Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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8 J! A VELINGS. before the civil war for making more victions of a wise majority can be en- terrible the strife they tried to avoid, forced. Is such criticism altogether merited? Not only has Compromise created In questions of moral right and wrong ' , our nation, but it has been the pre- the practice of Compromise may, no server of our nation ' s life. We are doubt, be greatly abused. An evil disposed to say that the blood of the may often be removed by a single ex- civil war redeemed our nation: but, af- posure: when Compromise would be ter all, was the union saved when the folly. But even in questions where war ceased? Did the contest for ciyil moral principles are at stake, the Com- liberty end there? Far from it! promiser need not stand in the way of When Secession died, then arose that reform. Great social changes are not malign spirit which had hovered in wrought in a day. Although indeed the rear of conflict. It came to gloat truth must conquer, it should not over the prostrate Southern land! It be forgotten that truth may also be asked no right but that of conquest crushed to earth. Extreme meas- and spoliation. Now, indeed, -was the ures are not always pi ' actieable in the union rent in twain! But in those beginning of reform. Opinions, how- dark times of reconstruction, when en- ever right and just, cannot be forced vy, hate, and passion threatened to upon the world, and, in an attempt to plunge the wounded nation into deep- do so, more enemies than friends are er gloom, the voice of Compromise g ' ained. Evils eradicated by sudden counseling forgiveness, amnesty and force often result in still greater evils, peace, rose above the wrang ' lings of Belief is strengthened and deepened the petty spoilsman of the North, and by oppression and persecution. So the ' bitter, vindictive mntterings of has it been with the followers of every the proud Southerner, conquered but faith since history began, for men al- unsubuded, to verify in the most glor- ways believe themselves right, and ious reconciliation of all time, that when forced to give up their opinions prophecy of old — good tidings shall thoughts become convictions, and a bind up the broken-hearted, and to spirit of antagonism is ai ' oused. Fan- them that mourn give beauty for aticism is reform ' s most treacherous ashes, the oil of joy for mourning ' , and ally! Hence, when a reformer endeav- the g ' arment of praise for the spirit of ors to uproot some public sentiment or heaviness. conviction, however wrong, he cannot A nation is prone to glorify its suc- aft ' ord to lay aside the spirit of for- cessful general rather than him who. bearance. Men can be lead — never in legislative halls, quietty guards his driven! Thus the Compromiser has country ' s liberties. Is it true that all proved to be not only one of the ablest the elements of courage and virtue be- but the safest champion of reform. long- to martial success? It is indeed History teaches that some of the a thrilling scene — the conqueror re- greatest strides in progress have been splendent in crimson robe and victor ' s the direct results of Compromise. To crown, cheered by shouts of victory it we owe the birth of ova- constitution, and songs of triumph. But to a nine- Without it, democracy is impossible, teenth century civilization this picture In a country of free opinions like ours, never appears alone. It recalls another it is the only means whereby the con- scene. Mingled with the notes of tri-

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RAVELINGS. 7 power. Its ultimate fruition will be character of the Compromiser should the crowning of the lowly Nazarene as seem uninteresting and uninspiring, king in the hearts of men throughout We have come to associate with the the world. word Compromise the idea of insta- The greater the advancement in civ- bility and weakness. It immediately ilization. the more true liberty is ac- suggests political trickery and in- corded the individual man. the greater trigue; men without foundation who is the need of agitation, the stronger are striving to achieve success by i s the agitator ' s power. He has been cringing to both parties in contest, an important factor in modern prog- Is this conception of the Compro- ress. At his touch, unjust penal codes miser altogether right and just? Corn- have been blotted from the statute promise is defined as an agreement book, and slaves have breathed the air based upon the mutual concessions of of freedom. By his efforts the demon persons or parties holding irreconcila- of intemperance flees before the scien- ble opinions, or having conflicting tific temperance instruction of a thou- rights. There is nothing unnatural in sand schools. What he conceived on such a principle. It is exhibited not yesterday, is today the sober judg- only in social but also in physical ment of an enlightened people, and laws. The starry hosts of the firma- tomorrow the charter of a nation. As ment, each attracting and being at- long as there is a wrong inflicted, as tracted by each of the myriad suns, long as a single right is granted to the stars, and