Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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BAVELINGS. 5 will choose aright. This fact is the truth and point it out to others. Up- keystone of republican institutions, on his shoulders rests the mantle of Tis thus responsibility will educate the ancient prophet. Pew may come the lowest into self-control, and self- to his exact position, but his influence control is the basis of popular govern- is felt on every hand. He lives in ad- ment. vance of his age. He stands as on a Since existing conditions are not al- mountain top beckoning men upward ways the best, what will produce the to his position. While few may gain change? Shall we look to political the lofty summit, the mountain sides parties alone? They do not create and will finally be covered, form, they represent public opinion The pages of modern history are ready for action. Shall we look to the bright with the names of successful partisan press? It can only drift upon agitators. A century ago the Irish the crested wave of public opinion, people lay prostrate beneath the iron Shall it be produced by quiet waiting heel of English lords. Every attempt or compromising with existing- evils? to rise was met with laws more rigor- As well expect the gentle evening ous and severe. O ' Connell came upon zephyrs to uproot the mighty oak as the scene. He moulded together the that mild words and compromising elements of power. Out of chaotic measures will effect reform. Conces- conditions he brought united action, sion and compromise never produce a He made the pulse of Irish patriotism change in opinion. Their sphere is thrill with new life and hope. By found in matters of expediency alone, moral agitation he created a public Moral agitation is the fundamental sentiment which changed his country ' s power which forms and moulds public destiny: and as the years pass by, the opinion. It will lead to a knowledge agitator ' s power is felt on every hand of the truth: a knowledge of the truth until a Gladstone pleads the cause of produces a change; this change in Ireland in the English Parliament, opinion means reform. The effect, Draw aside the veil which conceals though gradual, is like the stream, the history of the abolition movement springing from the mountain side, de- in our own land. Just before its scending from rock to rock, re-en- dawn, men viewed slavery as a part of forced by other streams, growing, picturesque Virginia life. With few broadening. deepening into the exceptions the pulpit was silent. The mighty river, until at length it sweeps press was quiet. No whisper of the onward with irresistible power, bear- wrongs of slavery stirred the deep ing the ocean fleets upon its bosom, tranquility of the political sea. There is, too, the ever-increasing ten- Lulled to lethargic repose by the hum dency to bury the finer sensibilities of cotton gin and factory, public senti- beneath material interests. Agitation ment lay dormant. But a change was is the preserving power of the Repub- at hand. The voice of Garrison, in- lic. It is the pulse-beat of liberty. It stinct with a living principle, awoke is life and health. Stagnation is de- the sleeping land. He proclaimed in cay. Agitation produces thought tones of thunder the duty of immedi- along new lines. It concentrates the ate emancipation. What! Emanci- public mind upon great themes. The pate the slaves! Turn them loose to mission of the agitator is to see the ravage and destroy the masters who

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4 RAYELINOS. This was her second appearance be- THE PROVINCE OF THE AGITATOR, fore a Monmouth audience, and her re- w. E. carson. appearance but served to deepen the Napoleon once said, I fear three good impression made upon the music newspapers more than a hundred loving- citizens of Monmouth. Mr. thousand bayonets. History confirms D ' Almaine is a violinist of undoubted the great Corsicau ' s judgment, merit. The beauty of his selections Changed governments, fallen dynas- and his skill in their execution de- ties, and awful revolutions have pro- lighted the audience who recalled him claimed the all-prevailing ' power of after each piece. Mr. Weber is a mas- public opinion as the arbiter of na- ter of the piano. His rendering of tional destiny. To public opinion Mendelssohn ' s ' -Rondo Capriceirso, must king and statesman bow. It is and his work as an accompanist g-ave the court of last appeal, the ultimate great satisfaction. The program source of national life and activity, throughout was of a high order and Constitutional monarchies obey its dic- the ensemble free from that stereo- tates; the throne of the czars trembles typed form which we usually hear. at its power; and where the press is £ free and public halls protect debate, it When puzzled over the intricacies of is omnipotent. All true reform must some mathematical problem, or therefore rest upon a change in the struggling with the construction of opinion of the masses. Let this fact some difficult sentence in Latin or be ignored, and all results will be but Greek; when for any reason we are dis- transient. Public opinion disregarded couraged in our pursuit