The Russellville Democrat., 1875-03-04
Horne and arm
 The Worlds Progress

the universe. Its impress is stamped alike upon things, both human and angelic. All creation must obey it's mandates, or sue cumb to the memorable law of de- cay. Nations must heed it's warn ing voice, or be swept into the realms of oblivion. Individuals must follow in it's pathway, or sink beneath the power of it's op- posing arm.
 When the Omnipotent hand placed man in the garden of Eden "Onward'' was written indelibly upon his forehead. With that as his motto, he was to go forward to the conquest of the world, and time attest how we'll he has sue ceeded. To-day all nature bows in suppliance before him. The gods of earth, air, and water, hear his voice, and rush to do it's bidding. He speaks, and the fe- rocious beasts of the forest cover at his feet. He commands, and the forces of nature obey. He di- rects, and the rains and falling waters do more than half the work necessary for providing food and clothing for the human race; and under his supervision, the bowling winds of the ocean, the very emblems of destruction and terror, propel his ships through the waters of the ''briny deep"
 Most nobly has he obeyed Heavens fiat of progress. Look at the vast strides which he has made in the journey of civiliza- tion. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since new era in the history of the world began. Cities have been levelled to the ground, nations humbled to the dust, empires swept away, and continents despoiled by the hand of the ruthless invader; yet this lapse of ages, these changes, these mighty revolutions, and these terrible despoilations, have only served to brighten the helmet that dons the head of advancing civilization.
 Difficulties, which were once thought to be obstacles impossi- ble for it to overcome, now lie struggling at the feet of the victor. Landmarks, which were once thought to be limits beyond which it could not progress, are now be- ing left rapidly in the distance. Its advancement, though stopped for time by the blighting, deso- lating deaths into which nations have been plunged, has never ceased. Though stifled for a tune, by the hand of some despot- ic ruler, its flame has never been suffered to go out; but. overthrow ing the hand which sought to hold it down, it has again taken it's place in the race, only to advance more rapidly because of it's long confinement.
 If vast pyramids of monumen- tai marble were to be reared, civ ilization has reared them. If the mystic veil, that hides from our view the secrets of the universe, was to be torn asunder, civiliza- tion has torn it asunder. If the world was lying in ignorance and stupidity, and printing was to be invented, civilization has invented it. If the rapidity of travelling was to be increased, and railroads were to be constructed, clviliza- tion has constructed them. What ever man, in this world of neces- sity, needed for his comfort or convenience, that civilization has supplied him with. See, adorn- ing the bright pages of science, the three noble achievements of the nineteenth century.
 Astronomy is daily unfolding fresh marvels to the eye of it's vo- tary: the wonders of the starry Armament bid him behold the glories of other worlds than ours. Geology is opening to our view the mysteries long hidden by the veils of ignorance. Chemistry is bequeathing to the human race the rich legacies of science. Bot any is directing our gaze to the mysterious labyrinth of the vege- table kingdom, and Philosophy pointing us to the road that leads fn nnse and comfort. In art. the