The daily gazette., 1881-10-17
From the N. Y. Star.
Ono Hundred Years Ago.

| The centennial celebration al
Yorktown reminds us that, in spite
ofthe grumbling of the pessimisLs, the
world does move. What a change in
that little town from the dlminutive
armies, drawn up a hundred years
ago for Corvallis surrender to the
splendid gathering of the representa-
tives of this great country, republi-
can France and of imperial Germany
assembled now to celebrate that sur
render! No American, certainly, can
deny that the century has accom-,
plished miracles of progress upon
this continent; but equal miracles are
evident all over the world. Every
where the condition of the people has
improved. Everywhere the Divine
Right of the people to govern them
selves has superseded the exploded
fiction of the Divine Right of kings,
with all that it implied.
The Declaration of Independence,
issued by few brave colonists here
Is now the political gospel of the
world. The feudaf aristocracies of
Europe are already obsolete, and
the forms and traditions of them are
fast passing away Steam electricity
education, the newspapers and cheap
postage are the great Jewelers.. AS
despotism can only flourish upon
ignorance the schoolmasterss ha We
detbroned all the old mOnarchies
which existed hundred years ago,
and, except in a few semi barbarous
countries, monarchs now rule only
by the will of the people. The
leaven of free institutions which our
forefathers threw into the world
century since has now leavened the
whole mass of mankind. Our revolus
ton, one of the chief incidents of
which is being commemorated at
Yorktown, was really a political
evolut ion of the entire glob. ~ :"
A hundred years ago England was
ruled by q corrupt aristocracy and
rotten, boroughs. Its population was
wretched, helpless prey to the tax
gatherers and the press-gang. Now
England is virtual Republic, with a
Queen as figurehead, but with all
power vested in the Parliament of the
people. Only fortnight ago the
successor of the King George, against
whom we rebelled, ordered court
mourning for the canal-boy of Ohio
A hundred years ago four fifths of the
Irish people had absolutely ne civil
rights whatever Roman Catholics
could not hold land in fee nor even
lease It,. Now-but, no! In view of
the recent news from Ireland of the
whole sale arrests which are intendt
by the British Government to teriorize
the people, we cannot congratulate
the poor. oppressed people Of Ireland
upon their progress during the last
proves he rsis s ana 1rsaSSsap sSspYpPn Il Pns oax sI
ception.
A hundred years ago, the people of
shambles. We captured number Of
them at Yorktown. Ths name of
IIessian isstill title of disgrace and
reproach here. Now, Germany is still
suffering from military despotism
but every day its freedom grows
greater, and the death of Bismarck.
the man of "blood and iron," will be
the signal for peaceable uprising of
the popular element in Germany which
will make the present century men,
orable. A hundred years ago, France
was in the throes of revolution which
create d 5000, 900 pea. ant proprietors
and produced Napoleon, the might
lest Democratic missionary Europe
ever knew for he made and unmade
dynasties by word, turned kings in
to playthings and opened the way to
the permanent French Republic of the
present. 81.
Even in Russia, where Imperialism is
no " struggling with Nilihism, the past
hundred years heS brought the glorious
emancipation of the serfs. In India, q
vast population has been reclaime ed to
civilization by methods which must be
disapproved, but the results OF which
are splendid. In Italy, Spain and Portu.
gal. nominal monarchies are but the
temporary cloaks for real republicans.
But even in these countries, where the
changes In the form of governments have
not been so marked, the material and
late 'lectual r ogr of the people dur
ing the hundred years has been quite as
wonderful ~ In moe politically favored
lands. 1fthe bltts of Yorktown were
properly app eci5 led II would be- cete-
brated to-day not only in America, but
In every portion Of the world. The sur.
render of Cornw.illls WAS the Surrender
of despotism, tyranny, ignorance, SUPER
stitloD and oppression.
This sermon OF "reminiscences and
comparisons has moral. New ciyiliza-
tion breeds new perils. Instead of
kings who organize a. mics, We now
have monopolists who organize COM
binations. The communities which
have freed themselves from the despot-
ism of feudalism have now to guard
themselves against the despotism of
Capitalists. But the people who have
overthrown the tyrant1 of one hundred
years ago will be powerful enough to
overcome the monopolists of the pree-
ent. This is one Of the lessons of York