The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-11-17

Judge Tabor's Lecture.
EN Judge TABOR delivered the first
lecture of the Independence Lyceum
Course, at the Court House, last Friday
Evening Owing to the cold weather
and bad walking the hall was not more
than half filled, which was to be regret
ed, as we think the lecture was one Of
the Judges best efforts. The lecture
was entitled "THE PRoaREss OF SocIE-
TT AND CIVILIZATION" ana the subject
was treated in most admirable style. At
ter a synoptical enumeration of the won.
derful improvements and discoveries of
the present day, and showing hat Man
distinguishes himself in those respects
from other animals, in consequence Of
his superior intellectual powers. he went
on to trace the progress of mankind in
the formation Of society, government,
religion, literature, and the arts and sci
cnces. He illustrated the condition of
the people during the dark ages. and the
terrible condition to which they were re-
dnced by superstition and ignorance. He
mentioned and commented upon, many
of the most important discoveries which
have been made, particularly the inven-
ton Of the mariners compass, paper,
printing. and gun powder. The latter
he considered a great civilizer, as it had
changed the whole art of war, lessened
the destruction of human life, and tend
TO prevent warfare. Painting, sculpture
and navigation were considered. So
were revolutions in religion and govern
ment. and poetry and literature. He
dwelt upon our Indebtedness TO the old
English Puritans for the civil liberty
which the United States enjoy. While
he disagreed to many Of their doctrines,
he accorded them full credit for the great
good which had emanated from them.
lie spoke enthusiastically Of the British
commonwealth under the illustrious
CROMWELL, and Of the divines, warriors,
and statesmen who made that epoch re-
nowned. He paid similar praise to the
patriots of the French Revolution, whose
virtues he ~applauded, while he deplored
their errors and their mislortunes. He
drew a compendious sketch of just and
equal government, the rights of the peo-
pie. and the position they occupy in 9TH
er nations and in this republic. He set
forth the duties of an american citizen.
and closed by urging that his hearers
should not sit down with idly folded arms,
congratulating themselves that every
thing was gained because our country
had obtained an eminence in the rank of
nations before any other in the world.
We were very far from having every
thing gained. So long as misery, pow
erty, or wretchedness exists in our land
80 long AS laws are in any manner i'm
perfect-so long as customs are vicious
so long as manners are depraved-so
long as any principle in our glorious JEFF
~fersonian Declaration of Independence is
%uncarried out-so long as unhappiness
remains n~nsnnthAd and unmiiigated-so
long as ignorance prevails, and supersti-
ton curses-so long as aristocracy tri-
umphs and republicanism is depressed
SO long as the masses of the people are
not endowed with the equality, educa-
ton. and intelligence which all men
ought to possess-so long have we some
thing to strive for. fight for. preach for,
and vote for. The lecturer knew it would
be a long time before all these objects
would be realized, but it behooved US. in
our day and generation, to make as great
an advance as possible towards SO inyit-
ing a goal. Hill
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