And there is nothing, I seriously believe, in the present crises of human affairs - there is no point in the great human welfare, on which men's ideas so much need to be cleared up-to be advanced to be raised to a higher standard, as this grand and terrible responsibility of freedom. 4. In the universe there is no trust so awful as moral freedom; and all good civil freedom depends upon the use of that. But look at it. Around every human, every rational being, is drawn a circle; the space within is cleared from obstruction, or, at least, from all coercion; it is sacred to the being himself who stands there; it is secured and consecrated to his own responsibility. May I say it? God himself does not penetrate there with any absolute, any coercive power! He compels the winds and waves to obey him; he compels animal instincts to obey him; but he does not compel man to obey. That sphere he leaves free; he brings influences to bear upon it; but the last, final, solemn, infinite question between right and wrong, he leaves to man himself. 5. Ah! instead of madly delighting in his freedom, I could imagine a man to protest, to complain, to tremble that such a tremendous prerogative is accorded to him. But it is accorded to him; and nothing but willing obedience can discharge that solemn trust; nothing but a heroism greater than that which fights battles, and pours out its blood on its country's altar- the heroism of self-renunciation and self-control. 6. Come that liberty! I invoke it with all the ardor of the poets and orators of freedom; with Spenser and Milton, with Hampden and Sydney, with Rienzi and Dante, with Hamilton and Washington, I invoke it. Come that liberty! Come none that does not lead to that! Come the AT THE GATEWAY OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT STANDS THIS MAJESTIC STATUE OF LIBERTY, BY THE FRENCH SCULPTOR, BARTHOLDI, THE GIFT OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES liberty that shall strike off every chain, not only of iron, and iron law, but of painful constriction, of fear, of enslaving passion, of mad self-will; the liberty of perfect truth and love, of holy faith and glad obedience! - ORVILLE DEWEY. Friends! XLVI. RIENZI TO THE ROMANS I come not here to talk. Ye know too well Rich in some dozen paltry villages, Strong in some hundred spearmen, only great In that strange spell — a name ! Each hour, dark fraud, Or open rapine, or protected murder, Cries out against them. But this very day An honest man, my neighbor- there he stands Was struck struck like a dog - by one who wore And suffer such dishonor? men, and wash not Full of all gentleness, of calmest hope, and from her throne Why, in that elder day to be a Roman - MARY RUSSELL MITFord. Tell something that you have read or heard of Rome in the days of her greatest pride and power; of the courage and devotion of her citizens; of the simplicity of their lives; of the effect of wealth and luxurious living upon the national character. |