Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885, May 01, 1879, Image 1
IN. h-v- It i i THE HESPERIAN STUDENT Qui lion Prollcit, Deficit. "VOL. VIII. MAY, 1879. XO. 0. TUB DANGER. Civilization has been steadily climbing upwards and onwards, let this process be called evolution, development, or surviv al of the fittest. Valleys and sca-coasts have always been in advance ot the mount ains and inferior lands; so much in ad vance, that they have tempted the uncul tured savages of their borders, and thus, time and again, the great centres of civili zation and culture have been conquered, in fact, almost swept away, by the inroads of wild mountaineers and the fierce shep. herds or husbandmen of the inland plains and forests. Egypt, Persia, G'eece, Italy, Gaul, and India all tell the same story. Perhaps the most potent force always at woik in development, is competition; competition that is striving after some thing seemingly better or higher, the competition that rises from the fanatical hate of individual for individual, family for family, tribe for tribe, nation for na tion, and race for race, up to the sublime striving for "the Ideal" for perfection, for a realization of the noble possibilities in man. Competition may be called the spirit that animates, guides, or misguides, hu man endeavors, and the broad high way that leads most quickly to the desired end is the wise self denial that accumu lates a reserve force sufficient to survive the hour of struggle. Before the German tribes overwhelmed Home, they had increased to countless multitudes, and liv the mere power of num. her added to the inward decay of the Em pire. They flooded all of northern and western Europe and northern Africa. By the accumulation of wealth, strength and loyalty, England alone was able to resist Napoleon, and to establish her Em pire in every portion of the world. Ify the self denial of the people. 13' an ad mi ruble thrift and industry, Fiance was able to rise strong and well, from the desperjte and annihilating blows of Gor many ; and because there was no such reserve, either mentally, morally, or phy. sically, Turkey crumbled when one miser, able little province revolted. The question for individuals, as well as for nations, is to study the tendencies of the age, and sacrificing present on- joyments for future safety, their duty is to recognise as far as possible the inevi. table fate of the coming years and lay their plans accordingly. In America we aie troubied by three phases of the race difllculty. The Amor- ican or Indian is yielding, if not molting Tlie negro away, before the European.