THE BATtALlON. il
gardens thrive and flourish udder the
IMoense of our national laws. Whisky
^shops and gambling dens And protection
beneath the stars and stripes of the
American Union. The fate of stranded
nations darkens these dangers and ap
peals to us that only true education and
proper development of intellectual pow
ers will destroy social vices. Cultured
intellect marks the standard of man’s
existence and proud aspirations elevate
his moral character. ^ We find in the
iruins of Rome, Carthage and Greece that
ignorance was the despot upon the throne,
wrar a proud resort for pleasure, and crime
the blazing'sword of nobility. As the bar
barities sank to the earth the nations
crumbled into oblivion and the Divine
arm created mightier powers. The sun
shine of prosperity has dawned upon
this fair land and the gentle breeze o
intelligence has fanned every hill and
valley. We have sealed the lofty peaks
of knowledge and reached the highest
pinnacle of glory. We gaze with delight
through the Gallilian telescope, upon the
beauties of the celestial world. We solve
God’s hidden problems and calculate the
magnitude of a vast eternity. Science
and art are mastered by the mind of man
and he searches for more difficult prob
lems to satisfy his superior capabilities.
'The very dome of intellectual attainments
is our footstool and while we may boast
of our knowledge, worth and splendor
we may question the security of our
foundation. Our pride may blight our
^expectations and our magnificence may
vanish as the vapor. While our nation
al prosperity is guarded by superior
intellects our existence is corrupted by
political demagogues. While peace and
liberty wave their banners from the At-
Llantie ,to the Pacific, dangers pollute the
atmosphere of a mighty nation. Money
ia the strong arm of political power and
corruption funds elect governors and
presidents. Legislation suppresses the
wage worker to favor tne,-foreign capit
alist, and each year makes the poor
poorer and the rich richer.
In union there is strength and in di
vision destruction, and the fragments of
two grand political parties are hurled in
every direction. Democracy teaches her
new born babe to triumph by conquest
and combat; republicanism warns her
posterity that opponents are dreaded foes,
and ere these tender youths reach their
maturity their conflicts will shake the
pillars of the mightiest nation on the
globe. More than twenty-five years
have elapsed since the roll of drum or
the roar of cannon was heard in America,
but scarcely three years have passed since
our clear sky of peace was clouded by a
cloud that rose from s. Italy’s western
shore, darkened in Chili’s warm atmos
phere and sank on the borders of Mex
ico’s plains. These troubles perhaps
will not be resurrected by coming years,
yet they prove to us that enmity lives in
this enlightened age. Extravagance is
fast undermining our finances, and bur
political current is drifting toward a
destiny that will startle the American
citizen. A. M.
TO fLELLilB.
W RITTEN AT MIDNIG HT.
Oh ! fair thy name and rare thou art,
To me who loveth thee so dear,
The sweetest name on earth to hear
Is that dear name of thine, sweetheart:
But oh! how' soon that we must part,
Alas! alas! too soon I fear.
For you, my love, to ever hear
The sad outpouring of my heart.
For all my love, is thine, dear otic,
And all my heart to you I give,,
Will you, sweetheart, accept? iny love?
Only grant to me this boon, -
For you I never more rnay;see
Until we- meet in Heav'n above.
, —Nemo.