The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22


Hundreds of so-called church covenants,
Wnere they appear to mean nothing but that
the people will worship in the same meeting
house. But thenl Ali They meant that
they would really help each other in a COM
mon life.
Public spirit-this grows from the cove
nant, that they will bear each his brothers
burdens. Public spirit is the health or life of
the state. Public spirit, which calls upon
the drudge in the ditch to serve the state
as 1t calls on the millionaire cutting off
coupons. Public spirit makes the difference
between a democracy an6 an oligarchy, or
monarchy.
Mr.. Samuel Longfellow took a Fourth of
july ode, which Whittier had written for
political gathering, and put it in his hymn
book. Whittier had called it democracy
Longfellow called it Christianity-and it
stands in all the hymn books. as it should.
by that name. To live for others, to bear
other mems burdens-public spirit first and
private gain second-this is its law. OF
which the illustrations appear all along in
the simple annals of these colonists.
THE MAKERS OF A STATE.
Ftve-and-twenty simple men-not one of
the landed aristocracy of England, not one
graduate of a college-tumbled in on a
sandy shore in the beginning of winter
these are the law-givers and constitution
makers of state So soon as they stake
Off their home-lots they create the system
of public registration of land titles IT am
as good as he is; he is as good as I am
His title shall be as perfect as mine; my
title shall be as perfect as his. And so soon
as the Bay people land they adopt the sys-
tenn. Then every republic adopts it. And
at this mOmpnf tha a Ia5
ments of the world are copying this demo-
cratic precedent. So soon as there is a boy
who is to be taught to read they take action
as to schools. Who shall learn? Every
body. Who shall pay? Everybody. Each
for all, all for each.
This would be impossible had they not
come as Independent children of a God
who loves all His children. Ye are all
kings and all priests. They knew this,
and so were strong enough to cross an
ocean, to land in a wilderness, and to stay
in it after they had landed. Allies of God,
every man of them. And of the infinite
strength they come to be more certain.
They rived and sawed those logs on Christ
mas morning to the glory of God. They
sent out their fishing fleet to the greater
glory of God. Law, as they administered
it, was the voice of God. And with the GER
tainty that He had not made them to crush
them, that He would stand by them so far
as they stood by Him, they went forward,
conquering and to conquer.
Are you not afraid of the Spaniard? No;
God is on our side. Or of King PHILIPPIANS
people count more than yours. No; God is
on our side. AS afterward, how about King
Louis of France? I'VE are all kings" How
about bishops and archbishops? I'VE are
all priests. We speak to God. He speaks
to us. All kings, and no one is above us
but the King of kings" When men feel and
know this, you have a nation that deserves
the name
The philosophical author of the Eco
nomic History of New England comes out
from his invaluable survey of her progress
in two centuries with this statemen of the
secret Of our success in government, in man
ufacture, in power over the world Those
institutions have their sure foundations, not
in ranks orders of society, not In army.
senate or priesthood but in the fiber of the
people themselves" Our success comes ''in
the relations of each man and woman to the
essential principles of society-of order
ITSELF The New Englander's expression Of
this relation was that he lived to the glory
of God. His bylaw for a town meeting is
a differential of the law which moves the
universe. The American citizen is to do all
in harmony with universal laval things
to Gods glory.
The American Republic will endure as
long as its people are true to the principles
thus established. 1t will fail as soon as
And this will never be while they live to
the glory of God.