The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-07-04
ssNGw,' and 90 Them, in cur Cen-
tury of National Existence.


EDITORS OF THE PRESS Our century of
national existence has been an exemplifcation of
geometrical progression when compared with
the slow developments that peoples, nations and
countries have hitherto attained. Even with
the inspiration 10 be derived from our example
the old world lags far behind. With us each
generation outstrps its antecedent with such
Tapidity that we VINO were once Young Americas,
and astonished mother progenitors by the
speed we attained stand aghast at the velocity
of the young at the present day. 1t is often
said. and never gainsayed that this is fast age.
. Ride and tie satisfied our grandfathers. The
succeeding stage coach for fast travel. was all
that could be desired. The steamboat on water
ways was one of the wonders of the world. But
when the railroads promised twenty miles an
hour, who believed in its possibility or safety
But now the limited express, whirling us through
1he air at mile minute is too slow for the day
in which We live. 1t would seem that nothing
short of the abolition of time and space would
satisfy the present desire for rapidity of motion
In fact complete annlhilation OF the distinctions
of existence, following in such succession 10
battle our powers of comprehension, caused the
Developments of electrical science which gave
zls the telegraph and the telephone. and new
motive power as we'll turning night into day.
Keeping in mind the possibilities of electricity,
1he alphabet of which We have not yet learned.
who dares' say the Arabian Nights is a fiction ?
The wonderful inventions that crowd so rapidly
1pon each other daze us to such an extent that
1--WE no longer challenge anything as impossible.
Oil gushes from the earth in quantities SO great
that its consumption is impossible, and the in
~entive genius of our country is taxed to dis
cover new methods for its use. Cities are
warmed and lighted with gas that flows spon
.taneously from the ground. Were we to inform
The readers of the PRESS that within the lifetime
of some of them. there would be an invention
not larger than the watch they carry in the vest
pocket by which we could transport ourselves
from place to place at WILL would it defy your
credence more than the common, everyday ap-
piances which we now use would have chal-
1enged the belief OF our grandfathers
Ali this progress and change has not al
ways brought with it Improvement The prop
osition meets US at every turn. are the friend:
ships of today as steadfast and enduring as in
the. days OF the pioneers? Is the human race
better. is it happier? The rapidity of life
has led US far astray from the habits and customs
of our fathers, as well as many ancient land
marks of belief To many the faith in which
our fathers were SO well grounded is but an
Cient history. With lightning speed the car o
progress demands the right Of way. thrnsting
aside the barriers of faith. but never Offering
anything to supply their place. hence as a people
we are fast reaching the position of believing in
nothing.
1t is not so much of wonder, when we con
slider OF what our citizenship is composed. We
have welcomed immigration from almost every
country in the world. They have helped to de-
country They challenged not only our admira
tion and respect for their courage and valor, but
our never ceasing regard when they fought SO
yalIantly with the native born citizens in defense
of the Union. So long those who come 10
2ls from foreign lands continue their national
organizations. just SO long will they fail to be
imbued with that love of their adopted country
which Americans by birth consider of such gre
importance. Without that love of country
known as patriotism, constitution and laws are
but fraii bonds to hold republic in union. II
sve do not want the children of generations that
follow US, marching under the red flag of anar-
chy, inspire in their hearts love for the Stars
and Stripes. The blood of our revolutionary
sires, transmitted from generation to generation
should carry Herewith germs of patriotism suf-
fcient to insure the perpetuity of the American
government. E. P. B.
Ravenna July end, 1889.