demoralized¡£
On¡¡America¡¡itself¡¡the¡¡demoralization¡¡was¡¡even¡¡more¡¡marked¡£¡¡¡¡There
never¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡moral¡¡degradation¡¡in¡¡any¡¡Christian
country¡¡as¡¡in¡¡South¡¡America¡£¡¡¡¡Three¡¡centuries¡¡have¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡the
low¡¡state¡¡of¡¡morals¡¡continues¡£¡¡¡¡Contrast¡¡Mexico¡¡and¡¡Peru¡¡with¡¡the
United¡¡States£»¡¡morally¡¡and¡¡intellectually¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡seeds¡¡of¡¡vice¡¡did
not¡¡the¡¡Spaniards¡¡plant£¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡the¡¡old¡¡natives¡¡melted¡¡away£¡
And¡¡then£»¡¡to¡¡add¡¡to¡¡the¡¡moral¡¡evils¡¡attending¡¡colonization£»¡¡was¡¡the
introduction¡¡of¡¡African¡¡slaves£»¡¡especially¡¡in¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Indies¡¡and
the¡¡Southern¡¡States¡¡of¡¡North¡¡America¡£¡¡¡¡Christendom¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have
lost¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡morality¡£¡¡¡¡Slavery¡¡more¡¡than¡¡counterbalances¡¡all
other¡¡advantages¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡stain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seventeenth¡¡and
eighteenth¡¡centuries¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡merely¡¡slaves£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡slave¡trade£»
increase¡¡the¡¡horrors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frightful¡¡picture¡£¡¡¡¡America¡¡became
associated£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡Europeans£»¡¡with¡¡gold¡hunting£»¡¡slavery£»
and¡¡cruelty¡¡to¡¡Indians¡£¡¡¡¡Better¡¡that¡¡the¡¡country¡¡had¡¡remained
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into¡¡the¡¡most¡¡fertile¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World¡£
I¡¡cannot¡¡see¡¡that¡¡civilization¡¡gained¡¡anything£»¡¡morally£»¡¡by¡¡the
discovery¡¡of¡¡America£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡new¡¡settlers¡¡were¡¡animated¡¡by¡¡other
motives¡¡than¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡for¡¡sudden¡¡wealth¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡country¡¡became
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forms¡¡of¡¡social¡¡and¡¡political¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡men¡¡were¡¡those¡¡who
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who¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡new¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡civilization¡¡in¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World¡£¡¡¡¡They
founded¡¡schools¡¡and¡¡colleges¡¡and¡¡churches¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡introduced¡¡a¡¡new
form¡¡of¡¡political¡¡life¡¡by¡¡their¡¡town¡meetings£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡liberty¡¡was
nurtured£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡local¡¡improvements¡¡were¡¡regulated¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the
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rested¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡them¡¡was¡¡born¡¡that¡¡true¡¡representative¡¡government¡¡which
has¡¡gradually¡¡spread¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡West¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡colonies¡¡were¡¡embryo
States£»States¡¡afterwards¡¡to¡¡be¡¡bound¡¡together¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stronger¡¡tie
than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡league¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡New¡¡England¡¡States£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡war¡¡of
independence£»¡¡were¡¡the¡¡defenders¡¡and¡¡advocates¡¡of¡¡a¡¡federal¡¡and
central¡¡power¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡entirely¡¡new¡¡political¡¡organization¡¡was
gradually¡¡formed£»¡¡resting¡¡equally¡¡on¡¡such¡¡pillars¡¡as¡¡independent
townships¡¡and¡¡independent¡¡States£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡represented¡¡by
delegates¡¡in¡¡a¡¡national¡¡centre¡£
So¡¡we¡¡believe¡¡America¡¡was¡¡discovered£»¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡furnish¡¡a
field¡¡for¡¡indefinite¡¡material¡¡expansion£»¡¡with¡¡European¡¡arts¡¡and
fashions£»which¡¡would¡¡simply¡¡assimilate¡¡America¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡World£»
with¡¡all¡¡its¡¡dangers¡¡and¡¡vices¡¡and¡¡follies£»but¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡new
forms¡¡of¡¡government£»¡¡new¡¡social¡¡institutions£»¡¡new¡¡customs¡¡and
manners£»¡¡new¡¡experiments¡¡in¡¡liberty£»¡¡new¡¡religious¡¡organizations£»
new¡¡modes¡¡to¡¡ameliorate¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡evils¡¡of¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
