Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-08-07
ESSAYS OF TIE HIGH SCHOOL GRADU.
iTlNG CLASS.
7, Freedom, OF ODinion.

:. s$Freedon, Of Opinion.
Freedom of*oplnion is a natural right
aud it is necessary to the fullest develop
ment Humankind. History shows that
it Is only in an atmosphere Of intellectual
liberty, that the human mind can expand,
and that Improvement is possible. We
find that those countries which have been
blessed by tins liberty, have made very
rapid progress, while those without it,
have made lit!k or no. progress. 1t is
one of the distinguishing features between
n free AND despGtic form OF government.
This more than any other one thing, was
the cause of Athenian superiority over
contemporary nations, Egypt, for exam
pie. Athens was at one time pure de-
mocracy. Then it was that Atpcnlan
genius put forth Its richest blossoms Of
literature and art. Their literature is in
comparably the most valuable Of all
litcla,ures Of antiquity, except the Holy
Scriptures. Their architecture was never
! before equallcd, and has never been sur
passed. They produced the greatest ora
tor that ever lived, Denosthenese
Egypt on the Olhcr hand was despo-
tism. lis people We're not only without
political liberty, but were restricted from
using .hcir inventive genius. The result
was that the only remarkable feature OF
Egyptian works waists unchangablencs$.
This was not OWN = to any want OF i'll
ven,ive genius, but for the want OF intel
|
been fetleled by the same restrictions, it
probably would have borne no better re-
suits, us was the case with Sparta, another
Grrcian Stale, the people OF which were
in no way intrr!o: to the Athcian, but
being without this right, produced moth
ing but warriors. 1t had no part in the
science and literature to which the world
is indebted to Greece.
Next to despolic form Of government,
certain forms OF religion, especially the
Papal, has been the greatest obstacle to
free discussion. The ignorance which
prevails in i'll those countries over which
It's influence extends, the records of its
inQuisitiOns, the superstition which II
has euseudcred, the alarm OF Its uOetlOrS
at the idea at free discussion. the cXpc
renee OF our own times in its opposition
to our free schools, is ample proof OF thi:
assertion.
!, The first battle field was geography
To the ancient world, the idea OF TIT
WORLDS ro,undily seemed frauyht will
danger to religion. Most o; the fathers
Of the church utterly denied the posi-
bility of salvation to a man who believed
+ the earth to be round. This question re
manned in dispute until Maghclan sailet
around the world.
The next question was relating to The
position of the earth among the heaven!,
l bodies. Most of the churches planttd
e themselves firmly upon the doctrine tina
D the heavenly odies revolvel about tin
earth. Calico, WHO in VAIN tr eel "pro,'
} that the earth NOV ed, was G .mrclicd a
D a prisoner in his SEVENTEEN " ar, to ahjur
: curses and detest his belief
j., During the last TWO centuries the ten
> dency has b. en- to wards free opinion
This WAS first pro :iaimel as theory il
I France, but first to find Il practical eli
' b>dimcnt in the United States of Amer
j. ca. No nation has ever developed S
rapidly. 1t is all the result of our fire.
speech, free schools, and right OF fire
discussion; and just so long rs freedom
$ OF opinion Is tolerated, so long will on
i country continue to increase III scicnc
literature, wealth and all things whic
:. make up true national greatness.
JOHN Il. THOMPSON, JR.