The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-07-11

MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, .
Its financial resources are greater, it
has better fighting material, its navy is
stronger in proper ion to its size, and
the average of intelligence is higher
than any other nation on earth. OF
course only one or two powers admit
this, and then only in a half-hearted
way. Spain would not admit it until
after the year 1899. Well, I think l
have enumerated enough facts to show
whether democracy is success or not.
Now let us compare the time in
which these results we're accomplished
with the time in which the same results
were obtained in other countries. 1t
has taken America 125 years to reach
her present state of civilization and
power, which is superior to that of any
other country. It has taken France
$500 years to reach her present state
of civilization, which is superior to all
other European countries. She has
been republic for 80 years. 1t has
taken England 1900 years to reach her
present state of civilization. 1t is by
no means perfect. 1t has taken Ger
many about 5000 years to become what
she is today, a great military empire.
It has taken Russia since the beginning
of human history to become what she
is today, military despotism, in which
the common people are ground to
powder beneath the weight of mighty
armies and a debauched aristocracy.
Spain is what she has been for many
years, a worn-out old coquette who
dreams of past conquests. 1t has
taken her 1000 years to reach this
stage. Italy is merely the remnant of
"the grandeur that was Rome;"
Switzerland is the only republic whose
form of government comes near to
being government of the people by
the people, outside of America. She is
noted for the thrift of her people and
for the peace and prosperity within her
borders. Now, you may compare the
results and say whether democracy is
a success or not. I think I can say
truthfully that the majority of the
American people are better clothed,
better fed, better educated, and happier
all around than the majority Of people
in any other country. If that form of
government which gives the most
happiness to the greatest number is a
success, then democracy is, without
any qualification whatever, a success
pure and simple.
Every nation that ever existed has
in general way, concentrated its
energies on some one object. "God
give me grandeur" said Egypt. The
pyramids stand today as testimony
of that grandeur. "God give me
power" said Rome. For seventeen
centuries the broad earth was beaten
with the serried tramp of her legions
All the world bowed to her scepter
'God give me beauty" said Greece.
The ruins of the Acropolis, the books
of her philosophers, and the poems Of
Homer stand as undying testimonies
of her beautiful, past. "God give me
conquest" said spain. She found and
conquered new world, only to lose il
again. "God give me glory" said
France. The shadow of her bayonets
once overawed the world. "God give
me truth" said Judea. And when HI
came who spoke the truth, she crucifed
Him. "God give me industry" sale
America. She stands today as al
example of what work, hard work, will
do.
What America will be ten centuries
from now, no one can tell, but if w
have progressed more in one centur!
than other nations in twenty ant
thirty centuries, if we have reached {
position in one hundred years tina
other nations require twenty times ON
hundred years to reach, the career tina
lies before US is one that stagger
Imagination. Whether a democratic
form of government will survive, will
admit of so much prosperity, do no
pretend to say, but think it will.
i LEO.