The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-28

features which the Roman system either did
not contain at all. or contained in a mere
germinal form, namely the postulate of the
personal equality of man to man, of the
equality of rights and status, of liberty Of
conscience, of thought and its expression, of
the equality and personality of woman, of
frage of the impolicy of an hereditary aris-
tocracy and of the absolute supremacy of
the people in all political administration.
The stone which the builders rejected thus
became the head of the corner
Looking further and deeper for the ideal
fact and therefore the essential and endur-
edifce we discover the Greek demos, the
Senatus Populusque Romanus, the TeutoniC
council, the Saxon Wittenagemote, the Eng
fish parliament, the supreme councils, by
whatever name, of many nations by each
OF which for more than 1000 years the lib
erty of men and the general well being of
humanity have been promoted.
Nothing that Is good ever perishes 1t is
only the thing that Is evil that ceases to
endure; Here are concentrated the excellen,
cies of many generations; those of the few
men whose names history has made imperfsh-
able, and those of the myriads of earnest
workers for humanity whose labors and names
have not been recorded. The builders Of
this abiding place of a modern state are not
alone the men and women of the present
day. Invisible and spiritual hands have toiled
upon this edifice. Gigantic and majestic
phantoms of the past will round this dome
and groin the arch. and will all throughout
INFORM this structure with a transcendent
than Its bronze and stone.
DUTIES WITH THE FUTURE.
You will not require me to exhibit the
statistics OF the marvellous growth of Mime
sofa. 1t is not necessary to exhibit them
This audience has achieved the results which
such numerals would express. and 1t knows
the sum and the details of this labor of it's
own hands: But 1t will be well to take some
account OF certain present conditions. not
recent that time has not yet been sufficient
to make them the subjects of mature Thought
me duties OF man are largely with the fu-
ture This is also true as to the duties of
states. The present occasion requires that
we contemplate the part which Minnesota as
COMPONENT OF the United States is destined
to play in the swelling act of the most in,
perial theme of all the ages
The Nineteenth century is receding: we
are passing from it; the Twentieth century
hundred years about to end have been the
most eventful and productive of any epoch.
n MGs IN any an t century has more been accom-
far exceeding any other has been its pre-
paratory work for the accomplishment of
sublime purposes. I can only indicate here
this preparation by a broad and suggestive
generalization. 1t consists of useful inyen-
lions, OF general education and of an in
creased participation by the people in the ad-
mlnlstrat1on OF governments. In achieving all
this mankind has often "seen through a
glass darkly" and has executed the purposes
of an inspiration of which it was not con-
scious.
It has recently been revealed with aston
fshing clearness that the civilization of Eu-
rope, and also that of the United States par
tcularly, have been in an unconscious proc
ess OF preparation for destinies heretofore
unperceived. In what manner the performance
is TO be do not venture to predict. To do
So would be the merest speculative temerity
me great movements of humanity are orig
mated, directed and controlled by a Supreme
rover Man merely utilities them. If he at
tenpts to thwart them they crush him. No
state ever yet diverted any of the purposes
or ultimates of Its own existence.
SECULAR CHANGES IN THE WORLD.
IL is now apparent to the least attentive
observer a great secular change is taking
place throughout the world Ancient inter
national balances have become unpoised Ola
piVots OF equilibrium have ceased to he Gem
| trail Commercial and territorial ADVANTAGES
which, until recently, seemed to be imnrse
n ia nGrt,nea by national wealth, by mill
alliance and prescription have been on,
croached upon and endangered The nrooas,
has been irresistible. 1t has not been soieiv
effected by wars; they have been merely IT,
instruments. 1t has proceeded with the calm
daily, resstless force of great creative IN,
Grafton of nature. Humanity has at intervals
| repeatedly accomplished such movements.
They have been more overpowering than
conquests, more enduring than EMPEROR
monarchies have been built upon their sur
face, have encumbered or adorned them for
of nations, and then their ruins have been
borne along in the august and unceastne pro-
cession. The mysterious Aryan migratjon
was one Of these evolutions. It went around
H rs 1t Is now forcing It's entrance into
The results Of the medieval impulse Ar
INSPIRATION toward maritime discovery are