290 I Assembly 



bearing the pathetic inscription, and, as it proved, too the sig- 

 nificant device, " Kosciusko y the friend of Washington.''^ 



Within a few months from that day the beacon fires of revolu- 

 tion were blazing on every hill iu Poland. Disastrous as was the 

 event of that struggle, the result of the French revolution was 

 more propitious. In every movement the French have hitherto 

 made they have gained some permanent advantage, and so in 

 1830, displacing the direct dynasty of Bourbons, fhey adopted a 

 collateral branch — the " Citizen King" swearing to support a 

 chai'ter, which in its terms was well nigh as free as our own con- 

 stitution. How the oath was kept history has recorded. 



A period of eighteen years rolled on. The " Citizen King,*' 

 relying on those wily arts which had already hoodwinked his as- 

 sociate monarchs, deems himself secure — thinks to brave or blind 

 his people by the glitter of an hundred thousand bayonets. In 

 direct violation of the 4th and 7th articles of the charter, he has 

 forbidden a meeting of citizens to discuss projects of reform. It 

 is the birth-day of Washington, the significant day appointed for 

 the banquet. The discussion is adjourned. A mightier question 

 has arisen to be decided, not between rival factions of the assem- 

 bly, but between the king and his people. An offer of conces- 

 sion is made to the outraged masses — the ministry is changed, but 

 it is too late. A voice is heard from out the vast assemblage who 

 storm the palace : " The people read the newspapers now, and 

 America is not so distant as she once was." That voice pro- 

 claimed the downfall of the house of Orleans. Rapidly the con- 

 tagion spread over the whole continent. But we will not dwell 

 upon the sad picture of prostrate freedom and vanquished hero- 

 ism, clbeit every page of the bloody chronicle attests the moral 

 power of our Union. 



It is worthy of observation that Irora the beginning to the pre- 

 sent hour the moral authority of the United States has been in- 

 creasing iu a ratio with her prosperity and power. At first there 

 was the stimulus of successful example in revolutionary effort. 

 We have seen what this achieved. And in each succeeding 

 struggle for liberty have we not remarked how distant nations 

 turned to gather wisdom from the light of our example, until the 



