The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-15

then known world was under their
sway. One hundred million people
paid tribute to the Caesars. All paths
led to Rome. The city on the Tiber
became the wonder of the world.
No other city of ancient times ever
matched it in influence, wealth and
renown. 1t outranked Thebes and
Athens, Babylon and Jerusalem.
Her splendid streets, immense aque-
ducts, lovely fountains, triumphal
arches, gorgeous palaces and beauti-
full temples all bore testimony to the
enterprise and progressive character
of the people. But the supremacy
of Rome was not in material things
alone. The wealth of her literature,
the genius of her poets, her histori-
ans, her orators and statesmen, has
made her name famous, and modern
literature still draws it's inspiration
from the imperial city "that sat upon
its seven hills, and from its throne of
beauty ruled the world"
But we have looked at only one
side of the picture. The civilization
of Rome, far ahead of anything that
had preceded it, was marred with
many relics of barbarism. Its litera-
ture ofttimes lacked refinement, its
religion was gross paganism. The
Roman was not tender-hearted and
forgiving, but stern and merciless.
He dragged his captive at his chariot
wheel, and reveled in gladiatorial
combats. Magnanimity was foreign
to his nature; he passed whole armies
under the yoke and reduced entire
nations to servitude.
In marked contrast with all this
was the Roman estimate of the home.
The Roman matron was queen in her
household and treated with attention
and respect.
But at last the Goth, the Hun, and
Vandal came, and Rome lost its SUI
premacy among the nations. In the
new adjustment of ruling forces, the
Saracen and Moor controlled the lit
erature of the East, and the sturdy
Teuton the West. But the Saracen
had dotted his empire with schools
and colleges before the Teuton could
write his name, and the Moor had
reveled in the palace of the Alham-
bra before chimney was built on
the banks of the Rhine.
But the dominating faith of the
Orient was Mahomedanism, not an
ennobling or uplifting belief. While
the Moslem of the middle ages foun-
ded colleges, established libraries,
and fostered learning, he was at the
same time bigoted and fanatical. He
took the Koran in one hand and the
scimitar in the other, and enforced
the authority of the crescent where
ever he could. But the best intel
lectual development and highest soul
culture cannot be attained where
Christianity is not dominant faith.
AS soon as Europe emerged from
barbarism, and the banner of the
cross became it's emblem, then the
power of the crescent waned. The
schools of Cordova and Bagdad were
deserted, and Cambridge and Oxford,
Paris and Geneva, Leipsic and Mu-
Mich, became the centers of learning.
Chivalry lifted woman to higher
plane, and the crusaders failing to
wrest the Holy City from the rule of
the Moslem, blest Europe with the
arts and sciences that followed them
in their retreat. Then came the in
vention of the printing press, the
mariners compass. and gun powder.
Then the discovery of the New World
and the founding of new empires.
Through all the centuries past the
evolution of learning had been slow;
now with empires so vast that the
morning drum beat of their garrisons
can be heard around the world, know
ledge runs to and fro, the sails of
commerce whiten every sea, church
spires arise from every hill top and
school houses adorn every valley.
In our own fair land is found the
best government the sun ever shone
upon, and rapidly we are acquiring
the best of everything. The best
civilization, the best system of educa-
ton, the best means of communica-
ton, the best literature, the best con-
ceptions of life and duty and destiny.
Let us glance at some of the forces
at work in our country, all proving the
evolution of learning, the growth of
thought.
In the United States are 125,000
miles of railroad, 100000 miles of
telegraph lines, 1,400 daily papers
with a daily circulation of 100000
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