The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10
.srom the Rock Bound Coast Of
a1aine to the Pacific Golden Gate;
From superior's Crystal Waters to
{ mo Evergreen shores Of the Mexican
Sea, Brothers Are We All''-ssAndl
ss,e Thoughts Of Men Are Widened.''


auxy that there IS not a civilized nation
an the affairs Of which the people have no
sndce. They vote even in Russia. There
azenow fverepub blics upon the continent
nf Europe There ara no nations that are
not republics IN the western hemisphere,
md there are two republics in Africa
Havmg republicanized the world and
made every nation recognize, at least to
some extent, the principles outlined IN
Dux declaration OF independence, we now
open:a new century, as the beacon light
offhe world in bringing about the nat
zzal sequences Of this universal brother
a,ood OF manhood. taught first by Christ
Hhen upon the earth, and forgotten.
ssrough eighteen centuries. the dealing
tcgether Of the nations Of the earth to
their mutual profit, in the advancement
of civilization, the promotion OF peace
md the enhancement OF their material
welfare
Our forefathers pledged in a revolution
Eheirsliyes, their fortunes and their sa-
5rred honor to secure for Us this boon.
They forecasted the future. and built the
soundations of our free government upon
11xoad and patriotic principles, which in.
tdeir triumph would secure perpetual
union Of states and an enduring lnde-
y,endence Of the nation. sThe crises
fhrough which we have passed, while
u,enacing the stability Of the union, have
never imperi1Ied olr freedom. The civil
was s severe shock tothe unity OF
The states, but we have passed through.
the fiery ordeal. and today have Union
stronger and a patriotism broader and.
Rseper than ever. In all this land. from
Maine to California, from the Lakes to
the Gulf, there is but one heart, one
rOuntry. and one people. all cernented
together, by the ties of true patriotism
md the love Of human freedom. Well
may the American people, North, South,
East and West, glory in this day, hal
lowed as it is BY the associations and
s1iunnphs Of the past, and magniied by
1he bright promises Of the future. Our.
3,ast as nation is safe, but it is gone for
erer. we cannot recall or change it. We
ram, however, seize the present, and wise
1ynse the opportunity to make our future
<tAe realization Of the widest dreams Of
4he most optimistic American.
THE LESSONS OF THE PAST.
q propose today to emphasize our pres
rat splendid opportunities as nation
and the grand results to flow from their
tuH appreciation and utilization. we are
standing today with the vanishing shad-.
pws Of the last century playing about our.
feet, while the dim Ighr Of the dawning
new century kisses our brow. From the
top OF Times highest peak we can look
Backward along the great highway that
:a1nations have travelled, we can see the:
Hteady footsteps. Of the human race, as 1t
has plodded on and on, making epochs in
earth S history and rearing monuments to
uaark human progress. Let us, my fell
1o#-citizens, learn wisdom from the past.
lts follIes. crimes and b1unders may be
burned into sublime stepping stones, to
aiittt our generation to higher plane OF
existence. Along the highway, where we
have passed, hate, sectionalism and bind
p1rtlsanship show where the road has
dropped off into many an abyss, ragged
md deep. The torn garments and the
Whttened bones we see far down below
should warn US to turn and seek the bet-
terDath. at whose summit lie sweet pros
periry. liberty. peace and justice. Step by
step the process OF education and adj
vancement has proceeded. Each century
has shown some progress in certain di-
recticn In human thought, in human en-
deagor and in human Improvement.
..1 doubt not thro' the ages one increas-
ing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of men are widened
with the process of the suns.
The thought SO beautifully expressed
9n the parable Of the sewers is true of ma.
items as well as ofIindividuals.
Behold there went outa sower to SOW,
and he sowed. some fell by the wayside
and the fowls Of the air came and devour-
editu This was true right in Jerusa-
lem. .sAnd some fell on stony ground
where it had not much earth and imme-
dfately it sprang up, because it had no
depth of earth. but when the sun was up,
Sc was scorched, and because it had no
4oct it withered away This was true in
Rome, where Christians were put to death
IN the Coliseum And some fell among
thoTns. and the thorns grew up and
rhoked it, and it yielded no fruit This
Was true in Persia, which at that time led
the civilization of the world. We get our
nommon school system from Prussia, who
got it directly from Persia.
.eAnd others fell on good ground and did
yield fruit that sprang up and increased,
some thirty and some sixty and some an
hundred-n It fell upon good ground in
germany and brought forth the Lutheran
reformation. It fell on good ground in
England and fought forth the full estab-
aishment of Protestantism. 1t fell upon
5.,s,<,d ground in New ENGLAND and brought,