The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-07-06
America and Her Needs.

To those in command there is no
better guide than the records OF the
past. II statesmen are to lntellleently
understand present conditions OF socl-
ETY. and wisely interpret the significance
of the times they must carefully study
the history of the mighty empires that
have existed. Then let US for few
moments unroll the panorama CT the
old world. Let us for instance look to
the great Athenian power which holds
its own conspicuous place in the worlds
history. We of today are still Influenced
by the thoughts and actions of the great
Greek leaders. Greek architecture is
vet studied and admired. We are still
inspired by the patriotism as mani
tested by those ancient people. Yet
there was dark side to Greek life.
Beautiful was Greek art, culture and
refinement, but these good things were
planted like exquisite, exotic flowers IN
the black, rank soil of slavery. The
brilliant civilization of the Greeks was
its product and never could have ex-
listed without it, Relieving the citizen
of drudgery, the system created class
characterized by elegant leisure, refine
ment and culture, but the great funda-
mental principle of the equality OF
man was ignored, and the mighty power
of Athens ceased to be. Such is the
history of one of the great powers that
has been.
Then again the influence OF the no.
man Empire on the people OF the world
can not be fully estimated. The great
and noble deeds of the best Romans
still live. The remains Of Roman law
and institutions can be traced down
through the centuries OF time to our
present American civilization. We
glory in her achievements; we mourn
for her downfall. The great victory at
Citations is placed among the significant
events of history; for it decided that
the Christian Germanic races and not
the pagan Huns should inherit the do
minion of the expiring Roman Empire
and control the destinies of Europe
And why the downfall of one OF the
mightiest powers that ever existed?
Because Rome, maddened by power
and urged on by her lust for empire.
neglected those things which demanded
attention. While the Roman leglons
were battling for foreign lands the
government was attacked by the great
est foe nation can have-cOrruptlon
Rome had committed suicide.
These great governments have had
their time. They were built not upon
rocks but upon the sand. They -four
ished for time, noted not for justice,
but for injustice, not for purity, but for
corruption, not for morality, but for
immortality. Consequently they fell.
These are the great powers from which
we have inherited much. Have we
been heir to their WeaknessesI
Are we in time to succumb and go
down to total demolition because OF
diseased government? If as 1t is
claimed history repeats itself the ques-
ton is already answered. we are
doomed and must reconcile ourselves
to a similar fate. But no, it can not De;
it seems to us that we as a nation shall
always live. We can not but feel proud
that we are American citizens. we
reverence the past; we are proud OF the
present; with a trustful eye and hope
full heart we look to the future.
Looking back through the three CEN
turieS that have passed we witness the
coming of that little band of men and
women, pioneers of America, their very
souls, as it were, dominated by an INDY
ing spirit of liberty and clasping close
to their hearts firm belief III tree
religious thought.
What sought they thus affair?
Bright jewels of the mile?
Tie wealth of seas, the spells OF war?
They sought d faiths pure shrine.
Ay call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod.
They have left unstained what there they
fuulid,-
Freedom to worship God.
Tie hardships they endured need no
enumeration. They sowed the seeds OF
the great republic which we are so glad
to call our own. They We're the print
tive architects of our grand institu-
tiOnS.
Yes, the seed of liberty, patriotism
and devotion planted on the rock bound
shores of Massachusetts was prolific.
1t grew. 1t inspired men and it in
spired women. An inspiration so deep,
SO firm, SO strong, that III 17775 when the
call to arms resounded through the
American colonies, those men were
ready to fight and if need be lay down
their lives for the cause of independ-
enee. Was ever mole loyalty shown to
perpetuaLe a living principle than by
ple-minded patriots who under the
leadership of the great Washington
established our national life.
The cloud of war swept by. Conceiv-
ed III the struggle for Independence,
born of the spirit of righteousness,
Graded in liberty, nursed by the god
dess of peace, guarded by the grandest
instrument ever penned by man-there
was our infant nation. Men were need
ed to guard and protect this child of
possibilities May God forbid that we
ever lose sight of or forget the legacy
left to us by our Washington, our
Hamilton and our jefferson. Their
names are written on the indeStructible
tablets of time. They were men suited
to the time in which they lived. JEFF
ferson's expression, ''The guarantee of
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness to alp will live. The question is,
do we today fully realize what that ex-
preston means?
Our national life, with the noble prin-
ciples that govern it, has many times
been threatened but the darkest blot
upon the pages of American history is
the record of slavery. 1t is with feel
ing of pride mingled with that of horror
that we look back through the mists of
only few years to that terrible con-
fiict of brother against brother. 1t was
struggle to maintain a false ideal.
An ideal which has brought degrade
ton and shame to the mighty empires
that have been. Our country was on
trial for it's life Whether the nation