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.
