The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-08-31


placed beyond all filled, with many
standing, the proportions of this meet
ing will be realized. Father Vaughan
sustained the reputation made here
last year as brilliant orator and a
powerful platform speaker, the force
of his personality, his compelling
magnetism, his mere overwhelming
presence Immediately reducing his
hearers to state of fascination aside
from the theme of his discourse.
Father Naughan's Shakespearian lee
ture last year, which appealed to the
more purely intellectual, had scarcely
prepared last night s audience for his
attitude on matters of social import.
and his announcements on the vari-
Gus aspects of society at large, espe-
cially from the standpoint of the
keen observer of present conditions
existent in this country were roundly
Iapplauded. Father Vaughan stated
himself something of social physi-
cian-to open the fostering wounds
Of society. People are blinded by the
brilliant light of their own selfish
ness, egotism, ambition, appetites.
They awake too late to the danger re-
sultant from conditions arising from
the existence of these qualities in So
ciety in the ensemble, conditions
which might have been avoided or at
least ameliorated by wise admins
tration and early recognition Of their
gravity. Father Vaughan stated that
vice, in its various forms. is eating
out the heart of the nation. That
there exists in this country a state of
affairs known no where else in
the world. That our very
boosted institutions which are
supposed to make for freedom of
action, liberty of choice and the ele-
walton of the social body in the ag-
gregate, are detrimental to right liv-
ing and the proper adjustment Of the
forces Of society. The evil Of intern
perance is blighting the nation.
"Rum'' is the foremost curse of the
day. The drink habit is the viper
which is eating at the vitals of the
nation. We spend $300,O00,O00 yearly
to counterfeit the results of this vice
and its concomitants, to hold it in
check. Instead Father Vaughan elo-
quently urged that the energy, the
patriotism and the millions of the cit
liens of the country should be spent
in wiping out the evil. "The saloon,
the retail sale of liquor" said the
speaker, els the incubator of GRIM
inals.' The brothel is to be found
over the saloon, the gambling hell in
its rear. No matter what form of
vice is sought or found it is always
in close conjunction with the liquor
traffic. The great evil of intemper-
ance is the foremost curse of our ma
tional life. The second, paradoxical
as it may seem, is, according to Faith
er Vaughan s lecture, our system Of
over. or false, education. Father
Vaughan emphasized the fact that he
was not to be misunderstood In this,
that he was not directing his remarks
against any particular set of schools.
but against the modern system of ed
ucation as fostered and protected by
the State. 1t included secular as we'll
as public schools. The fault lies in
every one alike to meet
conditions. The Greek ideal
was perfect minds in a perfect body.
with consequent scorn of physical
labor. The work was done by slaves. |
The fall of the nation was but mat
ter Of time. The Romans exalted the |
vocation of arms. Every man must be /
, soldier. The average Roman dis
lained work. Such a state of society
soon was bound to disclose its rotten
,ore. This country turns all classes.
very strata. into one crucible. and
expects a uniform result
mt. 1t Is an impossible outcome.
What we want is technical. not classi
al education. Our bane is our ideal
f higher education for all. But five !