The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-31
THE PERMANENCY OF THE RE-
PUBLIC.


last evening addressed the Prospect
Union OF Cambridge, upon the perman-
ency of the American Republic. The
subject, of course, is one Of the mo 81 in
teresting that can be discussed before an
audience of Americans, and the light
thrown upon the subject by man SC
thoroughly versed IN the history OF
nations as Harvard's president is OF
special value. He began his remarks by
discussing the reasons why the great
republics of the past had not been per-
manent, why the republics of Greece.
Rome and Venice, powerful and en-
hghiened as they Were, finally tottered
and passed away, and showed
that while all those nations had
made some great achievements, that
great achievements alone did not make
a nation safe. Greece had an archi-
lecture and sculpture unequalled in
the history of the world. Rome had in
addition just laws between man and
man, man and state, and church and
state, SO that today the laws of the ma
| Jorlty OF nations are founded on the
Roman law, and yet these things did
not save either republic. Venice had
architecture, sculpture and painting in
the fine arts and a commerce that coy
cred every sea, yet these failed to save
her.
I" A bond OF religious unity does not
save as Judaism, Mohammedanism
Roman Catholicism show" declared
President Eliot, yet he believes tha,
"all sources of stability of human
government are normal and mental and
not material"
Turning to this country, he argued
that the reasons for its permanency
might be briefly enumerated as follows
"The first is the general acceptance in
this country of the principle of tolera-
tion in religion"
The next principle and practice sis
universal education" and here he cb-
serves, "our practice is not yet equal to
our theory" The third fact that gives
hope for the security of our government
is The conduct Of the family. '.The
family" says President Eliot. 'is the
real root of the State and what
ever influences the family for good |
strengthens the State" Aud President |
Eliot pays a deserved compliment to the
nation when he declares that sin our
country we have the best family life IA
the world"
He next places publicity as hopeful
sign. H. justly regards the press as the
most trustworthy means of social and
political reform,
His next reliance, he anticipates, may
cause a good deal of surprise and oppo-
sition and so he enters upon its discus
sion with the explanation that "a fifth
reliance for the future, / sec, is what
many people hold in distrust. mean
the growth of corporate powers and the
great resort by the people to the service
OF corporations. That is new power
in the world. All these corporations,
trusts and combinations of capital have
come into being In the last 30 years
Now the property of Harvard Col
lege is two-thirds invested in the
stocks and bonds of corporations. In
1880 we had little stock in the West {
Boston Bridgesand the Middlesex Canal. +
nothing else. All these corporations {
employ service, treasurers, clerks,
mo'ormen and bricklayers. Ii is differ ,
ent from the services of person or
1t encourages loyalty and
idelity.
"The sixth subject is the better reali- !
sation of the brotherhood of man.
With it grows sense of unity of all
sorts aud con ditons of men, unity
beyond the impossible equality OF the
~ was a remarkable address, and one
which will eventually provoke a pro-
onged discussion not over the con nclu-
ION arrivoi at that the present Ameri- d
AN Republic is more likely to achieve $
than any other that ever v
xlsted, for that will be generally adj =
nitted, but the causes which will con-
iibute TO tins permanency will be
scribed to many other circumstances, n
ND conditions in addition to those I
ayen while the arrangement of the h
rider of his sources of stability, will he .
'ery different when his critics get
hrough with 1t. But certainly in the
'1ef talk he gave last night, there was
much food for reflection. and he out /
ined principles which properly carried {
nj would doubtless lead to the perma- I
iency of the Republic, or greatly aid in
4.