discovered¡¡that¡¡men¡¡might¡¡labor¡¡and¡¡enjoy¡¡the¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡industry¡¡in
a¡¡new¡¡mode£»¡¡unfettered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡restraints¡¡which¡¡the¡¡institutions¡¡of
Europe¡¡imposed¡£¡¡¡¡America¡¡is¡¡a¡¡new¡¡field¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡try¡¡experiments
in¡¡government¡¡and¡¡social¡¡life£»¡¡which¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡tried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡older
nations¡¡without¡¡sweeping¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡revolutions£»¡¡and¡¡new
institutions¡¡have¡¡arisen¡¡which¡¡are¡¡our¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡boast£»¡¡and¡¡which
are¡¡the¡¡wonder¡¡and¡¡admiration¡¡of¡¡Europe¡£¡¡¡¡America¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only
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government¡¡which¡¡purely¡¡represents¡¡the¡¡wishes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡where
universal¡¡suffrage¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡mockery¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡if¡¡America¡¡has¡¡a¡¡destiny
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valuable¡¡than¡¡reaping¡¡machines£»¡¡palace¡¡cars£»¡¡and¡¡horse¡¡railroads¡£
She¡¡must¡¡give£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡machinery¡¡to¡¡abridge¡¡labor£»¡¡but
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something¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡can¡¡rise¡¡and¡¡assert¡¡their¡¡rights¡£
Unless¡¡something¡¡is¡¡developed¡¡here¡¡which¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡developed¡¡in
other¡¡countries£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡new¡¡spiritual¡¡and¡¡intellectual
forces£»¡¡which¡¡have¡¡a¡¡conservative¡¡influence£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡see¡¡how
America¡¡can¡¡long¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡home¡¡and¡¡refuge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡and
miserable¡¡of¡¡other¡¡lands¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡new¡¡and¡¡better¡¡spirit¡¡must¡¡vivify
schools¡¡and¡¡colleges¡¡and¡¡philanthropic¡¡enterprises¡¡than¡¡that¡¡which
has¡¡prevailed¡¡in¡¡older¡¡nations¡£¡¡¡¡Unless¡¡something¡¡new¡¡is¡¡born¡¡here
which¡¡has¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡power¡¡to¡¡save£»¡¡wherein¡¡will¡¡America¡¡ultimately
differ¡¡from¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡Christendom£¿¡¡¡¡We¡¡must¡¡have¡¡schools¡¡in
which¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡brain¡¡is¡¡educated£»¡¡and¡¡newspapers
which¡¡aspire¡¡to¡¡something¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡to¡¡fan¡¡prejudices¡¡and¡¡appeal
to¡¡perverted¡¡tastes¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡hope¡¡is¡¡not¡¡in¡¡books¡¡which¡¡teach
infidelity¡¡under¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡science£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡pulpits¡¡which¡¡cannot
be¡¡sustained¡¡without¡¡sensational¡¡oratory£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡journals¡¡which
trade¡¡on¡¡the¡¡religious¡¡sentiments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡Sabbath¡
school¡¡books¡¡which¡¡are¡¡an¡¡insult¡¡to¡¡the¡¡human¡¡understanding£»¡¡nor¡¡in
colleges¡¡which¡¡fit¡¡youth¡¡merely¡¡for¡¡making¡¡money£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡schools¡¡of
technology¡¡to¡¡give¡¡an¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡material¡¡interests£»¡¡nor¡¡in
legislatures¡¡controlled¡¡by¡¡monopolists£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡judges¡¡elected¡¡by
demagogues£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡philanthropic¡¡societies¡¡to¡¡ventilate¡¡unpractical
theories¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡will¡¡neither¡¡renovate¡¡nor¡¡conserve¡¡what¡¡is¡¡most
precious¡¡in¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡Unless¡¡a¡¡nation¡¡grows¡¡morally¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as
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have¡¡said£»¡¡no¡¡material¡¡expansion¡¡will¡¡avail£»¡¡if¡¡society¡¡becomes
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but¡¡only¡¡as¡¡she¡¡fulfils¡¡a¡¡new¡¡mission¡¡in¡¡history£»not¡¡to¡¡become
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himself¡¡a¡¡savant£»¡¡may¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡certain¡¡or
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only¡¡of¡¡a¡¡creation¡£
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philanthropists£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡advance¡¡in¡¡useful¡¡mechanisms£»¡¡I¡¡am
