The Washington times., 1923-05-09
The Book of a True Prophet
We advise you to read "Volney's Ruins of Empires "

small devoted 10 CraVe
to historical investigation He profound student
earnest simple true philosopher His arguments were
sound The proof of this may be found in the conduct OF That
Voney for his frank opinion and got uthfuy that he
% ~ ne os aeouae rp Voy Splendid the
foundation of much that for original thought is
upon desire athom the of mems
and failure He says of himself in his famous letter to
DR.. Priestley:
The part which belongs that traveller resting
upon the ruins and medang the OF msfounes OF
the human race
The essence Of voneys philosophy may be found two
lines at the end Of his pamphlet The Law of Nature
Preserve thyse instruct thysef moderate myself live
Could there be more admirable combination Of Christianity
and sound benevolent philosophy? 1t combines the Importance
OF education with the moral beauty OF the golden rule
IL other will indeed accomplish the true work of cvza
ton For causes OF evil there are two Ignorance and
Cupidy These the twin Of all the
man."
The invocation with which he opens his splendid study
Hail solitary ruins holy sepulchres walls
invoke to you address my prayer While aspect aver
with secret terror the vulgar regard it exces heart the
charm OF delicious sentiments sublime contemplatons. What
useful lessons what affecting and profound reflections
suggest to him who knows how to consult you
When the whole earth in chains and silence bowed the
meek before is had already s a the truths
that Of the slave did the sacred
dogma Of equality Within your pale in solitary alteration of
liberty her genius arise from the Of the
not such she painted by the mpaoned multitude armed
with fire and sword but under the august aspect justice
posing u her hand the sacred balance wherein are weighed the
actions OF men at the gates Of eternity.
Visiting the sandy ruins of Thebes, Volney writes
There people forgotten discovered while others
vet barbarans the elements Of the sciences
Of rejected from society for their sable skin and
zzed hair founded the study of the laws of nature those
civil and religious systems which still govern the universe
You will perhaps reject the conclusions Of voney the
Importance OF the early intellect His view is strongly
supported. Lucian says of the negroes
The Philippians the first the science of
without meaning descriptive Of qualities which they
conceived them to possess and from them that this art
passed still in imperfect state to the Egyptians
Dodorus declares that the negroes rghtuy believe them
selves to be oldest Of nations. He says:
1t is probable under the suns path its warmth
may have ripened them earlier than other men,
The fit to teach his fellows ahead of them in
intellect and it possible for him in the readiness Of science
and of social questions play the part assigned inspired
prophets in the religious world Lamarck Plato Aristotle
Goethe and above all the great genius Charles Fourier made
predictions absolutely accurate and verifying events have
proved their right to respect and generation prophets Of
civilization.
Page after page writing beautiful optimism
filled by Volney with predictions of the future of the human
race
Mans obstacle is his ignorance which mseads him in the
means and deceives him in and effects He will
Tighten himself by experience he will right by din
errors he will wise and good because his interest
to be.
Individuals will feel that private happiness is allied to
public good The weak that instead of dividing their
they ought to unite them because equality constitutes their
FORCE the rich that the enjoyment by
the constitution organs and that assitude follows
safety the that the employment Of time and the peace
compose the highest happiness of man. And pub
lie opinion reaching kings their thrones will force them
to conne themselves to the limits of regular
There prophecy in that last sentence. written
by who lived when kings power of life and death
undisputed.
Public opinion has reached kings on their thrones limit
ing them to the regular authority and the dspos of Voney
youth their wings clipped by the revolution which like
Volney gave birth puppets legislatures
and public opinion
Read thus:
he world is waiting for the legislative people it wishes
and demands it, and my heart attends the cry
The world ruled by legislative peoples Many of
his prophecies still be fulfilled but they will full
filled.
magnificent prophet of hope is Volney, credit the
human race and to the glorious French nation which has
Duted much to human welfare In his prophecy the hope
Of all humanity is expressed:
The human race will become great society," nd-
vdual family governed by the spirit by laws
and enjoying all the happiness Of which their
ceptible" ~
Read Voneys Ruins of Empires" In that single book
1nteligently read, is an education
| Tho E0x01~1Ao Co~o