of knowledge, changes the affairs of states, and there is encouragement and inspira- hurls the despot from the throne of tion in the following passage from power. Sidney Smith: If any young man Though this power be recognized, has embarked his life in the pursuit of yet clearly the masses may be wrong, knowledge, let him go on, never Popularity is no test of truth. The doubting or fearing the event. Let sublimest truths ever uttered met him not be intimidated by the cheer- with opposition and the fierce resis- less beginnings of knowledge, by the tanee of the multitude. Witness the darkness from which she springs, by cry of Crucify Him! Crucify Him! the difficulties which hover around which echoed round the Roman judg- her, by the wretched habitations in ment hall. Ignorance and prejudice which she dwells, by the want and may cause an unjust verdict to be ren- sorrow that sometimes journey in her dered. Let public sentiment lie dor- train; but let him ever follow her as mant; let it drift where pleasing fancy the angel which guards him and as leads the way; or let its guides be the genius of his life. She will bring prejudice and passion, and the verdict him out at last, and exhibit him to the will be wrong. The people may at light of day comprehensive in acquire- times be wrong; but there is a divine ments, fertile in resources, rich in im- possibility wrapped up in human na- agination, strong in reasoning, pru- ture. To awaken this possibility into dent and powerful above his fellows new life is the province of the agitator, in all the offices and in all the rela- The public conscience, quickened and tions of life. aroused by the sacred voice of truth.

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6 UAVELINGS, had set them free! Destroy a time- The agitator has a province distinc- honored institution, the corner stone tively his own. Courage, purpose, en- of our material and commercial pros- durance, are the qualities which test perity! From legislative bodies and his power. His mission is to change the halls of congress came the answer, opinion. Change in opinion comes No! From north and south, from east slowly. Thus it has ever been. Ev- and west, from church and school, ery step in the onward march of civili- from village and hamlet came the an- zation has been impeded by opposing swer, No! Did he falter? Did he forces. Every author of reform has pause to count the cost? Not, though been denounced as a fanatic. No man a misguided public thrust him behind who has dax ' ed present a new idea has prison walls. Not, though the pulpit at first met with public approbation, denounced him as an enemy of Chris- Galileo giving his life to scientific re- tian truth. Not, thoug ' h ,n infuriate search; Savonarola reforming the cor- mob dragged him through the streets ruptions of the church: Daniel O ' Con- of Boston. He believed that opposi- nell pleading for his country ' s liberty; tion would only spread the truth. Phillips giving his life and talents to And the breath of hissing mobs but the freeing- of a down-trodden race; all fanned reform ' s bright flame, which have worked in opposition to public spread on every side, mounting higher opinion. Even in the closing days of and higher with ever-increasing bril- the nineteenth century, social and pol- liancy, until an enlightened public itical ostracism awaits the man who sentiment guided the pen of Lincoln, dares oppose the popular will, broke the fetters of four million slaves .The agitator must stand on principle and made them free. and shun expediency. Devotion to In a land of constitutional liberty, principle is the secret of his power. It public opinion finds expression in leg- has been the secret of power in every islative enactments. ' Tis thus the reform. It led John Huss and Jerome best interests of society are conserved, of Prag ' ue as martyrs to the stake; The sanction of law adds dignity and their noble example g-ave to the world power. But seldom are the qualities a Luther and a Melancthon. Devotion of agitator and of statesman found to principle! It led the Ironsides of combined. The statesman must feel Cromwell to a victory which saved the the pulse of public opinion, must liberties of England, and g ' ave an im- watch with eager eye the tendency of pulse to the g ' rowth of freedom on affairs: with calm deliberation he American soil. It led the Revolution- awaits the coming change. The agi- ary fathers to lay their lives a sacrifice tator must create public sentiment, upon the altar of their country. Devo- Regardless of consequences he de- tion to principle! It inspired the Cov- clares what people should believe; the enanters of Scotland with courage to statesman that alone which they are resist the unjiist decrees of a corrupt ready to believe. In the role of king and court: their heroic stand pre- statesman the agitator ' s action would served relig-ious freedom to the Anglo- be premature. While Phillips sows Saxon race. Devotion to principle! the seed and tills the soil, the fruits The songs of redeeming love from ev- must be conserved and garnered by a ery land and every clime, ascending Lincoln ' s master hand. daily to the throne above, attest its