10
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
Man seems the only growth that dwindles here. Society to-day is degrading in its tendencies. It would not countenance open immorality, but might wink at it. Its influence is injurious. It is bound to produce either good or evil; and its present conditions show that its days for doing good are over. Let fathers and mothers think twice before they trust their children into the embraces of society. Let them take a fair and unbiased estimate of the people who go toward making up society. It is disgusting to attend a modern party. You talk, eat, declare you have had an elegant time, go home, call next day, reiterate your statement of the night before for fear it is forgotten. And what does the talk consist of? Let those who wish to hear sounds, words that convey no meaning, listen to the prate of a belle and beau in any parlor during an evening party. All are enjoying themselves, apparently. If he does not go away disgusted with society and men he is too thickly plated with the slime to be penetrated by the edge of reason. Let him who would wish to develop philanthropy, attend a fashionable ball; listen to the talk, and watch the noble image of divinity dance lightly and frisk about to the time of music, see him bow and smirk, behold how gracefully he gyrates round and round in the "mazy waltz." This is a man whose hairs are sprinkled with gray. But—
By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd; The sports of children satisfy the child.
This is society, hollow, vain, show! The one thing most to be deplored is that the evil is beyond remedy. Only two ways are left open for men to act: Either enter it with zest, carry it to its fullest extent, live in it and for it, or shun its baneful, contaminating, unsatisfactory influence, keep entirely out of it. Thanks to cheap printing, it is within the reach of all who wish to associate intimately with the great minds of every country. Here he may find society that is exhilirating and elevating.
POLITICAL FORCE OF AN IDEA.
The progress of society is directed by one of two influences: Either by physical influence, or by the force of an idea. The first was used almost solely in the early stages of society, when man was little above the level of the brute creation, when the actions of society were but mechanical, and the people that composed it mere automatons. But as we trace the march of civilization, from the dawn of written history up to the present conditions of society, we see the results of the force of ideas in all the civilized nations of the earth.
Let us first turn to the influence of an idea in the North. The Teutonic tribes were born with the democratic idea interwoven in their natures. It pervades their social, intellectual and spiritual institutions. This idea of popular government has spread over Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, France, and England. Like some vast vine it has thrust its runners far into the West, penetrated the ice-bound North, and even intwines and prevades the institutions of the South and East, among those nations so ungenial to personal independence and freedom. In this continent it has developed into the highest and most complete form—the Republic of North America. Wherever we see a branch of the Teutonic race there we see the influence of this idea. The idea of liberty coupled with the idea of democracy, crops out in our youths who burst forth in
"senseless rodomontade" over the fair Goddess of Liberty and her temple. This idea has exercised a most marked and powerful influence upon humanity; elevating and broadening the characters and intellects of nations. It bids fair to remain strong and enduring through the rest of time.
Let us now turn to the South and see the result of the ideas of autocracy or even aristocracy. The result of a strictly aristocratic idea of government is too narrow and exclusive. Where is Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Macedon, and Greece? Has any one of these nations left its imprints on humanity? Has any one of these nations ruled humanity as the Teutonic race does, and yet not rule it? Where is the overwhelming power of the Roman or Saracen empire that successively ruled the known world? Where are they all now?
"Gone glimmering through the dream of things that were, As school boys tale, the wonder of the hour."
Vastly superior is the idea of government in the North to that of the South. In the North we see connected governments, working each in itself as a piece of perfect machinery. The South presents one gigantic mass of broken, ruined, and dilapidated governments.
For many years Europe was governed by a Gregory VII., filled with the idea of Southern governments, sought to unite all Europe under the rule of the Pontiff at Rome. This failed, but not signally, for Europe was governed by the Church up to the time of the Reformation. This was but the breaking out of the idea of democracy that had slumbered and grown slowly under the bane of the church. Having once gained a firm foot-hold it spread rapidly and powerfully over Europe Trace its results in the greater freedom that England France, Germany, and America enjoys.
It was this idea interwoven with the idea that all men were created free and equal and were divinely entitled to equality of rights, that inspired the English freemen under the most galling oppression to be patient, brave and vigilant, and it has placed them where they are today.
When the emigrants of England crossed the Atlantic they brought with them the arts and literature of Europe but left the governments behind. As population increased and centered into large cities and spread over the Atlantic States, the people felt more and more deeply each year that the principle of individual independence could only be secured by some political organization. They demanded the right of representation; it was refused; they then resolved to separate entirely from Europe; they bound themselves together by Articles of Confederation, for mutual protection, each State independent of the other. The war ended favorably for them. They saw the imperfection of their government, and felt by union alone could they stand. Two ideas of democracy immediately arose: the one, shall this be a union of sovereign States; the other, higher and more complete, shall this be a union of the people.
The conflict of these two ideas lasted for eighty years and culminated in one of the most gigantic civil wars that history records. It ended in the mastery of the idea that this is a union of the people, a most magnificent triumph of the old Teutonic idea of democracy.
The first act of the drama of this nation is ended. There are a few who cling fondly to the ghosts of old institutions and forms; who long for the return of old times; who oppose change in national institutions. There is a
traction