The Mineral argus., 1884-07-24
Extract from Hon. lanes Fergus Grafton.

BY request of several OF our readers,
we herewith publish as much as our
columns will permit of the able address
delivered by Hon. James Fergus, in
Maiden, on July 4th
Proofs of high civilization among
ancient people are full and abundant
on our own continent. Cities lie bur
ried under forests in ruin and decay
Canals and acqueducts to carry water
over valleys and through hills on the
table lands Of Mexico and Peru for the
peaceful purposes Of agriculture still
show faint traces of their existence
Coming down into the domain of mod
ern history the Romans found our
forefathers savages, clothed in skins,
and the Norman conquerors of Eng
land were unedueated Doors. Why
and wherefore these mutations In mans
career, from the polished nations of
Asia in the distant past, to the rude
barbarians of Northern Europe in the
nearer present. Were our forefathers
sprung from q race that was always
savages, or do nations, peoples and
life have their periods of growth, ma
turity and decay; and if so what are
the causes that produce these results
Here is food for thought and oppor-
tunity for research. The causes will be
found to be many and various, and that
wars, superstition, ignorance, religion,
ambition and luxury are responsible
for the greater share.
After producing necessary food, cloth
| ing and shelter, there has always been
among all peoples living in favored
regions, a surplus Of energy, force and
llabor, which has been applied as con-
ltrolled by circumstances and events to
different uses and purposes. Much of
| it always in war, some in monuments
useless like the PyHmids, or works of
utility, like canals and acqueducts; at
! the present time in diflusing education
/ building railways and other works of
general utility; in some ages building
monuments of superstition, in useless
and senseless crusades; in others in mis-
called chivalry These have had their
/ influences in beneiiting or injuring the
race in some proportion to the be-
nighted ignorance or the enlightened
education of the time.
Peoples, nations and sects, generally
practice virtue, morality and simplicity
/ in their infancy, but as they grow and
become strong, become independent,
naughty, luxurious, finally effeminite;
are easily conquered or displaced. But
| by whatever means originating, looking
back through the ages of history, we
find wars overturning nations; the
/
and the old, ignorant and efeminate,
going down. Alexander, with the
science and education of Greece at his
back, changing the destinies of Persia
and the thrones of Asia, and Rome
with her Ciceros and her Caesars chang
ing the destinies of Europe. / said
religion had often something to do with
the fates of nations. Imperial Rome
succumbed to the weight of empire,
and the Christian religion brought
about by a long period of ignorance
still known to us as the dark ages,
during which thought was curbed, COM
mon education banished, the conscience
given over to rude, vulgar and igno-
rant priesthood, and whatever good
christianity may have done since, much
of the degeneracy of mankind during
this period must be laid at its door
During these ages of Christian darkness
Mohammedism flashing up from the
plains of Arabia, fought its way, sword
! in hand. to empire, without banishing
! knowledge, arts, science or literature
the dilapidated palaces of Granada still
attesting its skill and the extent of its
conquests. Christianity alone was left
to darken and degrade the masses oi
Europe with only an occasional flash oi
independent thought, until the 14th
century, when we gradually see the
Pickering light of a coming dawn, Gal
lileo, Bacon, Luther. Europe became
restless, Columbus crossed the Atlantic
and to the coming civilization a new
world was born. Learning no longer
confning itself to scholastic disputes
but guided by the teachings of a Bacon
in science and a Luther in religion
gradually changed the current o.
thought. The door of free thought
once opened, the right of conscience
acknowledged, the right Of the Churcf
of Rome disputed, a new reign o
religious wars, prosecutions and burn
incs were inaugurated. New sect
sprang up as ready to persecute as they
ihad been persecuted. This l0d to flight
| an, -,ra tir,-, +o thp fhpD wild and desc