The Russellville Democrat., 1884-12-18
Practical Utility of History.


county. DRAfB.
Practical Utility Of History.
Correspondence 81 the Democrat
This question was doubtless set.
tied al the late institute, but free
thought began in America, 10 the
early part Of The sixteenth ceatufy.
And ii you will permit, | shall at
tempt 60 give the readers or the
DEMocKAT a few thoughts on the
above. II history is any thing, IL is
the record of the life Of mankind.
Written history deals mainly with
those famous people whose doings
have effected the worlds progress IN
the onward march Of civilization. |
am deeply impressed with the GER
tain conviction, that history studied
as it should be studied, is Of funda-
mental Importance in the growth
and development Of the mental and
moral natures OF man. And will say
II is Of especial moment in our own
country as a preparation for genuine
citizenship, in free, self governing
nation. How could we appreciate
the great blessings which we enjoy
unless we know how it came to be2
1t broaacns, heightens and deepens
our views, giving wider range of
thought and wings to imagination.
BY the light of history we view the
historic epochs of past centuries.
We pass over hills and along pleas
ant valleys, TO the very cradle of the
great human family, Of science, Of
progress, of civilization. We are
brought, as it were, face to face with
the nations of past ages. We hold
converse with the great and the good
OF those past, distant periods, and
learn OF them practical lessons of
wisdom, IN government, religion, art,
science and civilization. Through
the medium of history we have seen
the founding Of a. great nation; we
associate with its people, we admire
its magnificent institutions, we are
awed BY its power and mark its in
fuence upon the world as it tends
toward meridian gl,ry. We are i'm
pressed with its national Characters
tics and influenced to take example.
In wonder and establishment, we
read again, it has fallen, its power
is broken, it has vanished from the
earth; we say it exists only in name.
but there is an impression left, which
time cannot destroy; there is an in
! flnence that survives the hopes of
ages. Aud generations a thousand
years hence, will hear its dying
groans, discover amid its ruins trae-
es Of Its departed power and glory;
trace Its fall to a cause and receive
wholesome lessons of instruction.
/ Empires rise as By magic. Thrones
are created, and annihhated. And
kingdoms the mighties of earth are
suddenly subyerted. Dynasties
spring into existence, flourish and
fall. We see them rise as if des-
tined to conquer the world, we see
them pass away. Kings and empe-
rors are made to humble themselves
with the peasant; the ignoble are
raised IN honor and power. There
is cause for each effect, and the
wise and sagacious statesman very
carefully observes the secret Of this
transient power; with philosophical
reasoning, he carefully unravels the
intricate net work that surrounds
this sudden and unexpected subver-
sion; be looks for the main causes
that led to the dethronement Of these
mighty powers, gaining at every
step instruction of a practical nature,
Ideas>in forms of government, be-
fore unborn, are forced upon his
mind. The statesman grasps these
new ideas and puts them in practi-
cal use: avoiding the errors of 9th
ers, and making capital Of the sound
principles IN government, CLEANED
from different sources. And as to
our own country, we are made bet
ter citizens, by the careful study of
its history we learn to appreciate the
blessings we enjoy; after viewing a
hundred battle6eIds wet with car.
mage there is patriotic flame en-
kindled within the breast of every
true melican; we learn to love the
cause of liberty. CIvIs.
Congressional.
The bill aliotting lands to Indians
o..l -, Il i,,tr Nta,a la,ra nya~ 81 o.,