The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1892-06-04
The National Columbian School
Celebration.


The press of the United States has
undertaken to invite, attract and di-
rect the attention of this great land to
the celebration of what ia called Colum-
bus day. It is possible there may be
those who are not well informed as to
the object of the celebration. There
are few children in our country, who
have been carefully taught, who do
not know the great event which it is to
prepare to celebrate. The name of it.
self is suggestive of it. It has been
said, and that too with undonbted truth,
that more good to the human race has
grown ont of the discovery of America
than from any other work Of man.
The old world had become crowded
with population that had been taught
subordination, from generation to gen-
Grafton, until the common mind had
been dwarfed by a systematic fetter-
ing OF individual thoughts. The mind
of Columbus, acting no doubt under
the potent and mysterious inspirations
of Omnipotence, was, at an opportune
period formulated by the theory of the
practicability of western route to
the spice Islands of the East Indies.
After many disappointments he was
successful in raising the means for
sailing. and the result was the discoy-
cry of San Salvador. On his return to
Europe he made known his discovery
to the magnates who had aided him,
knowing little, perhaps, of the real
magnitude Of his discovery.
But whatever may have been the in
adequacy of bis conception, it proved
the introduction to other adventures,
and finally to the settlement at Ply
mouth Rock. Here the Pilgrim fa-
theirs, for the first time, realized the
glory ofintellectual emancipation, and
the blessings of free conscience, un-
restricted By the genius of persecu-
tion. Not that all was sunshine with
them On the contrary. they were
destined to undergo hardships, to meet
with trials almost innumerable and
scarce togerable. They had brave
hearts as we'll as free minds. The
scarcity of food, the absence of com
Portable homes, in the bIeakness and
freeziUgs Of winter--the insecurity OF
life while surrounded by proWliDg
and treacherous savages--all conspired
to test their courage for consecutive
years. Yet the time came nnder the
Providence of God, when, from this
little beginning, there sprang up Q pro-
gress which has gone steadily on, until
we stand among the proudest nations
Of the earth. It is now proposed To
hold an American school festival, to
the getting mp Of which all the schools
10 America are requested To lend iheIi
|.aid.
We know of no event in human his
fory-the device of mans intellect
more significant and which has been 81
SIC much importance to the race rs the
discovery of new world The prop.
osition to have our schools throughout
the land, take part In and contribute
| to this sublime spectacle, has ellcitet
expressions of hearty appreciation
every where 1t il very true our lines
are cast iii an obscure section, but noi
so much so as was Plymouth In Oct
1892.
The fathers then suffered, endured,
struggled, succeeded and sd can tllell
descendants do, If worthy Of such siress
| But we are not required III suffer, Tia
day has closed We have no hard;
ships and prigations 70 endure tIeg
have al been overcome. We have
nothing ID struggle against. bat otsl
own faint heartedness. The pilgrim
were but shadow Of d dininutive col
Iony, set they persevefea and We're res