The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-06
OUR GLORIOUS COUNTRY.
What America Has Done for the Crumb.
ling Monnrchies of Eurone.

What America Has Done for the Crumb-
ling Monarchlcs of Europe.
Not long ago | read in that hyper
critical English journal, the Spectator,
that America had added the potato, a
gift, as the writer said. of doubtful
value, and maize TO the food of man,
but the Spectator doubted whether the
course of European history had in re-
ality been much improved by the happy
stumbling, as he called it, of the fifteenth
century navigators upon two great con-
tinents. That is thoroughly English,
you know.
These two vast continents, 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 to
industry, to agriculture, commerce,
manufacturing, mining, arts, science,
free institutions and Christian civiliza-
tion, and are turning out millions and
millions for the benefit of the world
But that is q mere material and physi-
cal contribution. In the Old World men
were fettered and oppressed by human
ambitions, dynastic superstitions, inef-
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
forefathers had tabula raSa on which
to write laws and institutions more in
accordance with the teachings of the
New Testament and with the inaliena-
BILE rights of man. This country in
large degree has been rid of the ex-
hausting machinery of military con-
quest, of oligarchy, aristocracy, priest
craft and privilege. We 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 pervading,
uplifting and regenerating the eflete
institutions of the Old World Princi-
pies dimly discerned 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 dehumanizing
despotism of class distinction has come
from the stimulus of American exam
pie. and old abuses and tyrannies have
succumbed before our successful en-
periments 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 fearfully across chan
nels and narrow seas, navigation has
advanced. The obstacles have been
numerous, and efforts were often baffled.
In olden times ne Plus ultra was in
scribed on the pillars of Hercules by
fear or avarice or superstition. Sam
son, in blind strength, seized the pill
lars of the temple, and he and the tenn
pie were crushed. The daring navi-
gator whom we commemorate by this
celebration uprooted the pillars of Her.
cules, with sublime faith bore them
across the untraveled 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, Plus Mtra-beyond
and still beyond Hon. j. J.. NJ. Curry,
eX-Minister to Spain, in an address at
the banquet of the Board of Promotion
for the Celebration of the -Four Hun
dredth Anniversary of the Discovery
OF America, held in Washington, d. G.