Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-14
THURSDAY. MARCH IA, 1874.


munication with Japan and Eastern Asia,
win take precedence OF Europe in new and
higher phase of civilization. What doyou mean
by this 2 Shall we do anything more than ex-
tend our civilization and establish it in Eastern
Asia?" In our future communication with
Eastern Asia, we shall receive something as well
as rive something At present, our civilization
is superior TO that of Europe, not so much in
what it is as in its possibilities. We are free
from European monarchy and aristocraey;
but we are not free from the old bar
barism which keeps alive the preiu-
dices of race, else there would he in
the country none of that outrageous warfare of
prejudice against the Chinese and japanese,
which has been so active in California. The
Chinese are not the only people who regard
every civilization different from their own as an
"outside barbarism." Europe changes every
year; but there are still many people iu Europe
who regard the "peasantry" around them very
much as many Americans regard negroes and
Asiatics The 'new and higher civilization"
will rise above all these barbarous prejudices,
and regulate the relations of men and races by
the higher law of human brotherhood. The
prejudices and absurdities of caste will disap-
pear.
An hundred aud seventy years ago lin the
years 1701, 1902 and 1909, Addison travelled on
the continent, visited Switzerland, and spent
much time in Italy. The record of his observa-
tions, not quite equal in style to the Spectator,
is still interesting. While in Switzerland, he
noticed that the political condition of the Swiss
people was much superior to that of the other
peoples of Europe. 1t was more peaceful, it had
more simplicity aud comfort, because their
government was republican, and yet the old
ideas Of caste were still firmly established
among The Swiss republicans, and regulated
society without question of their right to do
so. The result of their influence was some
what peculiar, but no less positive than
in England, France, or Germany. After
pointing out how diligently the Swiss com mon-
wealths sought TO suppress everything that
could promote ''vanity and luxury" Addson's
narrative goes on as follows: "The persons of
different qualities in both sexes are indeed allow
ed their different ornaments, but these are gen
orally such as are by no means costly, being
rather designed as marks Of distinction than to
make figure" 1t is mentioned that the men
of one superior class care known by the crowns
of their bats, which are much deeper than those
of an inferior character" As for "the peasants"
their clothing was very coarse, and their holiday
clothes went from father TO son, for several gen
eratons, so that it was common ito see a coun
tryman in the doublet and breeches of his great
grandfather"
Fancy the Swiss people of that age, plain in
their dress, simple in their manners, and famed
the world over for their hatred of oppression
and love of political liberty; and yet revering
caste to such an extent as TO mark its various
degrees and pretensions by special forms of the
hat by the shape and size OF ornaments, and by
carefully contrived peculiarites of dressl They
had won political liberty and knew how to
fight for it with terrible force; but they knew so
little Of social equality that their society was
rigidly graded by the spirit of caste, and used
outward signs to mark the rank OF each class.
If they had been capable of laughing at this
comica arrangement, they would not have al
lowed 1t to exist. Since that age,
new idea has risen to sufficient clear
ness and power TO make it certain that
Europe is undergoing a social as well
as political Transformation. The in
fuence Of manhood will increase until it
shall become supreme, and the power of mon
archy and aristocracy will decrease, disappear,
and be remembered only when discussed as we
now discuss the extinct monsters brought 10
view by geology. In the future, the heraldry of
privilege, buried with the old astrologies and
other superstitions in the rubbish of the ages,
viii no longer be able TO label any community
after that ancient fashion of the Swiss. This
change is as sure as the laws of the universe.
Those who fight against it may as well fight
against the movement of the earth in its orbit.
Our nation has been specially prepared to
qualify itself for the chief part in developing
the new phase OF civilization, which will make
the future better than the past. We have no
hereditary aristocraey, no privileged class with
a stupid science of heraldry, no monarchs either
in business or out OF business. Our political
system has inherited nothing from feudalism.
We are politically and socially free from the
great forces which bind Europe 10 the past and
obstruct progress We can go forward more
rapidly, and our geographical position gives us
every advantage for being foremost in the
future. Communication with Asia win
make us better acquainted with its people and
r emancipate us from the prGudices of race;
and we shall establish in Asia, not our civiliza-
zion as it is now, but that regenerating and ele-
waiting power which the Germans call the "Hu-
gadnit0efpIsidee" the idea Of our common hu-
mainly, which will sweep away the barriers of
prejudice by which races are separated, and
s,,+o fri bor 10
lions, without pausing to inquire whether they
arc white, black, brown, or yellow. This will
be something new in the history of civilization,
for it is far above and beyond the enlightened
development reached by any civilized people
known to history "a DREAM" you say. Welb
il is dream that win be realized.
How long is it since a great republic, like
ours, existed only as the dream of few men
whose thought was far in advance of their age?
How long is it since the civilized world knew
nothing better than the "niddle agesP Surely
when we consider our defects 10 the light Of
history, and compare what we are, as a civilized
people, with the great idea which it is our
destiny 10 realize and spread among the nations,
it is impossible TO assume that we have exhaust
ed the possibilities of development 1t is as
certain that We are going on to ga new and
higher phase Of civilization" as that thought,
manhood and religion are not empty words.
ThiS IN Jvement of progress is not new, but, from
age to age, it brings new results. How far it
has carried civilization away from the enid
die agesl" 1t will give the future a still
greater superiority 10 the present, and, by virtue
of this superiority, bring all men everywhere 10
a better knowledge aud appreciation of each
other.
The stockholders Of the Rutland railroad
company, at their annual meeting on the last
days Of JanuaIy, were disagreeably surprised
by the revelation Of an Indebtedness of nearly
million and half, whose existence they had
previously no reason 10 suspect. This company,
after q long term of complicated and not al
ways successful inanciering and an exhausting
competition With the Vermont Central corpora.
tion, last year leased It's road and property TO
the latter, with the stipulation that the YER
mont Central should pay the interest on al the
obligations of the Rutland company, and also
pay to that company seven per cent. annually
on the appraised value Of its railroad property.