sometimes¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡propound¡¡inquiries¡¡which¡¡suggest¡¡the¡¡old£»
mournful¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡decline¡¡and¡¡ruin¡¡of¡¡States¡¡and¡¡Empires¡£¡¡¡¡I
ask¡¡myself£»¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡America¡¡be¡¡an¡¡exception¡¡to¡¡the¡¡uniform¡¡fate
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institutions¡¡be¡¡perverted¡¡here£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡all¡¡other¡¡countries¡¡and¡¡ages
of¡¡the¡¡world£¿¡¡¡¡Where¡¡has¡¡civilization¡¡shown¡¡any¡¡striking¡¡triumphs£»
except¡¡in¡¡inventions¡¡to¡¡abridge¡¡the¡¡labors¡¡of¡¡mankind¡¡and¡¡make¡¡men
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of¡¡antiquity£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡so£»¡¡then¡¡Christianity¡¡is¡¡a¡¡most¡¡dismal¡¡failure£»
is¡¡a¡¡defeated¡¡power£»¡¡like¡¡all¡¡other¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡religion¡¡which¡¡failed
to¡¡save¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡is¡¡it¡¡a¡¡failure£¿¡¡¡¡Are¡¡we¡¡really¡¡swinging¡¡back¡¡to
Paganism£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hailed¡¡when¡¡all¡¡religions¡¡will¡¡be
considered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡philosopher¡¡as¡¡equally¡¡false¡¡and¡¡equally¡¡useful£¿
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old¡¡Pagan¡¡philosophy¡¡holds¡¡out£»man¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡live¡¡like¡¡brutes
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like¡¡inert¡¡matter£»¡¡decomposed£»¡¡absorbed£»¡¡and¡¡entering¡¡into¡¡new¡¡and
everlasting¡¡combinations£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡America¡¡to¡¡become¡¡like¡¡Europe¡¡and
Asia¡¡in¡¡all¡¡essential¡¡elements¡¡of¡¡life£¿¡¡¡¡Has¡¡she¡¡no¡¡other¡¡mission
than¡¡to¡¡add¡¡to¡¡perishable¡¡glories£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡she¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡the¡¡world
nothing¡¡new¡¡in¡¡education¡¡and¡¡philanthropy¡¡and¡¡government£¿¡¡¡¡Are¡¡all
her¡¡struggles¡¡in¡¡behalf¡¡of¡¡liberty¡¡in¡¡vain£¿
We¡¡all¡¡know¡¡that¡¡Christianity¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡The
question¡¡is£»¡¡whether¡¡America¡¡is¡¡or¡¡is¡¡not¡¡more¡¡favorable¡¡for¡¡its
healthy¡¡developments¡¡and¡¡applications¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other¡¡countries¡¡of
Christendom¡¡are¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not£»¡¡then
America¡¡is¡¡only¡¡a¡¡new¡¡field¡¡for¡¡the¡¡spread¡¡and¡¡triumph¡¡of¡¡material
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be¡¡sought¡¡by¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡and¡¡enslaved¡¡classes¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡more¡¡for¡¡its
moral¡¡and¡¡intellectual¡¡advantages¡¡than¡¡for¡¡its¡¡mines¡¡or¡¡farms£»¡¡the
objects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Puritan¡¡settlers¡¡will¡¡be¡¡gained£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡grandeur¡¡of
the¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡a¡¡New¡¡World¡¡will¡¡be¡¡established¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡sought¡¡they¡¡thus¡¡afar£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bright¡¡jewels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mine£¿
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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ay£»¡¡call¡¡it¡¡holy¡¡ground£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡soil¡¡where¡¡first¡¡they¡¡trod£»
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¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Freedom¡¡to¡¡worship¡¡God¡£¡¨
AUTHORITIES¡£
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Voyages£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡early¡¡navigators£»¡¡Columbus£»¡¡by¡¡De¡¡Costa£»¡¡Life¡¡of
Columbus£»¡¡by¡¡Bossi¡¡and¡¡Spatono£»¡¡Relations¡¡de¡¡Quatre¡¡voyage¡¡par
Christopher¡¡Colomb£»¡¡Drake's¡¡World¡¡Encompassed£»¡¡Murray's¡¡Historical
Account¡¡of¡¡Discoveries£»¡¡Hernando£»¡¡Historia¡¡del¡¡Amirante£»¡¡History¡¡of
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and¡¡Inland¡¡Discovery£»¡¡Anderson's¡¡History¡¡of¡¡Commerce£»¡¡Oviedo's
General¡¡History¡¡of¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Indies£»¡¡History¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World£»¡¡by
Geronimo¡¡Benzoni£»¡¡Goodrich's¡¡Life¡¡of¡¡Christopher¡¡Columbus¡£
SAVONAROLA¡£
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UNSUCCESSFUL¡¡REFORMS¡£
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Roman¡¡Catholic¡¡Church£»a¡¡reformation¡¡of¡¡morals£»¡¡preceding¡¡the
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