The herald., 1896-10-04
THE GREATEST THINGS.
That Century of Americani Democracy
Has Achieved.


CA notable summary of the results of
our civilization by President Eliot OF
Harvard university
(Atlantic Monthly for October.)
The first and principal contribution is
the advance made in the United States,
not in thory only, but in practice, says
President Eliot in a notable article in
the October number of the Atlantic
Monthly, toward the abandonment of
war as the means Of settling disputes be-
tween nations, the substitution of dis
cussion and arbitration, and the avoid
ance of armaments.
The second eminent contribution
which the United States have made to
civilization is their thorough acceptance'
in theory andtpracti of the widest re-
ligious federation. AS meanSAof sup
pressing Individual liberty, the collect
i've authority of the church, when elab-
orately organized in hierarchy directed
by one head and absolutely devoted In
every rank to its service, comes next in
proved efficiency to that concentration
Of powers in government which enables
1t to carry on war effectively.
The third characteristic contribution
which the United States have made to
civilization has been the safe develop
ment of a manhood suffrage nearly uni
vsrsal. say a safe development OF man
hood suffrage, because many limitations
OF the suffrage have been tried in prac-
tice by the American colonies and states,
such as church membership, property
qualifications, the payment of poll tax,
and ability to read and write; ana the
people have arrived at a wide suffrage
aSthe result of experiments and expert
or sentimental theories.
The United States have made to civil
ization fourth contribution, of very
hopeful sort, to which public attention
needs to be directed, lest temporary evils
connected Herewith should prevent the
continuation of this beneficent action.
The United States have furnished a
demonstration that people belonging to
great variety of races or nations are
under favorable circumstances, fit Cor
political freedom
The fifth contribution to civilization
made by the United States is the diff
fusion of well-being among the popl-
latfon. No country in the world ap-
proaches the United States in this re-
spect. 1t is seen in that diffused ele-
mentary education which implants for
life a habit of reading, In the success
of the voluntary system for the support
of religious institutions, and in the ha-
bitual optimism which characterizes the
common people. 1t is seen in the hous-
ing of the people and of their domestic
animals; in the comparative costliness
of their food, clothing and household
furniture; in their implements, vehicles,
and means OF transportation; and in the
substitution on prodigious scale Of the
work of machinery for the work Of men $
hands.
President Eliot says in conclusion:
hold these contributions to be emf
nently characteristic Of our country,
and so important that, in spite of the
every candid citizen would admit with
regard to them. they will ever be held in
the grateful remembrance of mankind.
They are reasonable grounds for q
steady, glowing patriotism. They have
had much to do both as causes and as
effects. with the material prosperity of
the United States; but they are all five
essentially moral contributions, being
triumphs Of reason, enterprise, courage,
faith and Justice over passion, selfish
ness, inertness, timidity and distrust.
Beneath each one of these developments
there lies a strong ethical sentiment, a
strenuous moral and social purpose. It
Is for such work that multitudinous
democracies are fit.
THE LITERATURE THAT LIVES.
Claudius Clear touches a vital point
In the permanency of literature when
he says: "A great. perhaps the great
est element in writing that appeals to
the people is a religious faith. BY this
! DO not mean an exact theological
creed exactly expressed. doubt wheth-
er people care for the religious novel,
and am sure they do not care for the
unsympathetic religious novel, where
things are laid down hardly and defin-
ite1y. What they do like is the consid-
GRAFTON Of life under the steady assump-
tton Of the great religious truths. They
like to have life drawn for them by one
who believes that there Is a God behind
It and heaven above 1t. Then 1t be-
comes possible to look unshrinkingly on
al its pain. to see its pleasures slipping
and vet feel content, to know that all It
Be1ds Is In the nature Of promise, and
~ teal the peace that comes from the
GG1ufAnce that the promise IL going to
~ kept. The noisiness Of skeptics and
their digDropertionats power in the lit
erory clam = apt 70 misleed. have no
6ou6f that the heart of the country is
~ fc1i9fouo ~ It ever was, and probably
inGee religious. It answers with Z thrill
% any genuine manifestation of belief
~ = writer who has the other necessary
0n}G o. cpurse, ! am not saying that
~ l(qps peraQp can write Actton.
~ 'IlI