The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-06
POWDER AND PROGRESS.

EOW LEN AMI EaO0SG0o.
Less than 400 years ago America was dis
covered. Sometime subseqent to that won
derful event. Europeans concluded to take
possession Of the Continent. They did not
consult the inhabitants of the continents
and islands of the new world. They found
land and they took possession of it. If those
who were in possession resisted, the new COM
ers killed them unhesitatingly. The European
invaders were all Christians, but they be-
Heved in powder as a civilizer. 1t was not
dynamite exactly, but it answered the pur-
pose-it would kill. And thus it appears
that Christian Europe marched across the
Continent with powder as the great friend OF
progress. The sborigines have had to move
on until but q handful of them are left
and if their present condition is any
better than It was in 1892 some
persons acquainted with the facts ought to
state them. The Europeans who took pos
session of that portion of the Continent
known now as the United States of America,
did not pursue the course adopted by Cortsz
and Pizarro, and are entitled to any credit
which their milder methods SUGGESTIVE diff
ference, however, consists in degradation
mination in the other. Still,
the Boston Herald is confident that sin the
United States alone, of all the countries
within the area of what is called the civilized
world, were the people as a whole prepared
aud fitted from the start, by generally diff
fused education and an almost universal
ownership Of land and personal property,
and as universal an enjoyment of the fran
chisss of a selfgoverning citizenship, to
properly appreciate, utilize and enjsy the
extraordinary advantages and privileges
which have fallen to the lot of humanity in
the present unique era of history" Quite
likely; at any rate we are not disposed to
criticise the Herald's estimate of the qualifi-
cations of the Cclonists to stsrt Govern
ment of their own. But the Herald makes
It's high estimates of the American
Celonists the standard by which it de-
grades the populations of all Europe. 1t
is of the opinion that the average population
of most European countries consists as it al
ways has consisted of a raw, undisciplined
peasantry, TO whom knowledge and property
and citizenship are novelties which they do
not know exactly how to use. And yet,
strange to say, New England was settled by
this same raw and undisciplined peasantry
from Europe-s peasantry that had knowl-
edge enough to take possession of all the land
they needed, and more too, and they
had also pretty correct idea
of what it was worth in
the market, and it may be well enough to
inquire, if this undisciplined peasantry some
800 years ago had such knowledge of prop
erty, how it happens now, when this Euro
pean peasantry reaches our shores should ap-
pear, as the Herald says, as if they had Just
emerged from Platos cave, and were for the
first time beholding the light of sun, moon
and stars? The ignorant peasant" says the
Herald, from the bywsys and provincial
corners of Europe, on being suddenly intro
duced into the plenty and the large liberty
and opportunities of this Republic, is natu-
rally enough more or less dazed By the nov
elties of the situation, and does not know
what to make of it all. In his ignorance and
bewilderment, not to say his perversity, he is
pretty sure to fall q prey to Che seductions
and shallow sophistries of our demagogues
both native and foreign-born, as soon as he
becomes of any value to them through nat
ureliz alton" It would be difficult to
state the case more PROFESSIONALLY than
does the Herald in the paragraph we haze
quoted. The people, ''peasantry," if you
choose who come to America now, are in all
regards as good as were those who settled
New England or any of the other British col
onies in America, and they are quite as well
come as if they were members OF the aristo-
cratic classes of Europe, and are
vastly more valuable. They are not
perfection. Nor are Americans native
born, such sublimated mortals, that they
can afford TO look down with proud disdain
upon European peasants, who seek homes in
this favored land. The great majority of
them come to America to better their condi-
tion, and the same is true of the forefathers
of Yankeedoodledom, or any other dom
along the entire Atlantic coast, and for proof
of the declaration, 1T Is only required
to see then anywhere at work, subduing the
wilderness, cultivating the soil, building
railroads, deIving in mines, or at work in
factory and shops. Thousands of these Euro
pean peasants come TO America to escape
despotism, and the same was true of the
early settlers Of the American colonies. At
bone they learned to hate tyrants,
and in America they keep
alive, IN majority of instances,
their LEGISLATION of autocratic infernslism.
In Europe the poor and unfortunate toilsrs
have sometimes resorted to powder to help
them better their condition; they have used
dynamite to overthrow dynasties; they have
in many instances chosen death rather than
eternal degradation. Why not? Is
there anything in such proceedings
at war with American ideas2
These exiles from their native lands are in
deep sympathy with their struggling coun-
trymen, and send to them words of cheer,
and as opportunities Offer, more substantial
encouragement. Would America have il