Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-10-29

LIZ vary was hope; thu
GO cross raised on San Sal
c. n. DEPEw. vador was opportunity
But for the first. Columbus would never have
sailed, but for the second, there would have
been no place for the planting the nurture nnd
the expansion OF civil and religious liberty.
The anarchy and chaos which followed the
breaking up OF the Roman empire necessarily
produced the feudal system The people pre-
ferring slavery to humiliation by robber chiefs,
became the vassals Of territorial lords. The
reign Of physical force Is one OF perpetual
struggle for the mastery. Power which rests
upon the sword neither shares nor limits its
authority The king destroyed the lords and
the monarchy succeeded foudalisin Neither Of
these institutions considered or consulted the
people. They had no part, but to suffer or die
in this mighty strife OF masters for the mas
terry. But the throne, by its broader view and
greater resources, made possible the construc-
ton Of the highways OF freedom Under its
banner races could unite. and petty principali-
ties be merged, law substituted for brute force,
and right for might II founded and endowed
universities, and encouraged commerce It
conceded no political privileges, but uncon-
sciously prepared It's subjects to demand them.
Absolutism in the state, and blgoted intoler-
ance In the church, shacliled popular unrest
and imprisoned thought and enterprise in the
fifteenth century. The divine right OF kings
stamped out the faintest glimmer Of revolt
against tyranny: and the problems Of science,
whether Of the skies or Of the EARTH whether Of
astronomy or geography, were solved or sub
merged by ecclesiastical DEGREES. The dungeon
was ready for the philosopher who proclaimed
the truths OF the solar system, or the navigator
who would prove the sphericity OF the earth.
An English Gladstone, or n French Gambetta,
or o German Bismarck. or an italian Garibaldi,
or o Spanish CASTELAR,. would have been thought
monsters, and their deaths at the stake. or on
the scaffold and under the anathemas Of the
church. would have received the praise and ap.
prevail OF kings and mobiles, OF priests and peo.
pies. Reason had no seat in spiritual or TEN.
poral realms. Punishment was the incentive
TO patriotism, and piety was held possible by
the writhing victim on the rack, were believed
etficacious in saving his soul from fires eternal
beyond the grave For all that humanity to-
day cherishes as its best heritage and choicest
gifts, there was neither thought nor hope
.
Neither realism nor romance furnishes o
more striking aud picturesque figure than that
OF Christopher Columbus. The mystery about
his origin heightens the charm Of his story.
That he came from among the toilers Of his
time is in harmony with the struggles OF our
period.
The perils OF the sea In his youth upon the
rich argosies Of Genoa, or In the service OF the
licensed rovers who made them their prey, had
developed o skillful navigator and intrepid
mariner. They had given him glimpse Of the
possibilities OF the unknown, beyond the high
ways OF travel, which reused On unquenchable
thirst for adventure and research. The study
Of the narratives OF previous explorers, and
diligent questionings OF the daring spirits who
had ventured far toward the tabled west grad
ually evolved o theory, which became In his
mind so fixed fact, that he could inspire
others with his passionate beliefs. The words,
shat is q lie," written by him on the margin OF
nearly every page OF volume OF the travels Of
Marco Polo, which Is still to be found In o
Senoese library, illustrate the skepticism Of
his beginning, and the first vision Of the new
world the fulillment Of his faith
To secure the means TO test the truth OF his
Ipecula tons, this poor unknown dreamer. must
win the support Of kings and overcome the hos
Iility Of the church He never doubted his
ability to do both, though he know OF no man
living who was so great in power, or lineage, or
earning that he could use 0mplish either. After
Ten years OF disappointment and poverty, sub
,isting most OF the time upon the charity OF the
monk OF the convent Of Ribida who
was his unfaltering friend. he stool before the
throne OF Ferdinand and Isabella His unshak-
Able faith, that Christopher Columbus was
from Heaven. both BY his name
and by Divine command TO carry Christ across
the sea" TO new continents and pagan peoples
lifted him so far above the discouragements Of
IN empty purse and o contemptuous court that
he was proof against the rebufs Of fortune or
of friends. To conquer the prejudices Of the
slergy, to win the approval and financial sup
port Of the state, TO venture upon that unknown
pecan, which, according 10 the beliefs Of the
age, was peopled with demons and savage
beasts OF frightful shape. and from which there
was no possibility Of return, required the real
of Peter the Hermit the chivalric courage OF
the Cid and the imagination OF Dante Colum- |
BUS belonged TO that high order Of cranks, who
walk where angels fear 70 tread"
md often become the benefactors Of their coun-
Try, or their kind
The mighty soul OF the great Columbus was
undaunted by the ingratitude OF princes, and
he hostility of the people. by imprisonment
Ind neglect He died as he was securing means
Ind preparing campaign for the rescue OF the
holy sepulchre ut Jerusalem from the inhdeL
He did not know what time has revealed, that
while the mission Of the crusades OF Godfrey
II Bouillon and Richard OF the Lion Heart was
bloody and fruitless romance, the discovery
II America was the salvation OF the world The
me was the symbol, the other the spirits the
me death, the otnef ire Inc toWn OF the
Saviour was q narrow and empty vault precious
,nly for fits memories Of the supreme tragedy |
u the centuries, but the new continent was 10 |
Do the homo and temple Of the living God
TIE development Of the colonial: experiment
n English domain makes this day memorable |
L Is due 70 the wisdom and courage, tho faith |
md virtue Of the Inhabitants Of this territory |
hat government Of the people.for the people and |
By the people was inauguratod and has become q |
triumphant success The Puritan settled IN |
New England and the Cavalier IN the south
temporal life and oplnionA Tho processes Of /
iborty rberallsed ne enc aud elevated ths