worlds; all their individual strong and denied the weak, his mis- forces and motions combined to pro- sion will continue. It will continue duce one grand, sublime x - esultant — until the lower classes have been ele- what is the eternal swing, the stately vated to a plane of decency and self- march of the universe, but a divine respect. It will continue until capital expression of the principle of Compro- and. labor shall clasp hands in unity mise! Compromise is the foundation and friendship. Moral agitation will of all society. It was born when man lead to that power, which, emanating ceased to live alone. No one is absol- from Calvary ' s holy cross, permeating utely free and independent. Every the masses, elevating- and ennobling, man. however solitary may seem his will one day lift them into the sun- occupation, is a member of a vast in- light of truth divine. dustrial partnership as large as the nation, as large as humanity. In the THE HERO OF COMPROMISE. language of Burke: ••All government. C. A. iiauehkach. knox college, indeed every human benefit and enjoy- First Prize Oration, Illinois Inter-Collegiate ment - ever - v virtue and ever y P radent Contest, Held at Jacksonville. act is founded on Compromise. With- October. 5, 1894. out it might becomes right, and we Our ideas of heroism are naturally have the tyrant and the slave! associated with bravery and fortitude. But it is objected that concession He who has most often won the plau- wherein moral principles are involved dits of the world has been the man of will lead to deplorable results — the iron will and unyielding courage. It promoting of wrong and the retarding is not strange, then, that in contrast of right. Thus bitter criticism has to such a conception of the heroic, the been heaped upon our Compromisers

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BATELINGS. 9 umph is heard the despairing- wail of opportunity. This nation is today defeat: the joyful song- of the conquer- face to face with problems grave and or makes hideous discord with the dy- serious. The question of slavery in ing- groans of the conquered. His the South has but given place to one robe is crimson — aye! with the blood of more dangerous aspect. The ties of fathers; and those gems that spar- that unite the interests of capital and kle in his crown, are they aught but labor are strained unto breaking. The the frozen tears of widowed mother- gap between wealth and poverty hood? It is as the enemy of war, the seems not to lessen. In the very cen- champion of peace that the Compro- ter of our civilization are want and miser should be crowned the hero of suffering enough to sicken him who is modern civilization! not either blind or heartless. Among The world shows its growth in good- working classes there is a general feel- ness by its appreciation of the good, ing of disappointment and bitterness — There is nothing more hopeful in the li a widespread feeling of unrest and sign of our times than the increasing brooding revolution. ' popularity of arbitration. The Behr- In these times of strik es and riots, ing Sea question was settled without when social disorders are being so the aid of sword and cannon ball, painfully brought before us, may no The world is coming to recognize that false ideas of heroism mislead human- the Pan-American Congress was based ity. Strong, unscrupulous men. ex- upon a principle of wider significance ponents of blind, popular desire, or and greater importance than a mere fierce popular passion, may precipitate selfish compact for national aggrand- a nation into all the horrors of a revo- izement. Xo word today is more fam- lution. May society be deaf to the iliar to the American people than ar- wild appeals of the rash agitator and bitratio)!. ' ' Indeed, we seem to have the ignorant demagogue. The lurid been ushered into an age of comprom- flame of anarchy, the smoke of the sol- ise. dier ' s rifle, which have recently dis- And yet. a wail from Corea tells us graced and startled an American city, that the clouds of war have not passed teach a two-fold lesson. They who away. From out their gloomy depths violate justice must bear her frown; flash the hellish fires of battle, blast- they who seek her altars must respect ing the lives and hopes of Asia ' s mil- the sovereignty of her law! lions. Toward the field of carnage May men learn to heed the voice of are turned the rapacious eyes of Eu- him whose heart and soul are large rope ' s powers, while their peasants enough to see that all have rights: a groan beneath their burden of taxa- man with mind and judgment keen tion and standing armies. When will enoug ' h to discover the sotirce of a contending humanity learn the folly grievance: with strength and courage of crime and war? There will be no enough to relieve it by just and fair brighter page in all history than that compromise. Heaven will unite with which records the names of those who man in proclaiming him hero — whose taug-ht this blessed lesson. Shall it be purpose it is to serve, not self, not par- the American people who will add ty, nay, not country— but humanity, this, the brightest star, to the firma- = raent of their history? Ample is their ••Whatever is. is right.