Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-08-29


iea--the Virginia eolonists, th,
Pilgrims, the Scotch, the Scotch
| Irish, and the Huguenots. Thes,
contained the elements for found
ing a mighty empire. Each wa
necessary to supply some element
Among the Vireinians was a higf
development of the social and DO
litical phase; among the Pilgrims
high devotion to theocracY; amonf
the Huguenots, ability to bear per.
fsecution. The history of those
times IS told in every textbook
Their wars, dissensions, famines
made them a strong race. Johr
Smith was the principal figure; but
for him jamestown would have
failed, and had this colony failed,
the greater portion of Americs
would yet perhaps be 8 wilderness
Religious laws were exceedingly
stringent, and this stringency help.
ed to pave the way to future sue
cess.
Perhaps the most powerful ele
ment In our civilization was the
colony of Pilgrims, and none haG
greater influence in proportion to
members than the Scotch. The
Huguenots have furnished many
names of social distinction.
The second period Is the era o1
articulation. The fragments had
been formed but they were scatter.
cd. Some bond of union was need.
&c. to bind these together. No human
power could have done this, but
the Infinite Being brought it about
in his own good time. The policy
of England towards the colonies
aided to hasten the result.
The opening of the contest show
ed that the difficulties of the will
derness had developed a people
worthy of empire. The odds were
heavily against them, but ere long
the world had to acknowledge that
a new empire had been born. But
articulation does not finish, and we
see in the efforts of the colonies to
form a more perfect union the
third period.
Our constitution was copied from
that of England and in the perfect
success of the experiment we are
apt to be blinded to the wisdom OF
our forefathers, thinking they
could have chosen no other.
One great difference between the
British government and ours is the
higher power given to our
Executive. Victoria's power would
end in a day should she at
tempt to exercise such power as
that held by our President. It is
well when socialism and commun.
ism are abroad In the land that we
should have a powerful Executive,
TO stand as bulwark against fatal
popular waves.
Had our government been form.
| ed earlier, if We should have beer
under a King, later we should have
lacked strength to endure any
severe struggle. We came in al
the crisis between the two extreme
ideas of government.
In all lands, where political lift
exists, are two divislons-censerva
tive and progressive. The two are
necessary in every stable govern
ment. There is more conservatism
in the United States than in any
other land where the people have
voice. In this lies our strength
The glory of our government
tempts us to the pride which goetf
before destruction. Teachers mus
be careful to see that we have thu
necessary elements of strength.
Here in this land all nations
have met to work out the problem
OF mans existence. IF we fail, thu
world fails. 1t is ours to replac.
the crown upon Him whose righ'
| it is to wear 1t, to bring abou
everywhere more perfect obedienc,
to Him.
PROF. NELSON'S LECTURE.
The theme of Prof. ]. I. Nelson
as had been previously announced
was 1.-The Public School System,
from two standpoints. He viewet
the system from the standpoint o
enemies and of friends. He admit
ted that the System needed ina
provement and did not attempt t.
defend it's defects. We listened
first to the complaints urged by tn,
enemies of the public schools. 4
certain class claim that all th,
evils of our social and political sys
tenn are the result of this instruc
ton. In a few we'll chosen sen
tences we were shown that this we
false and that these evils did no
exist by reason of, but in spite o
the public school system. The in
flux of foreign illiterate elemen
is, perhaps, the greatest cause G
our social and political evils. Th'
public school teacher must, by law
be of good moral habits, and henc'
itbe assertion that he taught immor
ality is preposterous fit had no
been for the noble army of teach
ers and our system ofpublic schools
we never could have Steamed tn
tide of immigration, but like an
cient Rome, must have gone dow
Iheneath its blghting influence
ISome objectors claim that the sys
tenn of public school is impractical
By series of argument we wer
shown that education is practical
it being the object of public school
to impart useful knowledge to all
to correct and improve the moral
of pupils. The Catholic Churcl
Iobjected to public school education
ON the grounds that they 9TH
Catnolics) maintained denemins
itional schools, and should not b
taxed to keep up public schools
This objection is urged by othe
churches but is growing less ever
year. These objections were an
jcwarad fairly as was the ahiectio