, 1871-04-27
THE WEEKLY ARGUS
THURSDAY, APRIL. 81 1871
why France was Defeated.

II, 1871, by Rev. Mr.. Elliot, very able
minister5Of that city, and in this he shows
in fine manner why France was. SO ig-
n'mini5uSiy beaten in tile late war, and a:
the same time proves the necessity Of eds
ucaling the masses-of compulsory educa-
tion. Tnis extract is well worth reading
DOUBTLESS we have most striking and
instructive example Of the connection be-
tween ideas and things ;in the late conti-
mental war. 1t is difficult fer me TO be-
gin this theme, so affit do feel 10 handle
i;-so cramped does the time and space
seem to -bei. and yet the pulpit has its
proper word-to speak Concerning it. 1t is
right that we should speak of it on the
Lords day if, BY any such means, we re.
ceive plrsson from the Lord. At the
risk of repeating things with which you
arefamiiar through your papc.s and your
own observations, let me enumeratc a few
of the causes of this war-causes which
lie FIR back in history, and win work far
on, beyond This generation.
Is the German more patriotic than tho
Frenchman We have no reason to think
10. = Can he point to better record OF
what are usually called the fruits of civli-
zation-a greater advance in science
greater number of arts--a more extended
learning I think not Are there origin
al traits of charaster, running back thous-
and years, which made the defeat of one
side in this conflict inevitable History
docs not show it. Do you assign the turn
in this great crisis to the power of par
ticdlar strategist, or particular army or
garization The effect would be entirely
inc0mmcnsurate, if anything like this,
though these things may have contributed
their part. Is it an old and accumulated
spirit of retenge that has made the Ger
man army irresistible? That cause is
hardly deep enough for such ancGect. On
what then, as tie great spinal column of
German victory shall we place our hand :
1t seems to me that il is moral idea, the
absence of which in Que country, and its
existence in the other, has been working
for years towards this issue. That moral
idea is the recognition of tie lcorM IF tie
indiUiduaI man. And this idea, no doubt,
had its roots in the great Reformation.
TO this recognition Of the worth of man
we can trace the German system of edu-
cation-a system more radical and far
reaching than that of any other nation;
which places the son of miner or day
laborer by the side Of prince; which
has made education what it should be
everywhere-national, and to certain
extent, forced; a system defended and
upheld by every moral influence of the
State. Out of this idea of the worth of
the individual man has sprung that higher
organization, based upon consent and in
telligeuce, that deeper, though more quiet,
patriotism, whose root is the sanctity of
Iome. From this root idea, 1 say, of the
worth of the individual man, has come
that military organization whose trust is
not in standing armies, but an armed peo~
ple. Ii is thought, not bullets, that has
conquered France An idea, not drill,
which lies at the foundation of German
victory, and side by side with these, reli-
gion, not this or that statesman or gener-
Il, that has triumphed and will bear fruits
az rich for the conquered nation as for the
conuueror. If the result of this war is
education, and religious liberty for the
French people, if out of her humiliation
aud the destruction of her military glory
there is introduced through all her towns
and hamlets, the bible and the public
schools; if, as fast as it is safe, the gov
ernmeat is based upon higher trust in
the educated masses, then every drop of
blocd will have bought precious heritage
for the world, and all this carnage and
suffering will seem as nothing, compared
to rpgene-ate national manhood. For
the difference between these two great ma
tions lies outside of what most ofus know.
1t would fill you with disgust and horror,
10 hear an impartial account of the condi-
tion of the masses of the French people
outside Of the great towns. Such record
of illiterateness, superstition, ignorance of
what ID going on in the world, ignorance
of the fundamental principles of society
and government, can hardly be realized by
the commonest citizen of this country, and
all Of it has come from the principle Of
disfratsk in man. The unwise and evil fear
that knowledge would bring abuse, fear
lest men should think, and by thinking
make mistakes, O!it is a terrible lesson
and terrible experience! We may thank
God that in this land there is no such mag
azine of powder beneath our feet-no such
Droeess of notification and cleansing be-
p Ere the tide of healthy life could come.
Tbe French nation for the next fifty years
ia hospital patient, and by the end of
Thai time II win be ready to live and work.
The masses viii then be placed where the