The New York herald., 1870-06-19
Modern Civiiixatiou-Our Indebtedness "a
the Jews.

one of those vague. indefinite forms of express
sion which conveyed to the mind ideas large
enough, no doubt, but still very nebulous,
very indistinct. What modern civilization was
| very few could tell you, and to the mass
, of mankind the phrase suggested as much
mystery as anciently surrounded the Grand
Lama of Thibet or the Mikado of japan. Our
age is mystery-dispelling age. Somehow
during the last half century arcana have been
becoming fewer and fewer; men have grown
more daring; the torch of truth has become
| more penetrating, and mystery now is no.
where. Men now begin to know what civili-
zation is, separately and distinctively. The
phrase conveys to the mind distinct idea.
1t speaks of advanced thought, Of privileged
peoples, Of social and domestic COM
fort of railroads, teegraphs, print
ing presses, books, newspapers, clubs,
reading rooms and many other things
of that sort. 1t speaks of power which is
overrunning and transforming and beautifying
the earth, but which Is in the hands of only
limited number OF the peoples. 1t speaks OF
the growth of the human brain, of the develop
ment of those rich physical resources by which
man is surrounded, of the growth of liberty
and happiness, of the good things Of all the
present and of the better things of all the
future. In sentence, it distinguishes the
nations now known as civilized from the bar
barism of all the past and from the barbarism
of all the present. Time was when the Jews
were privileged people. At that time
civilization, such as it was, was limited to
them. Later the Greeks were privileged
people, and civilization, such as it was, was
more or less coextensive with Greek authority.
At later date still the Romans were a
privileged people, and Roman civiza-
ton, such as it was, overspread the then
known world. In these times, however,
civilization is a something higher and
! nobler, wields greater power and
covers larger surface than Rome in her palmi-
est days ever dreamed of, and is the property
no longer of one nation or of one people, but of
many nations and Of many peoples. In this
great city Of the Western World modern civili-
zation is something of which we have just
cause to be proud.
1t has often seemed to u.s. however, that
those who most enjoyed the benefits of what
is called modern civilization were painfully
forgetful of the source from which all the
blessings flow. We call it European civiliza-
ton, and in so naming it we are not wrong
for so far as it is known even on this Con-
tinent, if we make some small allowances, it
is European. We think, however, that the
time has come when America must be in
cluded. 1t is not difficult to prove that we are
all European and that all the good or evil that
is in us comes Immediately from across the
big pond. But we have given modern civiliza-
ton some peculiarities. We have made it our
own after hard trial and severe experience.
Not being in Europe, and claiming something
for our nation and people that is native born
and peculiar, we think the time has come
when modern civilization must be regarded as
more than European. But call it European
or call it Europo-American or America Euro
pean, we have no choice but take a step nearer
the fountainhead and call it Christian. Modern
civilization, whatever it is whatever it MEANS
whatever it may do, is at least Christian.
It has found it's highest development in
Europe and America because Christianity as a
form of religious belief controls the European
and American brain. Modern civilization is
at once conservative and aggressive. In this
for many ages it has differed from all existing
civilizations, which have simply been conserva-
tive We look after not only our own
selves and our own homes, but the persons and
homes of all the rest of mankind. This
aggressive popularity is purely Christian.
! Christianity breaks down all national barriers
and tends to the unity of the race. In this
| it is consistent, for its Founder and His
| disciples taught that God made of one
flesh all nations of men that dwell upon the
| earth. Modern civilization in its natural and
ultimate development leaves no place for
slavery; but as little does it leave any place
for divided and obstinate nationalities. The
tendency of events on this Continent and in
Europe shows that division is folly; it does
more-it shows that division is doomed On
this Continent the union Of the peoples has
become passion. The failure of our South
ern brothers to establish separate republic
was mainly due to this thought, which has
taken firm hold of the people of the United
States. The impulses Of the human heart to
the north of us and to the south of us tend
in the same direction. It is not otherwise on
the Continent Of Europe. Union is the passion
of the hour. What means this growth Of
Germany into an empire? What means the
dsintegration of Austria? What means the
desire of the Latin, the Scandinavian and the
Slavic races? 1t is the spirit of modern
civilization, the spirit of Christianity, which
spurns national barriers and which will not
know national divisions. In every mans heart
the feeling is more or less strong. ''God hath
made of one flesh all nations of men that dwell
on the earth"
But our civilization is not merely European