The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-18
D R. DAVIDSON TALKS
ON AMERICAS PLACE.
IN THE SUN At THE
EVE \ | \ 6 ST RVI CtS

[Vl II II u 0L HVlUL0
Dr.. r. L. Davidson pastor Of the .
Broadway Baptist church, spoke to
q crowded house Sunday evening, on .
the subject, Americas Place in the
Sun. He said in part:
America is neither an incident, an
accident nor an experiment but IS
the logical and inevitable protest ot
intelligent men and women against
yhs superficial distinctions and caste
and the political and ecclesiastical
tyranny OF the rulers ol the old
world IL has furnished refuge for
the oppressed Of ali lands. and now
stands pre-eminent among the ma
aons Of the earth. II enjoys the spe-
cial favor OF God. It's soil is the
most fertile, It's climate the most
varied, and its scenery the most weird
awe-inspiring and beautiful 10 be
found anywhere in the world.
The Cream Of the Earth
It's people are the cream Of the
n.
world, wrung drop by drop by the
agony OF frightful persecution, was
mingled by the hand OF Providence
il the alembic of America 10 be dis
titled by the fierce fires OF the revo-
luton into the most precious elixir
OF the ages. In depth and breadth
OF character, in volume of hope ana
ambition, in universally of knowledge,
in reverence for law, and order, in
the beauty and sanctity OF their
hcmes, in sobriety, in respect for the
rights o1 others, in recognition OF the
duties Of citizenship, and in the ease
and grace with which they trend the
myriad paths leading from rank TO
rank in life lis people surpass all
others
It's wealth exceeds that Of any
other two nations Ii raises more corn
and cotton than ali the rest OF the
world combined and excels all other
countries in the quantity Of wheat
produced 1t is the greatest manu-
featuring country in the world sur
passing Great Britain and Germany
combined II eXcsls in the quantity
ana exoeil.ncy Of flour, lumber pack
ins house products and farm ma
chinery II leads the world ia the
production OF coal, petroleum, lead
and copper. It's railway mileage
eauais that Of all the rest Of the
wvrld. IT, freight traffic exceeds
that OF all Europe combined. Its
education. in one check than all the
world. Carnegie has given more for
education in enc check than all the
nilnonaires Of Great Britain and
Germany have given for the same
purpose in quarter Of century.
The War OF Ideas
These special favors which America
enjoys impose upon it special obli-
cations. We hold in trust for the
world certain political and religious
principles. We are authorized Of Cod
not only to claim them for ourselves
but 70 proclaim them TO others. Au-
tocracy and democracy are as incom-
patable as darkness and light. They
are an:agonistic and one or the other
must go down forever. On the side
Of autocracy II is very largely con-
Quest Of arms; on the side OF democ-
racy u conquest of ideas. One man
with an idea is equal to ten men
with nothing but guns. Already we
have silently sifted the leaven Of de-
mocracy into the dough OF every au-
tccracy on earh and the leaven is
working and will work until the en-
t:rc lump IS leavened. Crowns are
=
leaves of Of forest trees
Americas Opportunity
The old wcrid is in the throas Of
universal and spectacular upheaval.
Dynast!c earthquakes, industrial con-
vulslcns. martial revolutions, cosmie
agon!es are but the birth pangs O,
the re-birth Of the world The move
ment toward democracy is worldwide
and Jdal. AS well try TO sweep
beck the Atlantic ocean with broom
as 10 attempt 10 stay *. Democracy
is as sure 70 triumph as the sun is
TO shine. The hour Of America s
destiny has struck. The forerunn.ng
ages nave prepared The way Tor this
day Of opportunity. The centuries
piled, Pelion on Osa. have brought
US here. America Is the Moses among
nations to lead them out Of the will
derncss OF autocracy and despoism
and race hatred and religious intoler-
ance into me Canaan OF liberty and
democracy and fraternity and unlver-
Sl brotherhood
Liberty. Around the World
For nearly q century and 3 halt
the bell which proclaimed the free
dem Of America was held in captivity
in Philadelphia and It's tongue was
silent. Recently il was permitted t.
make journey across the continent
II had my way about IL, tha
bell would tour the world, and as I
went | would have It ring cut fron
every mountain top and valley acros.
winding rivers and expansive seas
the message OF liberty, until despou
trembled and thrones toppled ans
all na;.onal!tles and peoples, from
tarban Turk to slavic peasant &
the far of islander OF the sea wer
free and oil nations should beat thci
swords into plow shares ana thei
srears into pruning hooks and OH ,n
werld should be vouchsafed the bless
ings Of liberty and democracy an
fraternity and universal brotherhooJ
Then would this old earth ltt fror
the dust her long neglected Tyre
sweep once more 10 her place anon
the stars and raise again her happ
voice In the unforgotten music OF IA