St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-07-25
Excessive C1vilEzatIOm.
PicaYune.

Civilization is the progress of human
society towards she perfection of social
refinement. Civilization is always
mental. progress, but not necessarily
always moral progress. Ordinarily it is
a good thing, but there can be too much
of it. An excess of civilization is posi-
lively hurtful. Civilization is the OPP
posite, the antithesis of savagery, but
the excessively civilized man is also a
savage, for extremes meet.
In state of savagery the strongest
men in the tribe are the most infnen-
tial. RedOubtable proves in the fight
gains for man leadership, hence the
aristOcracy, the privileged class among
primitive peoples, is one of prOWess and
OF warriOrship. The weaker are yirtu-
ally at their mercy.
Civilization steps in. The introduce
tiOn OF gunpowder and the trigger rObs
the giant of his power. Physical
strength is deprived of it's advantage in
a physical contest, and if there is any
privileged class it must base its claims
upon some other characteristic or ac-
complishment. Perhaps it is wealth, or
perhaps mental culture is made the ba-
sis of new aristOcraey. In any case
the privileged class is composed OF
in some way at the cost or to the detri-
ment of the many.
AS society increases in civilization the
habits of the aristOcracy become more
complex their wants or more numer-
Gus, their manner of living more luxu-
rious, and pleasure, which was hereto
fore diversion, becomes at last bus
mess. All the arts and sciences are
made to minister to the qualification OF
these demands of the individual, and
hence civilization becomes the hand
maid of selfshness, the servant of the
voluEtuary.
To-day, London, which is the seat of
the worlds wealth, is perhaps also the
centre OF the worlds culture, learning,
science and art. 1t is a metropolis of
luxury, of pleasure, and, it recent reve-
lations are to be believed of vice. But
what London is, so is every great city
of the civilized world in correspond
ing degree. Where population is
densely crowded together the necessi-
ties and the passions of so many people
sWeltering and fermenting together and
reacting on each other, distil moral poi
sons which to greater or less extent
pervade the mass and poison the at
mosphere. There are vices which pen
but there others which percolate from
the higher classes downward, and these
seem to be more destructive and bane-
fully influential than those which come
from below.
If the excessive civilization which ex-
lists in great cities obtained among the
masses of the population of country
the overthrow of that nation from it's
own rottonness would be swift and
certain but fortunately this hothouse
corruption cannot consist with the free
air and simple manners of the rural re-
gions, and it is the Influx of healthy
blood and morals from the country that
redeems the metropolis from swift
decay.
When excessive civilization, which is
moral corruption, overtakes an entire
people, the end of their nation is not
far off. The men unnamed must sue
cumb to the courage and vigor of some
more virile race. So fell the nations of
antiquity. So it was the Huns and the
GotEs and Vandals overwhelmed cor
rupt, efeminate Rome. There will be
found Goths and Vandals and other
fresh and vigorous races to destroy any
nation which hereafter may be found
suffering from excess of civilization.