The Red Cloud chief., 1889-04-05
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Not long aee1 rsad IN that hypse-
critical English journal. the Spectator.
that America had added the potato. .
gift - the writer said. Of doubtful
value. and maize 70 the food Of man.
but the Spectator doubted whether the
oourse Of European history had in re-
Atty been much improved by the happy
stumbling. - he called II. Of the fifteenth
century nsvigators upon two great con
tinents. That II thoroughly English.
you know.
These two vast c~Ontinents. with their
boundless prairies and pampas. with
their extended lakes, their navigable
and hemisphere-embracing rivers.
mountains filed with iron, coal. silver.
gold and marble; lying undisturbed in
primeval quiet and unprOductiveness.
furnishing a hunting ground for the
rowing and untutOred aborigines. have
been subdued by man and dedicated "a
industry. TO agriculture. commerce..
manufacturing. mining. arts. science,
free institutions and Christian ciyiIiza-
ton. and are turning Out millions and
millions for the benefit Of the world.
But that is 4 mere material and physi.
cal contribution. In the Old World men
were fettered and oppressed by human
ambitions. dyna,tic supersti,ions. inel-
fable disdain OF human rights. degrading
and blasphemous assumption that who
ever governs you his religion shall be
yours. while padlocks were placed on
immortal minds and aspirations were
cruelty repressed. In America our
fOreiathers had a taBn,a rasa ON which
TO write laws and institutions more in
accordance with the teachings OF the
Now Testament and with the inaliena-
BILE rights OF man. This country in
large degree has been rid Of the ex-
hausting machinery Of military on
quest. OF Oligarchy. aristOcracy. priest
craft and privilege W. have liberty
OF press. liberty of speech. liberation
Of marriage from the exclusive control
Of the priesthood. and liberty Of educa-
ton. American ideas are p~ervading,
uplifting and regenerating the eirete
institutions Of the Old World. Princi-
piles dimly d~iscerncd by seers have
been practically applied. Much Of the
progress in civil and political affairs
in Europe during the last one hundred
years has had its genesis and inspira-
ton in the great ideas embodied in
American institutions. The overthrow
OF the crushing and Gehumanizing
despOtism Of class distinction has come
from the stimulus OF American exam
pie. and old abuses and tyrannies have
succumbed before our successful ex-
perimen,s OF popular government.
The discovery Of America has given
to us the mastery of the ocean. The
victory has been accomplished slowly.
Step by step. timidly hugging the
shore. venturing fcarfully across chan.
nels and narrow eas navigation has
advanced. The obstacles have been
numerous. and efforts were often bafied.
In Olden times ne pins ultra was i'm
scribed on the pillars Of Hercules by
fear or ayarice or superstition. Sam
son. in blind strength. seized the pill
lars Of the temple. and he and the EN-
pie we're crushed. The daring navi-
gator whom we commemorate by this
celebration uprOO:ed the pillars OF Her.
cules. with sublime faith bore them
across the untravelcd Atlantic. planted
them on these western shores: and
Spain. catching the inspiration Of the
grand deed. inscribed on her banner in
the spirit Of our American Excelsior.
the nObler device. pins UHro-beyOnd
and still beyond. Hon. j. l.. NJ. Curry.
eX-Minister to Spain. in m address at
the banquet of the Board OF Promotion
for the Celebration of the Four Hun
dredth Anniversary 81 the Discovery
Of America. held in Washington. ID. T..