The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-11-14

In Irving Bacheller book, "The
Marryers," there is a bit Of clever
satire on American title hmters,, blood
and travel-crazzed wealth
In search Of new thrills. Tie gush.
Ing Mrs. Fraley has high frequency
enthusiasm over apcient European
! !. astles. The philosophic Mr.. Socrates
p, otter tells her that the grandest III.
sns in the world are to be found in
the United States, and proceeds to
show q few that are worthy Of hon
orable attention. "See America first"
Is good sense when it comes to the
wreck Of venerable institutions.
As we behold the feeble and fast
waning remnant Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic it is suitable time
to recall some Of the particular ru-
ms to be found hereabouts. When
Sheridan made his march to the sea,
so complete was the trail Of ruin that
it was said if q crow intended to fol-
low That route he must carry his pro-
visions with him. The gallant citi-
zenry. Of this young nation has some
trails even more honorable than this.
We can point with pride to the ru-
ined trail of tyranny. In the clos
ing quarter of the eighteenth century
the forces generated by the leaven OF
Christianity did a greater work than
men then living had ever dreamed.
In that heroic time traditions were
ground to powder, and their dust
scattered to the four winds. The
plowshare of revolution ripped up the
cold, fallow ground of society shad-
owed by "predestined privilege" and
into its wintry discomfort flowed the
food of sunlighted healing grace
That might was right was the creed
of kings, and the baronial castle was
followed by the regal palace. The
palace was supported by the cathe-
dral, and host of props preserved
the ancient lofty structure that over
Swallowed the worth Of the average
man. Pale and anaemic was his life
blossomless his branches, and scant
his fruits of happiness. But the old
order changed. A new manhood was
born out Of the struggle of right
against might. Tyranny fell like Da.
gon from his throne, and in the
wreck the props toppled one after
another. The American revolution was
not merely the success of a colony
It was the triumph of a cause, and
the winning of a world. Europe tc
this hour has no ruins that can com.
pare with the ruins of feudalism
tyranny and so-called divine rights
that are on exhibition from Bunker
Hill to Valley Forge.
A second trail of splendid ruins tt
which we can point the newcomers
gaze is the ruin Of slavery. It seems
strange that the good God SHOULD
have allowed this Infamous sum of vii
lanies to exist so long. But thu
mills Of God grind slowly. The girls
may be slow in arriving, but under
the power of Gods giant millstones
under which resistance is useless, tn.
flow is certain. Christ said not 4
word about slavery, but having GU
without hands the little stone thai
should grind the very mountains t.
dust, his invincible crusher has bee,
doing business to this hour. On tina
stone is engraven, aye shall know
the truth and the truth shall MAX,
you free" The force Of this princi
pie has been increasing one and it i.
pulverizing prejudice and supersti
ton and every form Of misappropri
ated privilege, by which intrenche.
power gives men less than theft God
given dghta
| Another ruin is left i'm the wake O:
"the fighting men Of seventeen" w,
are not yet able to determine whethe
i'm the effort Ito make the world SAT,
for democracy" the United States
failed to finish the job. Some oil,
walls were left standing that are 3,
menace to the progress Of the races
And one Of these is the outgrown ide,
that hermit isolation is a proper at
titude on the part Of any Christia,
nation. When it is remembered tina
this nation. once forcibly presenter
Japan with brand new open-doo
policy, and China with such helpful
suggestions in the same direction, i
is most unbecoming for Uncle Sam t,
wrap the mantle of Pharsaic selfish
ness about him and give thanks tina
he is not as other nations. With ope,
doors and open hearts and fraterna
seeds holy aloofness is more thai
unmannerly. It is UNI Christian an,
unwise.
There are few more ruins now II
process of perfection which may b
pointed out-the complete ruin Of tn
liquor traffic here and around tn
world; the ruin of an organized whit.
slavery business which, in spite of tn
abridgment Of King Alcohol's priv
leges, still flourishes; and the ruin o
the modern vice of dope and narcotics
All these give opportunity for a nev
crop of heroes.
There is greatly needed ruiz
awaiting an enlightened Christina
conscience-the ruin of snobbery an,
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