Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
THE REIGN OF THE COMMON
PEOPLE.
mr. beecher's Lecture At Marini.s Hail.
ao"cafion and Development Greater
POWERS than Socialism or Leagues
Slea Tor the Eqnality Of Woman.

lowers IMAM Socialism or Leagues
Hea for the Equality OF Woman.
large number of members of Congress and
senators were among the audience at the
beecher lecture at Marini's hall last night
Mr.. Beecher's appearance upon the stage was
greeted with hearty applause His long, white
mar. thrown back from his high forehead, and his
intellectual countenance. renders his appearance
Impressive, and he retains enough physical
force to make his presence commanding. His
happy delivery and pleasing voice made the long
lecture appear short, and gave peculiar force
to .rt all he's he said The keynote Of subject.
found In the idea of mental training and de
velopment as solution Of the social problem.
He began by showing that man was the only ami
nal that advanced and became more perfect,
unfolding more powers generation after genera
ton. He said that the insect, few moments
aiter IT'S birth was as perfect an insect as any
other of its kind acentury afterwards. The lion
hundred years ago was as perfect as now, and
the OK and the ass did not develop by evolution
But man developed and unfolded.
He then paid great tribute to women, de-
caring that the nearer their approach,tO perfect
equality with men In all things, all pursuits, du-
Ties and privileges. the nearer came the approach
to most perfect state of society and condition
OF political economy.
1t has been, he said. the policy of kings and
rulers in Europe to discourage intellectual de-
velOpment in the common people. To restrict
learning to but the few who were to rule, and to
keep the common people in ignorance, believing
they could be more easily governed If they fol-
lowed only their ignorant impulses instead of
reasoning. Upon this theory they held that
women should be kept ignorant SO they could
be the more readily ruled by their husbands.
But they have learned differently now. They
have learned that intelligent, thinking people
are the most easily governed. nation to be
great and powerful must educate its common
peopie-they must be made part Of the gov
eminent; and it has been said that the man who
marrles an ignorant woman upon the theory that
he can govern her easier, will have all the bal
ance of his life to regret it. Instead of making
it a crime to steal learning, they were now max
ing education compulsory. The strength of the
European nations lay in their armies, and the
strength of the armies depended upon the edu-
cation and intelligence of the soldiers. The solid
phalanx of big, rOugh-bOned, muscular men, who
fought IKE brutes. melted away before the in
teiligent armies, where the men know as much
as their commanders about what every move
ment meant.
He traced out the growth of the Importance
OF the common people He said there would
always be low and an upper class, and no
physical force could elevate any man. The
lower classes, the common people, could not
force their way upwards by socialism, COM
not legislate them up. These all might be a
good sign-be an effort at development that
would awake the intelect-but their elevation
could come through intellectual development
only. 1t was nerve and brain that placed men
on top This country, MIR. Beecher thought,
reached the highest state of perfection in politi
cal economy. The air was better; the develop
ment was of the nerves and brain in America,
rather than of the digestion or of the blood.
Ihls nervous energy was creative and advancing.
The political campaigns every four years edu-
Gated the people
Religion, too, free as it is here. he thought.
excited the mind to thought and worked ont
the unfolding of the mind. The fact that the
great mass of the people are born poor and
have to think for themselves brings about all
advancement.
In several points throughout the lecture Mr.
Beecher declared in favor Of perfect equality tor
women, and said that the time must soon come
when they shall have vote. All persons should
vote. he thinks, and take part in public af-
fairs