The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01


10 become better men and better citi-
xens; and now In the south the spirit
OF education has gone forth, tho
schoolmaster Is abroad In the land
and those who have had time 10 stndy
the great questions. ind who had the
desire 10 be informed. know that a
greater enlightenment ana broader
view Of lite. and higher conception
OF human duty and responsibility, not
only 10 God. but 20 man. Is causing an
upward and an onward movement; but
that upward and onward movement
will never be smooth and progress
siVe and constant, while the nation
exists half enfranchised and half dis
franchised, any more than IL was pos
stble for the nation 10 exist half slave
AND half free.
Gentlemen, this is an age of great
fever and excitement BY reason OF
the greed and the cupidity OF man
and by reason Of Ineffective and Inn
potent laws the great commercial
spirit OF the age has ridden the re,
frenzy IS stalking through :ne lani,
but I believe that behind that spirit
walks the spirit OF peace AM the
tions will be solved in a way that will
make for righteousness. and ! believe
that to solve these great questions IL
Will require not only the best reason
OF men, but united with IL the greater
and the inner inspiration of women.
This Is not "A question that can be
nippantly cast aside by a Jeer or a
Joke We are dealing with a question
that lies at the very Foundation OF the
nations integrity. Thoughtful men
and women have considered this ques-
ton, while the thoughtless have been
pursuing the ignis fatuus or pleasure,
and IL will go through the world Just
as the spirit OF abolition went through
the world. During the days when the
question OF slavery was beirg agitat-
ed much to the disgust OF the advo-
Gates OF vested rights. William IL.
Seward was speaking 10 large au-
dience I'm the state OF New Yerk upon
the irrepressible conflict between free
dom and slavery. and man I'm the au-
dience interrupted him and stated that
the spirit of abolishinism would not
go through the state OF New York, ana
the reply OF seward was, Yes, my
friend. II will go through New York.
because IL VIII go through the world.
and go IL will be with the spirit OF
p,iny hands OF some OF the members
OF this house may be lifted TO oppose
IL, but those hands will be as iref-
fectual 10 stay the coming waves as
was the voice OF King canute TO stay
the rising tide OF the sen.
II may be that some or YOU will
make q stand against IL, and thai
stand may cause temporary back
sci. but YOU will be as Intellectual 10
STAY the onward march OF progress as
Napoleon was at Waterloo, when
chance and fate combined TO wreck
the fortunes OF their former king;
and the time will come when YOU.
like ne, will be standing "pon the
rocks of 81 Helena, with your hands
clasped behind YOU, gazing out upon
the. sad and solemn sea; Tor me .v s spirit ~
Like the rising tide OF the ocean, IL
may at times appear to recede but
though all the centuries its move
ment Is onward, for as the great poet
Yet methiuks through all the ages
one increasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts or men are wldenea
az the process OF the suns.
N NAV not he known to all OF you
that the state OF Michigan was the
first 10 establish the system OF CO.
education In rs great great am rnive taik ~
OF the opposition to IL was as great
as the opposition now IS among GER
tain people to equal sunsags; ~ was
graduates Of colleges they would lose
their woman hood. or course, thought
fuI reople knew then that such cla'
inst as much force and just as much
gnreason AZ the claim IL row being
made against equal sdnraRe. w was
claimed that IL would not do Tor men
= al women 10 associate together. Just
as though they had not been assoctat-
ing together In all the relations of life
since the morning stars sang tosether
for 10y ~ was claimed that they
,youid lose their gentle grace III .hey
etUdied creek and Latin and mathe.
n,atics These people who talked in
that wild and reckless way had for
.otten that educated women bad hlled
the libraries OF the world with poetry
sv,d-surrx- ff7sd-,Aatised- the-eapxass TO
glow with forms OF beauty and life,
had held the chisel which summoned
from shapeless marble statues which
rival the creations OF Phidias and Ca
nova. They had forgotten that IL was
the quiet Quaker woman. Eliz1betn
Fry. who went into the dungeons OF
England. which man or1thiiy naa
builded and let into those dunseons
the sunlight 90 health and hope ana
compelled the British nation TO stop
Ions enough IN the mad pursuit OF
wealth 10 remedy the evils which Tor
hundreds OF years had been dtsgi acc
and a shane They had forgotten that
A was he educated daughter OF Her
schell, who. ln the lonely hours OF the
night. had read with hiin the mar
Velous mystery Of the stars
When W. examine iris question IN
the light OF history how idle are the
objections and now weak are the
claims OF its opponents All YOU have
6 great moral uplift \and the question
IS solved.
" was Mirabeau. the impassioned
orator Of the French revolution, upon
the occasion OF the death 81 Bcnja-
min Franklin. who sale with prophetic |
vision;
"'rbe great imperial republic. ex-
the empire Of Caesar. after D thous- /
and years Of conquest. without project (,
or proc9nsul OF publican. employing \
within Itself no arms but reason. and 1
known TO It's subjects only by the ,
blessings y bestows. republic I'm |