Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-04-28
American Progress.

Columbian Exposition at Chicago,
will be the grandest affair that has
ever crowned the efforts of man, the
world has never yet witnessed its
equal, it will far excel in beauty
and grandeur, any and all of the for
mer efforts made by man to display
the productions of nature, science,
and art. Then and there can be seen
an index to the great progressive
march, which men and mind are
making. Four hundred years ago
the first civilized man stepped from
the deck of his small vessel and
placed his weary feet upon the then
discovered shore of what is now the
happy land of America. Our prog
ress began, and has marched with
such rapidity, that America, only
four hundred years old in civiliza-
ton, has become the centre of at
traction of all the known world and
the great store from which other
nations draw their supplies.
-Four hundred years ago the Amer
lean continent was one vast wilder
ness of waste, inhabited by the un-
tanned child of the forest, with no
means of transportation save the
little pony and the Indians light
canoe. Hunting-grounds and bat
tle-felds then employed the minds
of those who then dwelt upon the
American soil, the tomahawk scalp
ing-knife,and bow and arrow, COM
posed the list of his inventions.
The inhabitants of America then
bowed their heads around the camp
fires on the plains or in the forests
a I'd worshiped their different idols,
with view of gaining the happy
hunting-grounds beyond the grave.
But the great progress of few CEN
turtles has brought America to the
point where it shines as flaming
light to the world.
The oriental countries view
young and thriving America, with
wonder and establishment at her
wonderful and rapid progress in
civilization, science, and art, and
a m res her noble efforts to elevate
and bring her people to the highest
attainments of civilization. The
mind of man is bewildered and
lost in contemplating the progress
made in the four hundred years of
which this land has been inhabited
by the Caucasian race. On the fielts
which once crimsOncd with savage
blood, there has been erected beau
tiful and Aourishing cities, dotted
with churches, colleges, and homes
for the friendless. Where but four
hundred years ago stood the Indian
wigwam, and the sturdy stake to
which their enemies were tied and
burned. The plains over which the
Red Man galloped upon his nimble
pony, are now flourishing with wa.
wing fields of growing crops yield.
ing a golden havest which is reaped
by the progressive Sons of America
The mountain on which the stall.
wart Indian sat and watched the
approach of his enemies is now be.
ing crumbled to particles for Their
treasures of silver and gold. The
rivers and lakes over which the
painted warrior glided in his light
canoe, are now thickly dotted with
vessels of commerce, carrying the
products of the farm, mines, and
factories, from East to West, and
from North to South. Where the
rowing child of the forest once sal
in the glimmering light of his camp
fire, with his dark browcd wife ant
untaught children, the progressiv,
American now sits around his hap
ply hearth-stonc with his cultured
family, in the radiant light of tn,
nceuncontrolablc electricity whicl
shoots its vivid flames across tn,
aerial fields. The music heard il
America then, consisted of the wa
whoop and blood-curdling yclls o
the warrior mangled with the groan
Of the dying savage. But now tn,
sweet srains ofmellow notes Is hcarc
as they flow from the vibratin,
strings of tuneful Tyres, and gor
gcously cmbelishcd instrument
and are caught upon the ripplin'
streams and are echoed from shor
to shore, and the progressive Amer
lean can listen with a heart serencl,
happy at their calm departure.
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