Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-10-13
COLUMBUS DAY ADDRESS.
Prepared by the Youths Companion for
Delivery In the Schools.

Prepared by the Youths Companion for
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
400th anniversary Of the stepping of a
hemisphere into the worlds life; four
complete centuries of new social order;
the celebration OF liberty and enlighten-
ment organized into a 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 of the four
centuries Of American life.
Four hundred years ago this morning
the Pinta's gun broke the silence and
announced the discovery Of this hemi-
sphere.
1t was a virgin world. Human life
hitherto upon 1t had been without sig
niflcance. In the old world for thou
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 a new experiment In civilza-
tion. All things were ready. New
forces had come to light full Of over
turning power In the old world. In the
new world they were 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 space
for development, and whore the awaited
trial OF the new civilization was to be
made.
To-day we 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 were also
transported hither. We see the stall
wart men and brave women one mo-
ment on the shore, then disappearing in
dim forests. We hear the ak. We see
the flame of burning cabins and hear
the cry OF the savage. We see the
never ceasing wagon train always toll
ing westward. We behold log cabins
becoming villages, then cities. We
watch the growth OF institutions out Of
little Neutrality-suspicious. becoming an
educational system; meeting houses
leading up to organic Christianity; town
meetings growing TO political move
ments; county discussions developing
federal governments.
We see hardy men with intense con-
victions, graphing, struggling, often
amid battle smoke, and some idea char
acteristic of the new word always
triumphing. We zee settlements knit
ting together into a nation with single
nese OF purpose. We note the birth of
the modern system of industry and
commerce and its striking forth into
undreamed OF wealth, making the
millions members one Of another as
sentiment could never bind. And un.
der it all, and through 1t all, we fasten
on certain principles ever operating
and regnant-the leadership OF man.
hood; equal rights for every soul; uni
versal enlightenment as the source of
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 a period OF transition. Ideas
in education, in political economy, in
social science are undergoing revisions.
There is q large uncertainty about the
outcome. But faith in the underlying
principles OF Americanism and in Gods
destiny for the republic makes firm
ground OF hope. The coming century