Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-07-22


ton of their preference as between him-
self and the candidate who chooses to dis
pute with him the legitimacy of his itlc
In any event, Mr.. DuDnell will not be
long in communicating his decis.on ir
themaiter; and we shall look for it Will
interest and anxiety, because we: believe
it will lead IT, fair and entire " legiti
mate settlement Of the untOrt innate con
troversy existing in dlstri ct which Il
would be 4 crime Tor the party in this
state 10 lose.-IMi7a,aeapolis Tribune, Juza
21st.
Foundation Stones o. A Republic.
GRADUATION ESSAY BY yiuaENE LAMB ERT
All things must h ave foundation or
they will not stand. If we wish to build
a durable house, we; first lay solid foun.
dation. So it is with Il republic. II, TOO
must have Foundation, and upon the
character of the foundation depends the
solidity and perma hence of the republic
Therefore, in laying the foundation OF a
republic. great care should be taken.
Each stone should have its proper place
and be accurately fitte | for that place.
A republic is a state in which the peo-
t1S "oN0 uAN CACCutC tuClt o"u 1o"S'
Good laws can have their origin only in
intelligent rulers, and the first thing,
therefore, necessary for The existence of a
republic is that the people be intelligent
Intelligence IS the corner stone OF the
foundation.
| But the question may arise, "Why is
intelligence necessary in a republic more
than IN kingdom or monarchy?' In a
monarchy the affairs OF government are
in the hands of few and If these be in
telligent, the government may be carried
on. In republic, however, the affairs
Iof government are in the hands of all.
The people themselves must be intell,-
gent or the foundation will be unsound
and the republic will fall. History proves
this. The people OF France. in the latter
part of the 18th century, suffered many
hardships from Kingly rule. They re-
bclled against their King, overthrow the
government and started republic. How
long did it last? The fact is that intelll-
gence, the first great stone of a true toun-
dation, was lacking, and after a few weeks
of oppression and blood-shed, the repub-
lie tottered and fell, and the people were
thrown into condition far worse than
that which they had attempted to escape.
After republic is organized, how may
the intelligence of the people be advanc-
ed? In this age of civilization, the ways
OF promoting intelligence are many ard
various. One of the first is by means of
popular lectures. When we hear politi-
cal speakers, preachers or travellers dis
cuss their respective subjects, the facts,
arguments and descriptions which they
set forth, are impressed deeply and indeli-
| bly, upon our minds, and we at the same
time see the man and are enabled to form
an estimate of his character, as we'll as OF
the truth of his arguments. The facts
in the Bible are sometimes presented by
preachers, in so striking light, that per-
sons depraved in sin and ignorance, have
been rescued and started on the road to
virtue by single sentence. A good lee
ture or sermon, refrcshes and expands
the mind and advances our intelligence
and happiness.
A more important way, however, OF In
creasing intelligence is by the press.
From it we obtain all our rea ling, from
the holy Bible down to the common news
paper Through it, the holy word of God
has been handed down from generation
to generation, until, to-day, we have it,
probably as good and perfect as wher'it
came from His lips. Through it we may
become acquainted with the various man.
ners and customs of the different nations
upon the face Of the earth. Were it not
for this means of diffusing knowledge,
we would know little more about the
European nations than if they never ex-
listed. Through books and newspapers,
every citizen may become familiar with
the affairs and management of his govern
ment, and every other government; yes,
and may know the character of all Off.
GERS of his government, although he never
sees them. Through the press, the
thoughts and discoveries of great mes
have been gathered together and preserved
so that We now reap the benefits of them
in our schools and laboratories. But the
most important benefit which we derive
from the press IS through history. In
this way we may trace the proceedings of
all governments that have existed, notice
their progress, or decline and fall, and
profit by their example: pursuing their
course if successful and turning from it
if unsuccessful. Yet the press is not the
most important means Of advancing in
telligence. To he sure it furnishes hooks
and papers from which we derive much
benefit and knowledge; yet these would
be of no advantage, ii we could not read
and understand them. A more important
way OF promoting intelligence is by
means Of our system of free schools. Here
the children OF the rich and the poor, the
high and the low, are alike assembled
and instructed in their duty to themselves,
to their country, and TO their God. All
republics will support free schools, in
fact they must, tor the schools are actu.
ally necessary to the solidity of the foun-
dation. AS the people are, the govern
ment will be. A government that allows
the children under its care, to grow up in
ignorance, undermines itself. Ignorant
people will place 10 office ignorant men :;
while educated and cultured people will
place in Office intelligent and able men.
In republic where education is not
easily obtained, where freedom of 50 :ech
and of the press are restricted. the corner
stone Of the foundation is dangerously
unsound. Yea! the whole foundation is
weak; for it is upon the first stone that the
others depend.
In country where the people are ig-
norant of the affairs and management of
their government, they loose all interest
in it. There is no patriotism; and the
result is that politics become corrupt.
The second stone of the foundation is
rendered unsound.
That patriotism and purity of politics
are necessary TO the existence of q re-
public may be proven by referring to his
tory. When Rome was in its youth, the
people were very pure in their politics
and also very patriotic. Almost any Ro-
man citizen would gladly sacrifice his
life for his country. Their greatest ambi-
ton was to have the name Roman feared
and respected. The result was that Rome
grew and prospered and conquered nearly
the whole world, and at the name Roman,
all nations trembled. Mark the change
The Romans Intoxicated by their success,
became llcentious and immoral. They
no longer took pride II strength and hon
or, but in wealth and finery. Politics be-
came 80 corrupt that honest men no longer
sought or accepted Offices, while all posi-
tons were filled by the sharpest and