The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-01
Eras OF Civilization.

improved to as high a degree Of periec-
ton and happiness as sentient organiza-
ton will permit, seems to be the great
and final work Of creation. We learn
from the researches of philosophers and
geologists, as we'll as from daily observa-
ton, that matter, consisting of but few
elements and properties, was not sudden
" arranged into a highly organized uni
verse, but through the slow process of .
series of improvement. Creation, them
is a gradual development, and hence the
great paramount law of all laws is pro-
g,ess. All other laws become changed,
or modified, by this great sovereign law
Of The universe, which dissolyes only to
regenerate, and creates through process
of transformation. We beheld a physi-
cal world. first, perhaps, in a cometary or
gaseous form /; then in a liquid, next in
a solid form and geological explorations
and examinations prove conclusively that
our earth has been gradually foored with
the primitive, secondary and tertiary for
nations, while its laws have changed
with each new state in which its matter
existed.
The moral world also progresses as
surely by successive eras of civilization,
AS the physical has by a series OF forma-
tons. The principle of natural equall-
ty. irrespective of color or sex, and OF
freedom. irrespective Of caste or condi-
ton, will form a new and last era in socl-
ETY., the same as the salt Of the sea, now
held in solution, may be destined TO form
the last series of the strata of the ter
tiary formation.
To trace the progress Of creation, 1t is
necessary to glance at the operations OF
nature in the past, and at what is being
perfected in the present, so as to antlci-
pate future revolutions with more GER
tainty. Every formation of the physical
world and every era of the moral world,
is founded by a few dominant elements
and principles, which continue 10 accu-
mulate their effects until they wear them
selves out then new causes and laws
grow out of them, and in turn form q
new stratum and a new civilization. Ey-
cry change in nature is attended with new
circumstances, SO that she does not mo-
~notonously repeat the same series OF
causes and effects. Were this the case,
there could be no progress {; neither could
error accumulate so as 70 produce even
tualIy its own destruction.
The evil principles of the alienation OF
rights and property into the hands of
non-producers, has formed the era of mo-
nopoly, and left the producing masses in
new circumstances, SO as to develop the
era of equality-as We see, in a similar
manner, that the precipitation of certain
elements in the deposition of new strata,
leaves the remaining mgr d ents to
assume new properties for the formation
Of a subsequent and very different STRAIT
UNI.
The predominant constituents Of a pre-
ceGing era become evils in a subsequent
one. Thus war, leaguing tribes into ma
lions inthe era of barbarism, becomes an
evil in that of m and property,
as the unequal diffusion Of freedom,
wealth and power, in their turn are
evils to be abrogated by the era Of equal
ity. The less perfect principles, then, of
each preceding era, shape all its %institu-
iions and mould the conscience of man
kind, SO that what. in its day, was ben
e6cial and progressive. actually becomes
injurious and regressiye. Just as sand,
clay. and lime, that predominant respect
lively in the older formations Of the earth,
and form useful rocks, become great
evils when spread out unmixed on its
surface, in the form Of deserts.
Mans first form of existence is that of
barbarism, and reused only by the leading
s en,iments Of the chase, Of war, and of
fealty. he progresses only through the
hunting. herding and feudal stages. while
his inalienable right of sovereignty is
usurped by servitude, iefs and knight
service. His next form of civilization is
hat of monopoly and class, and stimu-
lated by an additional set Of sentiments,
of glory. power. rank and wealth, he ad-
vances more rapidly through the stages
of agriculture, manufactures, and com
but is divided into castles and de-
of a free enjoyment Of all his in
.llienable rights. His next form of So