The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-06
Local Affairs.

Mr.. ANDREWS LEcrURE.-The lecture
delivered last evening before the Mercantile
Library Association, by the Hon. G. G.
Andrews, of the State Senate, was very
interesting and able production, and we
regret our inability to present to our read
ers who had not the pleasure of listening to
it, anything more than brief synopsis of
some of its points.
Mr.. Andrews said civilization might be
defined as the reclaimed and improved con.
dition of mankind. The paramount object
of our race was happiness, and where it
most generally prevailed was the best state
of civilization. This did not exist in q
natural state of society. Mr.. Burke's vindi-
cation of natural society was but splendid
invective against evils in political society.
1t did not prove natural state of society
to be exempt from the same or worse evils.
In natural society the bad passions of men
were unrestrained, sullen revenge, and the
fierce law of retaliation had undisputed
sway. If in such condition men had been
safe from aggression, their very wretched.
ness had been their defence. Some seemed
to suppose the present state of human affairs
inferior to what it had been in past ages,
but they had blind reverence for antiquity.
The conduct of Priam as described by
Homer was evidently regarded by the an
cient world as kingly and godlike, but in
one remarkable instance (which the speaker
cited) it was probable Blackfoot chief of
the present day would disdain to initiate it.
H e cited the treatment of Lycidas by the
A thenians, and the fact that the women of
Athens of their own accord went out and
stoned the children of Lycidas. He thought
it only just, however, to quote the descrip-
ton of Athenian culture given in the bril-.
liant funeral grafton by Pericles. 1t must
be admitted that society in no state had
ever attained higher standard of excel
lence than was therein set forth. But he
thought Theucydides, unconsciously perhaps,
stated facts inconsistent with that refined
condition of civilization, and then gave that
historians description of the effects of the
pestilence in Athens. As Athens was the
most civilized of the ancient states, he would
briefly examine her Institutions. Of pop
ulation of 100000, three fourths were slaves,
and of the native free population, only TO-
900 were citizens in whom reposed the
sovereignty. Their government was not
representative like ours, nor was legislative
executive and judicial power so safely divided
as with us. She maintained freedom of
thought and speech, whence arose eloquence
and philosophy such as never could mature
Cd despotic soil. Money had ten times its
present value. Socrates lived on less than
$50 per annum. A kid could be purchased
for three cents, sheep for six cents. The
stone cutter on the temple of Minerva
received seventeen cents per day, and the
architect no more. But education was
exclusive, and the great fact which detracted
most from her civilization was the inferior
position accorded to woman, who was ex-
Guided from society and degraded to be a
drudge and a mere object of pecuniary
utility. The speaker then examined the
causes that led TO the decay of Athens. TIE
tokens of her external splendor had persisted
while her Intellectual empire was crowned
with Immortality and universal dominion.
He thought false estimate of material
wealth, and similar pride of power and a
too confident security had Frustrated the
most polished states of Asia. Judah and
Israel had been as the sands of the sea in
multitude, eating and drinking and making
merry. But human nature remained coerced
and unimproved. Their excuses were fol-
lowed by depression and the night of union.
When the invader lowered on their frontier,
when the trumpet of war sounded at their
gates, and the enemy were on their citidals,
they had not learned to bear their burdens,
their arms were impotent for their defence,
their wealth could not purchase their secu.
rity. Not one stone was left upon another
of their proud capitals.
Of those things which most promoted or
retarded civilization, political government
was entitled to the first notice. To be Sc
cure in some rights, men we're willing to
form partnership, and yield to the body
polite many of their natural rights. That
government was bold which could safely de
mand the fewest natural rights in exchange
for such security. Abstractly, no particular
system of government could be pronounced
good or bad; for its success and usefulness
depended on the condition and capacity of
the people who lived under it. In the prim-
tive condition of states, men were children,
and patriarchal government seemed best
adapted to their welfare. In proportion as
they became disposed to render justice to