The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-10-13
COLUMBUS DAY ADDRESS.
Prepared by the Youths Companion fo
Delivery In the Schools.

Delivery In the Schools.
The following is the address, "The
Meaning of the Four Centuries" pre-
pared by the Youths Companion for use
In connection with the above pro-
gramme:
The spectacle America presents this
day is without precedent in history.
From ocean to ocean-in city. village,
and countryside-the children Of the
States are marshaled and MAJ ching
under the banner of the nation, and
with them the people are gathering
around the school house.
Men are recognizing to-day the most
impressive anniversary since Rome
celebrated her thousandth year-the
k00th anniversary Of the stepping of a
hemisphere into the worlds life; four
complete centuries of new social ORDER
the celebration of liberty and enlish,eu-
ment organized into civilization.
And while during these hours the
Federal Government OF these United
States strikes the keynote of this great
American day that gives honor to the
common American institution which
unites us all, we assemble here that We
too, may exalt the free school that en-
bodies the American principle Of univer
sal enlightenment and equality, the
most characteristic product o. the four
centuries of American life.
Four hundred years ago this m ,rning
the Pinta's gun broke the silence and
announced the discovery of this hemi-
sphere.
It was a virgin world. Human life
hitherto upon it had been without sig
nificance. In the old world for thol-
sands OF years civilized men had been
trying experiments in social order.
They had been found wanting. But
here was an untouched soil that lay
ready for new experiment in civilza-
ton. All things were ready. New
forces had come to light full of ove--
turning power in the old world. In the
new world they We're to work together
with mighty harmony.
1t was for Columbus, propelled by this
fresh life. to reveal the land where
these new forces were to be given spa e
for development, and where the awaited
trial of the new civilization was to be
made.
To-day wc reach our most memorable
milestone. We look backward and We
look forward.
Backward we see the first mastering
of modern ideas; their long conflict with
old world theories. which We're also
| transported hither. We see the stall
wart men and brave women olc no
ment On the shore, then disappearing in
| dim forests. We hear the AK. We see
| the flame Of burning cabins and heal
! the cry Of the savage. We see the
! never ceasing wagon train always toll
| ing westward. We behold log cab rs
becoming villages. then cities. We
| watch the growth Of institutions out oi
little neutrality-suspicious. becoming ar
| educational system; meeting houses
| leading up to organic Christianity; towr
meetings growing to political move
| ments; county discussions developing
| federal governments.
We see hardy men with intense con.
victions, graphing, struggling, otter
amid battle smoke, and some idea char.
| acteristic of the new word always
! triumphing. We SEQ settlements knit.
| ting together into a nation with single
! nese OF purpose. We note the birth o
the modern system of industry an,
commerce and its striking forth into
undreamed of wealth, making Tho
millions members one OF another a>
sentiment could never bind. And un
| der it all, and through it all, we faster
| on certain principles ever operatin:
and regnant-the leadership Of man.
hood; equal rights for every soul; uni.
versal enlightenment as the source O
progress. These last are the princi
pies that have shaped America; these
principles are the true Americanism.
We look forward. We are conscious
we are in period Of transition. Ideas
in education, in political economy, IL
social science are undergoing revisions
There is large uncertainty about thu
outcome. But faith in the underlying
principles of Americanism and in God's
destiny for the republic makes a firm
ground of hope. The coming centur,
promises to be more than ever the agt
OF the people-an age that shall develo,
a greater care for the rights of the veal
and make more solid provision for thu
| development of each individual by thu
| education that meets his need.
As no prophet among our fathers OF
the 300th anniversary of America couls
have pictured what the new centur,
would do, SO no man can this day reach
out and grasp the 100 years upon which
the nation Is now entering. On the vic
tOrious results of the COMPLETED cen.
turies the principles OF American;sn
will build our fifth century. Its ma.
terial progress is beyond our concep.
ton, but we may be sure that in the
! social relations of men with men the