The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-16

respect and yet IL W ar bat last fall that the Al
received aud IeLsd at ala the principal ports of
Europe, and wc beheG the gratifying sight OF
Tns Si spe len 81 n S sos S E5Sa Sds
from the Czar of Russia aud the Emperor OF
FIanoeeven TO the Sultan OF Turkey.
The time WAS also wnen we went 10 war Win
dispVts; and It was but last month that the
ment alone, without The sIignest idea OF q re-
sort to arms, the settlement of the Alabama
The two nations that formerly were ready at
q momt - notice tn become deadly foes now
discuss the grave questions OF internauonal
law in the most am cable manner.
The history of the world, both ancient ana
the acquisition or Gefense Of territory. It. has
remained for our period to see the transfer ol
four hundred Thousand square miles s rom rom tne
most despolic OF the great nstiops oil europe To
| the most liberal of America, Yitnout the loss
Of a single lite or the expenditure of single
| drop oi blood-tbe whole affair treated as
mere bargain end sale OF 80 much land.
We have all read OF The Chinese that curious
old people so closely wrapped up In a tnicK
veil of obscuIity; of their remaining stationary
while others around them advanced; and OF
n cir Tefu al to hLld converse with the outside
bar srisnt; and yet IL was only last year that
we beheld The curious spectacle of powerful
communication with their far OF Western
friends. and coming headed by an American,
jooiine OF perfect quality. More curious still
is he TACT that the United States, whose natlonal
| existence does not Dumber as many decades AZ
! that of China does centuries was chosen as the
| favored country wltn which the nrst treaty was
| Now these are but few of the striking things
| that we have seen during the last hye years.
| The bridging of the mighty mississippi, the
magi ica sprpging In o Xisteu oe OF our Western
| cities, the unprecedented peopling of our vast
| pubnc domain, The extraordinary number of
our mechanical inventions, and many other
| things might be enumerated but these are
sufficient TO show what busy period 1t has
] Abroad the spirit OF the age has manifested
| ittelf in every direction. Our nelghbors. on
| vicissitudes. In Mexico we have seen the
! desperate attempt to introduce European In.
| huence in North America by the establish ment
| OF AN empire, with European prince as its
| crowned ruler. We have watched with the
people Tor liberty, and have hailed with delight
| the final overthrow Of the invaders. The un-
timely fate Of the misguided and unfortunate
| Ma4imilian Will serve as an example OF what
| may be expected should similar attempt be
made.
lsminor States united into one great Dominion,
and launching forth into new national exist
ence. The Capitalization of power there, iu-
| directly brought about by jealousy of the United
States, may yet, through The dissatisfaction OF
some of the individual provinces, lead TO
disruption and the ultimate application for
| admission into the American Union.
rooted prejudicps Of generations have been
gradually undermined and the right OF suffrage
% Parlismept ~ dissoived Tor opposition to an IN.
popular ministry; we have beheld with aston
isnmenL the wrongs OF Ireland forming the
| principal theme In the angry discussions OF an
| English election; and we have noted with plea
| sure the triumphant victory OF liberal ideas, in
| the return OF large popular majority In The
| new Parliament.
France, which has seen SO many revolutions.
| and whose problem of government has not
yet been worked out. has enjoyed the most
| profound peace. Her ruer; With the sagacity
| iOr which he is remarkable, has kept her people
| fully occupied. BY tue Paris Exposition of 1867
he attrac ed to her capital the attention of the
whole world, and exhibited, though perhaps
| not 10 his purpose, a striking picture of the
advanced state OF modern civilization. 1t was
zens of SO many:different nationali and 1t Is
withjus pIide that America can point to the
| large number Ut prizes awarded To ner sons.
In Germany the whole aspect of affairs has
| heen changed A war that, by The help OF mo-
dern invention, las, ed but a few weeks, has
| accomplished what cen uries failed to do. Fifty
| petty prin q palities have become merged into
head now 1esrs al eft its victorious banuers-a
| striking example of what one man, when en-
! dowed with indomltable energy, Is aoie 10 &C
The same war that gave to Prussia the con-
| troll of Northern Europe has changed Austria
from almost aDsolu o despotism TO consti-
| tuIlopal monarchy. Her emperor, chRsLened
by adversely, has granted to his subjects prtyi-
| leges that they never dreamed OF before. BY
wisely relinquishing portion OF his prerogs-
tives. and yesling them in the popular cSn.
from The bitter reverses he has sustained. By
| a happy policy OF sacrificing his arbitrary
ihe causes OF jealousy existing among the DIFF
| rent peoples of his empire, and has united
In Russia we have seen the gradual smeliora-
tion OF he condition of the serfS and the better
! treatment OF the people of Poland, showing
thai even there the spirit Of the age Is making
And, lastly, In Spain we have the sublime
| spectacle of whole nation rising against an
| unpopuartovereign. driving her forLn to seek
| refuge In a foreign country, and in few weeks
accomplishing an almost bloodless revolution.
| A slill grander sight Is the same nation calmly
| and slowly prOce eding To the consideration or u
| Iemeoy for the existing evils and q change of
| government 10 suit The new ideas. There IL
| Something fascinating In the idea of this great
| nation suddenly waking up from Its long sleep
| OF inactivity, and showing once more The old
| spirit that In the days OF Ferdinand and Isa-
| bella sent forth Columbus on his voyage of dis.
oldest iown in the United States Let us hope
that in its itSdeliberations their popular assembly
| will rem mber that no form of government is
just unless IT has the consent of the governed
| In other countries the same wonderful
1 changes are seen, but we have not the time to
extend the list. Those that we have noticed
ale ample evidence that this is emphatically
an sge OF progress. The contemplation OF all
these things should make us feel thankful tnat
we live IN such an age. There is another feel.
ing that We should a entertain, aud especially
has extended It's many advantages, and
that is, that should fully resolve
heep up with the spirit of the age. II we
mas this resolution and firmly adhere to It,,
there is nO doubt Of our ultimate success. Aud
we, the graduates of the High School, should
also resolve that whatever we may do, wherever
we may be, or into whatsoever calling we m ay
be thrown, we should do no act that for one
moment might cast reflection upon the insLi.
tuition that honors us TO day.
Next followed the address OF Benjamin Il.
Moore, OF the third honorary class, who chose
for his subject "rhe Progress OF Printing"
| He sr Oke of the art OF printing as the great
| agent which had disenthralled so many ma
| tions from hetyranny 10 which ignorance had
| suOjecled them, and dWelL upon the ageno
! which the press had had In the progress OF
| civilization.
l VIZ no oF Nha