The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-11-30

4
web of rails is spread all over our
land. A hundred years ago to visit
another country made a man as
famous as to travel around the globe
to-day. Only the wealthy trayled.
Candles or dim, smoking oil lamps
lighted our houses. There were no
sewers in the streets and the results
followed-pestilence, fevers and
plaques.
Working-men were paid very little.
A strong Britisher when he could find
work would earn a dollar and a
quarter week. Children + years old
were working 16 hours a day in the
mines. English women scrambled up
shaky ladders carrying great burdens
of coal on their backs.
Food was very costly,-a little meal
once a week was a luxury, and meat
was beyond the means OF most people.
In spite of the poverty of the working
people they were taxed beyond all
endurance and were continually
robbed lest they should have anything
left beyond just enough to exist upon.
The government collected revenue
of $50 per annum for each inhabitant,
which would then purchase about
as much as $500 in our time. Such
figures and facts seem almost in
credible but thy are only too true, SO
let us thank God for the condition in
which we are. Our material progress
during the little over century has
been prodigious. God has smiled
upon us in giving to us such treasures
of skies and earth.
II. Politically.-Great advance
has been made politically. Liberties
have been won which at any other
time would have been impossible.
One hundred years ago most nations
were in the tyrranical grasp of despot-
ism. The Government granted a
wholesale right to rob and pilfer its
citizens. Bribery was very common.
George III. publicly dickered for
votes to support some petty policies
of his own. Rulers taxed, robbed
and butchered their subjects accord
ing to their whims. 1t is almost
impossible to believe that all these
things,-bad roads, brutality, corrupt
governments, most extreme poverty
!, we're in the full tide of their sway
within the memory of people now
living. Behold what God hath
wrought"
I, The change has not been brought
about without a contest. Ignorance
and superstition have contested every
inch Of the way. Men have awakened
, from their passive condition; they
have begun to think on all questions
Although Napo1ean was something OF
a despot, he scattered the seeds OF
liberty all over Europe. To-day all
, the European States have Consti-
tutions. France is Republic; Civil
, and Religious liberty walk ovel
, Europe without fear. The devilish
Inquisition is closed.
Thank God for the Political and
Civil progress during the last Century
of the Worlds history. In America
every man is king; he can vote fol
{ whom he pleases. No man by Divine
, right or inheritance has a right tc
dictate in matters of conscience.
III. Morally.-The century began
with nearly all the nations engaged
in war. To-day disputes among
civilized nations are settled by arbi
tration. In times of war the fercest
appetites and passions control society
, and it becomes cruel. Thank God
, for the change wrought! AS the days
> of war are swiftly passing away the
2 better side of human nature is being
|, presented. Slavery has gone. During
? the first seven years of our indepen.
? dence 100000 slave were shipped from
Africa to America. Thirty years age
} slavery was strongly entrenched in the
far south. A mighty civil war was
, the price paid for it's abolishment
: When Abraham Lincoln with his
: magic pen signed the Emancipation
} decree, he broke the shackles o.
3 100000 slaves. To-day no negro
. from Maine to California is under
. bonds to any lawful, master. Oul
t moral growth has been prodigious
s Look at our homes, our Asylums, oul
8 Institutions of learning in every
3 land. Man is worth more than HI
8 used to be. In 1924 young womer
9 were sold in England. Woman i.
D fast taking her place in the front ranl
with the men and bids fair to outriva
him in the contest for honors. She il
now admitted to all the schools anc
professions. Who can say ashe ,.ha'
s not purified Society? She is at thu
forefront in all moral reforms. Tn,
e temperance movement has .grea
t reason for rejoicing,-it has mad,
d marvellous progress and is full 0
g promise. Seventy-fve years ago /
n man could pass intoxicating drink
L over the bar during the week and OF
e Sunday distribute the elements of TIN
S Lords supper. In refined societ,
: guests were expected to drink wine t,
o drunkenness. The preacher took run
S every wedding. To-day no ministe