Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-16
The Drama of America.
observations OF a Philosophical Friend
OF Ours)


observations OF a Philosophical Friend |
OF Ours)
"a kingdom for a stage. princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling
scare" Shakespeare.
our country is the child Of the worlds
old age.
After a long and terrible period OF |
crime and misery, in which the whole |
face OF the earth was drenched with |
blood. and disgraced with cruelty, VICE |
and direful wickedness, and while war
was still the chief business Of men-in
the midst OF the sixth millennium OF all
that may be called human history, the
mysterious veil that hid the western
world was rent in twain. and the grand
continent Of America was revealed-the
stage on which the last phase Of hui
manitv was TO be manifested, baby
world swaddled in waves OF water.
The first generations that defled the
earth with their altogether evil ways
were washed away and obliterated by
the food. To Noah and his family
renewed and cleansed earth was out
spread: and another trial was given to
our race In 1892 ignorance and ire
lieion. sensuality and strife-the world,
the flesh and the devil-held high car
nival. and the religion Of Christ, latter
day civilization, was struggling for life;
the Renaissance Of art and letters and
piety. as light. was breaking forth. But
what clou..s darkened the dawn! What
confusion overwhelmed mankind! Ans
vet. the novus ordO saeclOrum-the new
order Of thngs-was at hand. And be-
vond the measureless waves new
world arose i'm sight. a new earth,
virgin soil, clear atmosphere, came
| fresh from Natures womb II was 70
| be a nursery Of heroes, Of great men,
| of great ideas: a centre Of light and lie
| for the whole world. an arena on which
all the problems that had veXed the ma
! lions were to be solved, all questions or
government and social life were 10 be
settled. and, under the inspiration and
guidance Of the Holy Scriptures. our
race was 10 make its last effort in the
| direction OF an honorable and happy
life-to prove that life is a grand priyi-
| lege. to show that liberty equality. and
| fraternity are not frauds, but noble re-
aIfties when they are enlightened, ener-
| gized. and consecrated by loyalty TO
| Christ.
The whole of our 400 years 0he first
! four acts) Of history seems TO stand be-
fore the world as its Deuteronomy, Us
| appendix. its summng-up, its balance
| sheet. its digest. the grand result or all
| the past. America has been broad
field to try old issues; a clean sheet to
work out old, hard questions, and new
and fruitful soil for all germs and seeds
of truth and life TO terminate, TO grow,
and spread themselves for the good OF
| the whole world.
our history has been strangely con-
| centrated: all profoundly interesting, he
roic. and instructive II is the history
of the world in miniature: like the
death-bed vision Of the past TO the
closing life OF an old man; opening the
doors for his entrance into eternity.
As in all great enterprises. the life
! OF the leading spirit of our world was
marked by courage. by patient toll by
devotion 10 a great idea, by seli-sacrl-
fee and disappointment. Personally
the life OF Christopher Columbus was
a failure: he labored in vain and spent
his strength for naught; he died disap-
pointed man. And the great continent
| IN whose discovery his great soul LED
he way. war for 100 years a fatal shore:
a home OF savages and heather, vast
wilderness. And, yet, in this century
the future Of the continent was deter
mined All the ventures OF the Eng
ish were unlucky; those OF the spanish
were marked by great rObberies, ana
rewarded with great wealth OF gold
silver. and precious stones. with that
wealth they raised and equipped great
armies. and ravaged the Netherlands
with fire and sword. With mat wealth
| they built the invincibe Armada. But
10 the Anglo-SaNon race the discovery
| Of America was an expansion OF man
hood. out Of it's school OF adversely
there sprang new. fresh, vigorous VIZ
ines OF the highest order-courage'
Daring devotion. self-sacrihce fidelity
large-heartedness. and wisdom-weli-
suited TO furnish a race OF heroes %
rula the world. The mariners Of Eng
Iand captured Spanish vessels, loaded
with spoils. in every port; and, at iast
met and scattered the invincipie
Armada. With the fall OF the Armada
Spanish power on the seas gave way
ma America was fixed as Anglo-Saxon
the land OF the free and the home OF
he brave. And so closed the first cen
with the second the Puritans lande,
4, the North. and Captain Smith, VIII
adventurers and cavaliers, in the DO
minion OF virginia-men suited for tnei
great work. The passage Of the oceai
MAS an ordeal for high heroism. onlA
he noblest manhood would dare such
venture under the noblest inspiration
And by such was English America peo
lied. Devotion 20 God, 10 duty, ana %
the highest inspirations OF manhoo1
~haracterized them. And on our sou
facing dangers, enduring hardships
cherish,ng Great ideas. practicing vir
mes and. OF necessity. exercising ever
] facuIty and mower OF mind end h""V