The colored American., 1903-06-27

yet unllhS the STARS IuOy
have not been too numerous to be
counted. The whole volume of human
history reveals but one Socrates,
roaming among the very clouds of di
dactic philosophy, cOnfounding the
oracles of wisdom themselves and
touching the beginning of things,
whose end is hidden behind the skies.
But one Demosthemes close wrapt in
the subtle alembic of his brain the
secret powers of expression, and that
invisible talisman, which penetrates
and moves mems souls But one Saul
of Tarsus to defy world of idolaters
in the very plentitude of their power,
scorn them in their very temple, and
in an age of persecution to plant the
seeds of his holy church deep in the
hearts Of men, to defy all succeeding
storms, pierce all rocks, flourish in
all climes and to the remotest end of
mortal being. But one Martin Luther
to scourge the money changers from
the church of the Middle Ages,
unchain the Bible, purify the faith
and almost create the Age of the Rem
Nuisance. But one Voltaire standing
boldly out in full relief midst that
maelstrom called the French Revolu-
ton, revealing by his strong search
light of truth the rocks and breakers
of infamy and oppression, which were
dashing the aristocracy to pieces; and
pointing the way where equality of
right, justice and equity offered har-
bor for the safety of all. But one
Oliver Cromwell, who hurled at abso-
lutism Kings head as his guage of
battle, and at the forefront of a tri-
umphant rebellion, the last refuge of
the oppressed, proclaimed an era of
light and liberty. But one Kepler,
who loved to walk along the milky
way, to revel among strange worlds,
and who died leaving the priceless leg
acy of the Three Laws. But one Mil
ton, who thought the cumberous, pom
derous thoughts and spoke the stately
language of the gods, who made words
sound like stroke and clash when i'm
mortals war: and measure beat like
| the tramp of unearthly legions, echo
ing from the dull cold distance of un-
i recorded time. But one Shakespeare,
brother of the MUSES., the intellectual
prince of the realm of thought. But
one Abraham Lincoln, seer, prophet.
| statesman, in all save name and sta
| ton, King, the means and end of an
| era, the commencement of epoch. One
Garrison; one Phillips; one Doug
| lass. measured from the depths
whence he came to the heights he
4 AOoNhCN, lhC SlColCoi Ihotn VI HIS age /,
| one Moss; one Fulton; one Steven
ison; one Edison
By the work and thought of these
and such as these, has the genius of
progress pushed the task of civiliza-
ton, unburied from venerable ruins
preserved from decay and despolia-
/ ton, and kept in human ken and with.
in the view of human hope the Jewels
of wisdom, virtue, and law, on which
as upon a triple arch, the finished
structure of liberty, equality, and jus
tice shall be reared
| Out of what did they build their
fame and do their work? Out of the
same men whom you shall meet to-
morrow on yOnder street; out of the
| same boys who may hereafter sit in
your school room for your instruc-
It1on; out of the same sentiments of
love and affection which stir your own
breast; out of the same mind around
you always and every day; out of
the same skies above your head; out
of the same air which you breathe
out of the same water and elements
which are now; out of the same earth
upon which you live; with the same
natural laws with which Won have
been acquainted. They wrought No
miracles, performed no witchcraft
land did all with human strength and
thought. Their star of destiny was