The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-23
DR. HILLS LECTURES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL Speaks on Americans of Today and Tomorrow HE IS VERY OPTIMISTIC Distinguished Pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, Says American
 Democracy Will Not Be Ruin-
 ed by Industrial Autocracy
HE IS VERY OPTIMISTIC

Americans of Today and Tomorrow was the significant title of the address delivered by Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, pastor of the Plymouth church in Brook lyn, N. Y, last evening at the close of Washingtons birthday in the Auditorium of the Central High school. This eminent lecturer was presented under the auspices of the Birmingham Lyceum course as a substitute for Jacob Riis, who will not be able to fill his engagement on March Il in this city
 Dr. Hillis, who as a successor to pr Lyman Abbott in his present ministerial charge, has attained nation wide prom thence both through his position and per sonality, spoke to a large gathering at the high school last night. His ready flow of language and happy smiles intro- duced as illustrations of his ideas con- sumed about two hours of uninterrupted commentary remarks upon the present and future trend of American ideals of democracy versus autocracy.sA quiet de- livery, with an occasional change of voice information and garniture of droll humor that savored of wit of the highest order, made the Hills platform attraction a. very sppreciable offering and his optimis- JIG answers lO peSsliHistlc ioItDouihbs dS- saying to herald the ultimate decline of the American republic were soundly ap- plauded by his audience.
 World Civilization
 When the Panama canal is opened the beginning of a world civilization will be possible for the first time in the history of the nations,'' said Dr. Hillis "A river civilization was the first. a sea civilization followed next, and finally the navigators became brave enough to venture out on the ocean, giving us our present, day sys- tenn of internati tional commerce and re- lationships South America made it 'm- possible to have a world civilization, but with the completion of the Panama canal this obstacle will be overcome and lhe world powers will then be cemented through accessibility. We will always have this type of civilization In the Temperate zones for it always follows the snow line countries. When we go down into the Hottentot country we encounter trouble in the trade lines because everything is lfe- less and the natives spend their time m eating bananas and sleeping.
 "f will make this prophecy that within the next 50 years the cotton spinning fac tories of Europe will be transferred to the gulf states because of the revolution in economies brought about by the Panama canal. Never in the annals of American endeavor have the young people been rhowered with such opportunities to be- come all that they desire to be as the young men and women of the south will have for the next 40 years.
 Did you ever notice that the financial centers of the world change, not grad ually. after the work of many years efforts but suddenly, with the mere turn ing of hair? Whenever the time has been reached that conditions are unstable with regard to the carrying of raw ma terial and freight rates, 1t indicates an- other change. but no man is wise enough to tell which way this will be. This is the cause of the unrest and lupheaval of bankers and banking interests through out Europe