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autonomy of towns on which the political structure of new England
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
country under the sun in which there is self…government；a
government which purely represents the wishes of the people； where
universal suffrage is not a mockery。 And if America has a destiny
to fulfil for other nations； she must give them something more
valuable than reaping machines； palace cars； and horse railroads。
She must give； not only machinery to abridge labor； but
institutions and ideas to expand the mind and elevate the soul；
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
materially； there is something wrong at the core of society。 As I
have said； no material expansion will avail； if society becomes
rotten at the core。 America is a glorious boon to civilization；
but only as she fulfils a new mission in history；not to become
more potent in material forces； but in those spiritual agencies
which prevent corruption and decay。 An infidel professor； calling
himself a savant； may tell you that there is nothing certain or
great but in the direction of science to utilities； even as he may
glory in a philosophy which ignores a creator and takes cognizance
only of a creation。
As I survey the growing and enormous moral evils which degrade
society； here as everywhere； in spite of Bunker Hills and Plymouth
Rocks； and all the windy declamations of politicians and
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
of nations； as history has demonstrated？ Why should not good
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
comfortable and rich？ Is there nothing before us； then； but the
triumphs of material life； to end as mournfully as the materialism
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？
Is there nothing more cheerful for us to contemplate than what the
old Pagan philosophy holds out；man destined to live like brutes
or butterflies； and pass away into the infinity of time and space；
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
forces。 If it is； we may look forward to such improvements in
education； in political institutions； in social life； in religious
organizations； in philanthropical enterprise； that the country will
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？
The wealth of seas；the spoils of war？
They sought for Faith's pure shrine。
Ay； call it holy ground；
The soil where first they trod；
They've left unstained what there they found；
Freedom to worship God。〃
AUTHORITIES。
Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella； Washington Irving； Cabot's
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
Commerce； Lives of Pizarro and Cortes； Frobisher's Voyages；
Histories of Herrera； Las Casas； Gomera； and Peter Martyr；
Navarrete's Collections； Memoir of Cabot； by Richard Biddle；
Hakluyt's Voyages； Dr。 Lardner's Cyclopaedia；History of Maritime
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。
A。 D。 1452…1498。
UNSUCCESSFUL REFORMS。
This lecture is intended to set forth a memorable movement in the
Roman Catholic Church；a reformation of morals； preceding the
greater movement of Luther to produce a reformation of both morals
and doctrines。 As the representative of this movement I take
Savonarola； concerning whom much has of late been written； more； I
think； because he was a Florentine in a remarkable age；the age of
artists and of reviving literature；than because he was a martyr；
battling with evils which no one man was capable of removing。 His
life was more a protest than a victory。 He was an unsuccessful
reformer； and yet he prepared the way for that religious revival
which afterward took place in the Catholic Church itself。 His
spirit was not revolutionary； like that of the Saxon monk； and yet
it was progressive。 His soul was in active sympathy with every
emancipating idea of his age。 He was the incarnation of a fervid；
living； active piety amid forms and formulas； a fearless exposer of
all shams； an uncompromising enemy to the blended atheism and
idolatry of his ungodly age。 He was the contemporary of political；
worldly； warlike； u