us such an
unprecedented growth V For no other na
tion in the history ot the past has so rap
idlj risen to be one, if not the proud mis
tress of the seas and the ruler of the lands.
The answer comes, Our cherishing truth
and right.
Inculcated in our laws is the wise scnti
meat that every man has certain unalien
able rights; that among these arc life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and
giving to all equal religious liberty, thus
forming an asylt m to which the longing
eyes of the down-trodden and oppressed
of the world arc cast as a haven of rest.
All the great wrongs of our people, or the
gigantic evils which have at any time
overrun our laud had to submit to that
mighty court of justice, the people. See
the heinous crime of slavery in our own
country! A quarter of a century back,
or, perhaps, a little more, the solitary
voice of one man arose against the crime
of selling and buying human souls and
bodies. When once the public opinion
was directed against the evil, how long
could It stand ! Verily its days were
numbered. During the dark ages, when
the haughty Romish Church attempted to
regulate men's souls by rote, and none
daie sa or believe that which it did not
teiteh, it seemed indeed as if the mighty
adversary had gained the dav, and pure
minded and unstained Right and Justice
must hide their hciuK But after years,
alter the souls of many martvrs had been
set fiee in testimony against her, once
more Justice dared to look up and find a
friend.
Never have laws, which have not had
justice as the first principle, which have
not lnd the interests of the people as the
prime motive, been carried into effect. If
they do not meet the approval of that tin.
failirg judge, the people, they must fall.
The laws of Draco, simply by their injus
tice, their severity, prohibited thoir being
carried into execution.
We repudiate the assertion thnl "For
tune is a blind goddess," and bestows her
gifts aliue on votaries and those who seek
not her favors. If all men were to take
strict justice as their guide, we would find
that Fortune would smile on all alike,
that pel feet peace and harmony would
rule throughout our land, and none would
have cause to censure Dame Fortrne for
that which is not her fault.
It seems as if we would need have sonic
hesitation in accepting this saying that
'The world is a good judge of right and
justice in general but a bad one in parti c
ulnr." It would seem, indeed, as if all
men had received their just share of
prominence in the Temple of Fame. No
man who has done aught to improve the
condition of mankind, to relieve the dis
tress or sorrow of the human family has
been left unhonored, when the time of 11.
mil retribution, of final awarding of prizes
has conic. And yet may we say that strict
justice is in the supremacy, when the
world in lauding its heroes, presents only
the bright side, shows only the beauties
and not the defects? It would seem as if
strict justice would require that all should
he held un to the broad gaze of the world
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SKZsac
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