The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-07

other Fastening on to irrgate the valleys, which
become more and more fertile until 1T surrounds
itself with the Eden-like luxuriance
and richly various fruitage that environ the
Gulf of Mexico while the savage children of the
forest have fshed, and hunted, and starved
through the long and weary generations that
are without record but vainly fade away into
legendary myths. It remained for other minds,
! more viE1roiis and with broader range, to
measure the lands and waters Of this continent;
to learn its resources and develop them for the
benefit Of the human race and make it the abode
OF culture, refinement thrift, power, beauty,
learning and happiness.
Thus, in the United States Of America, two
currents of thought early came into existence as
II IN the same level and flowing in opposite d.
rectlons, one into cold and barren sterility and
the other into tropical !uxurance
Intelligence has so far advanced that the cheap
and vulgar argument of dogmatic denuncation
and denial the one hand and arrogant
assumption on the other, have ceased to be
satisfactory, and hence we must scan facts with
candor and with care.
1.-TWO currents of civilization in this country
ran parallel for time. They then diverged,
and then flowed in opposite directions. The
need of education was early recognized in both
northern and southern sections, and they plant
ed colleges and seminaries, which soon became
powerful radiating centers of morals, society
and politics. Slavery IN the South caused social
Between the slave and his master there was an
impossible gulf. The slave could be more
economical, certainly, when educated, except as
his instruction was in harmony with the will and
wishes of the man to whom he bore the relation
Of property. Any education that would make
the slave dissatisfied was a wrong inflicted upon
the owner, just as real and positive as the
destruction Of fence or the removal of land
mark. The possession of servants served to
further separate society into the rich, who did
W nh Ryy
comparative reasoning, the conclusion
was soon revealed that the laboring
classes, both white and colored, did
not need to be educated at ALL and the incidence
into which men easily descend gave Jact &C
qulescence to this doctrine. Only gentlemen
and ladies OF leisure needed learning and books.
ignorance was to the other class no misfortune,
but their normal condition."
Mr. Van Cleye went on to say that religious
teachers interfored with this arrangement and
taught that al should read the word of God.
The mind was thus preserved from stagnation
t free schools were neither desired nor toler-
ated within the domain Of the slayehoding
States In the North, or non slavehodng
States a different theory prevailed, different
civilization resulted, and it became their pride
that the child of the poorest should have equal
advantages with the wealthy. So a rail. splitter
became President, and broke the letters from
ths a ohaf of hands hG sena feo0sa sas
son commanded the armies of the Nation,
and became the greatest general of this or any
age, ruled the Nation eight years with great
power and acceptability, and is this day mourned
by all christendom.
But another Esau, elder born, hirsute, boast
full, aggressive, struggles with another Jacob for
mastery, and has not yet acknowledged him a
prevailing Israel Romanisrn de.ies the right of
the state to educate, aud claims it as the prerog
alive OF tho church, bat is not averse to receive
the taxes levied by the state to support her
parochial schools holding that The state is the
servant of the church and not the church's pro-
tector." The speaker here quoted from Mr.. NJ.
c. OByrnes article in the June number Of the
North American Review, showing that
the Roman Catholic system agitated all
Europe, it had been tested and since
abandoned in Austria, and was the living issue
IN European nations to-day, and one of the
principal issues in this country also According
to Pope Plus TX the common school is of
necessity "a goddess system" and cannot
be tolerated; that science shall never be
allowed to teach otter than as. the church
teaches, nor allowed to otherwise in
terpret its doctrines than as she inter
prets them herself. This contest is upon u.s.
What course the more intelligent Romanists of
this country will take or what views they will
hold we do not know, and it is doubtful whether
they themselves know"
The lecturer concluded that the Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle, with its cheap
literature and its facilities oy which it adapts
itself to to he every condition condition of fsc+ society,"
determining this question. 1t has already over
one hundred thousand pupils in its several
circles, and is rapidly Mastering to that position
wherein it will exert greater influence than
any other factor save the gospel and public
schools.
In closing Mr.. Van Cleve said: ''The Chau-
tauqua system has become more than an idea it
bas become a constellation of ideas, it has
become source from which flow streams to
irrigate, benefit and fertilize the intellectual and
moral Nation a
the founder of this system. which has already
become an instrument of great good and is going
on prospering and to prosper, we must make
graceful acknowledgment"
This afternoon Rev S. L. Bowman, of De-
Paw University, will lecture on The Inspira-
ton of the Scriptures" tonight Hon. n. K
Griggs, of Nebraska, on ''The Harmony of Music
and National Character" Mr.. William l. Mar
shall, of Massachusetts, has been engaged for
next years lecture course at Acton Park.