Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-06-17
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CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION.
Synopsis of Senator McLaurin's Wofford
commencement Address.
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Synopsis of Senator McLaurin's Wofford
Commencement Address.
Spartanburg Herald, Tuesday.
The chapel was we'll filled yesterday
morning, Notwithstanding the rain and
the condition of the streets. The event
of the occasion. was the literary ad-
dress delivered by Hon. John l.. Nc
Laurin, of Bennettsville, S. c.
Senator McLaurin delivered one of
the finest efforts that has been heard
for long time in Wofford chapel. His
audience was attentive and apprecia-
tive, for the message he brought was
worthy of it. The senator gained
many friends in the city by his elo-
quent address, and his visit will be re-
membered with pleasure.
He thanked the two literary socle-
ties for the honor they had conferred
upon him, and hoped they would be
charitable in their Judgment, succeed
ing as he did so many estimable men
on that platform.
Then in few well-chosen words, he
paid beautiful tributes to Calhoun and
Preston, the pure statesman and the
unrivalled orator. In speaking of them
he said that the statesman and orator
are never the product of despotlsm,
but are the incarnation of the genius
of patriotism.
He spoke then of our high civiliza-
ton, how we have advanced to it, its
dangers, its great responsibilities and
it's obligations. Civilization seems
nothing but the unfolding of Gods
plans for the human race, and history
is but the epitome of these plans.
A stable civilization must make great
moral progress as we'll as intellectual
and political, and it takes ages to pro-
duce it. Egypt, Syria, Rome and
Greece, had nothing but the civilization
of the ages behind them and they
lacked the most important element,
moral progress, and so passed away.
How can the dark ages which sue
ceeded these nations decay be account
ed for /? It seems that the Divine Ruler
meant to roll back the progress then,
for the great civilization of the nine
teenth century, as effected by the
Christian religion, which at that time
was hailed by bewildered race. 1t
is question whether our civilization
could have been evolved from the CIV
ilization of the ancient nations.
There is remarkable connection be.
tween the progress of civilization and
religion. The Puritans stood for both
civil and religious liberty the Wes-
leyan reformation not only causes re.
ligious liberty but gave US democracy.
The speaker then told of Washing
ton and Lincoln praying to God after
battle. This official recognition of the
God of battles illustrates the rule OF
God over our country.
He said the present was time OF
tremendous transition, and the nations
which did not keep abreast of the times
would be certainly overwhelmed. Sci
ence has made great progress, but that
enchanted land is only half:known.
We cannot peer into the future and
it is useless to speculate, but it is safe
to say that the Goth century will be as
great an improvement on the 18th, as
the 10Th was on the 18th.
America has lead in the progress of
the nations and will continue to do so.
The most potent factor in efecting
this is the common school system OF
education; the diffusion of general in
telligence. Our educational lever is
above that of any other nation. The
senator then took as an instance of
our superiority the late war with
Spain, the illiteracy of Spain being 6S
per cent. United States, 7 per cent.
He said some one had made the state
ment that it was the man behind the
gun who won the war; it was more, it
was the common school behind that
man. Applause].
America not only leads in science
aud industrial development, but also
in the science of government in new
principles and new forms of govern
ment.
The speaker then reviewed shortly
the political growth of our govern
ment; how happily the banners of
Spain and France, the countries OF
tyranny and despotism were driven
out; how the prosecuted and oppress.
ed of other nations made the land OF
power, and established a government
of freedom; how many crises had
been safely passed through.
In speaking of the crisis of the civil
war, a unique struggle in history, the
senator said, "The right of the eau
casian to govern came from God.
Race instinct has preserved and is pre-
serving the south this is white mans
country and a white mans govern
ment." Applause].
He said that our country would
never be injured by outside forces, but
from those within. One of the most
dangerous of those just now is the
American trust, which had taken for
its motto what the Delpic oracle told
Philip of Macedonia, "Make coin thy
watchword, and you will win ALL"
But this modern form of evil will be
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