The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-11-23
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Paper Read Before the Chaattaoqata Circle.
Nineteenth Century.

The nineteenth century, in the his
tory of human accomplishments is the
most advanced and progressive period
of time that is on record. No other
period of time has shown such great
deeds both political and social as has
the present age.
TO the active force of democracy
may be accredited much that has
helped to make the world what it is
today. In the middle ages the nations
were governed by the aristocracy, who
owned and enjoyed all the luxuries of
life, while the lower classes were
ruled with an iron hand that was
equally harsh in enforcing laws and
blind obedience on the masses, seizing
their last pennies in payment of the
various taxes exacted.
But this could not last long. People
could not be kept in ignorance. The
various branches of civilization at last
penetrated and forced it's way in to the
lower classes of society: first assailing
the polity; then the monarchy, and the
result is the political Democracy of
our own time, which has gradually, in
various ways, spread almost over all
the civilized nations on this globe.
France came as the leader in this
sudden and unexpected action. After
the terrible and bloody revolution, and
various other wars with other powers
of Europe, she has finally risen to one
of the foremost nations of the old
world.
Spain, since the days of Philip II,
then powerful nation, has gradually
gone to decay. The inquisition, bigot-
ed priests and silly monarchs were
rulers of the once so glorious country.
Her vast colonies revolted. Cruel and
inhuman management of Spain made
even the weakest of her colonies rebel,
until the United States made an end to
it all, with the exception of few un-
important places that still smart under
the rule of Spain.
In the beginning of this century,
Germany and Italy were only names
in geographical expression. Germany
and likewise Italy, as we'll as other
powers of Europe, were divided into
small governments, dependent on
others or governed by their own rulers.
What we now characterize as an
ta1 D,,t @bD
horrors of war and continuous revolu-
tiOns caused national consciousness in
those lands, and this brought on great
and rapid changes. Where then was
seen small, weak and inferior king
doms, we now fird strong and power
full empires and republics in the height
of the present century civilization.
Age of inventions, as this period of
time is called in literary circles, is not
great in only producing men of genious
for the political field, but it has
brought out men of great intellectual
powers and force of character, men
who have sacrificed their lives and
labor for poor and downtrodden hu-
manity.
In this glorious nineteenth century
we find that the horse as a motive
power is soon to be counted among the
ancient animals; steam and electricity
in its various usage having practically
displaced horsepower. Whole conti-
nents can be crossed in few days. To
cross the Atlantic is now only a matter
of about six days, while in the begin
ming of this century it took months to
cross the colossal waters.
Great inventions of every character
have come out for the benefit of the
various classes of industries throughout
the globe. Machinery for every imag-
able purpose can be purchased at very
moderate prices, that will furnish the
necessities of life at less cost and at
the same time, equally durable as that
which was formerly done by hand.
Great and wonderful as has this last
hundred years been, still more is ex-
pected of the next Can it be done, no
one knows. The year one thousand
nine hundred will show. A. A. l..