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DR. BEECHER’S LECTURES.INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.History teaches us that in all past time the earth has been owned, and knowledge and power have been monopolized by tire few—while the people—the great body of mankind—have been left to grope their way in darkness and slavery—toiling on the borders of starvation and liable by a few days of sickness tobecome panpers.Some supposing that this unequal condition was fostered by Christianity, have hence regarded it as theenemy of man.But the same history also teaches that degradation and oppression have existed in proporiion to the departure from Christianity, and that to the same degree in which man has come under her holy and blessed Institutions has he come out from his darkness and bondage.It is now three hundred years since commerce and the arts and sciences have exerted their powerful tein dencies to equalize the condition of men—so that the many should not bear the burden of the few. No nation has ever been placed in circumstances so favorable to liberty and equality as ours—and though very much remains to be done, yet there is a wider diffusion of intellectual culture and general intelligence among us, than among any other people—and we stand ; higher than any other as to liberty and equality.By Liberty, I do not mean independence of Law—But the right of self-government by our own laws.Freedom for every one to do as he plaises without regard to the rights of others, is Anarchy—not Republicanism.By Equality, I do not mean that each should havethe same amount ot property as every other, nor thatall should have the same calling. To demand thiswould be as it we should ask that the earth mijrht be all hill, or all valley.There must be .diversity of condition among men so long as there are differences in character and ca-___—----1 j:/v------- i . . .
Newspaper Details
Alton Observer
Alton, Illinois, US
Thu, Feb 08, 1838
Page 2
Full Page
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Anonymous
OH, USA 30 Mar 2020
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