The progress of truth is slow but real. Time was when the nature and relations of man, and the means for his development were less understood than now; when the intellectual and moral were very much under the control of passion; when there was no Bible, no good government, no enlightened civilization. Now in different parts of the world we find nations comparatively enlightened, wealthy and moral; wholesome governments, free peoples and happy homes. We find nations not only increasing in vigor and greatness but engaged in enlightening those around them by the encouragement of manufactures and commerce, learning and morality.
Civilization has reached its present position by struggling through many fluctuations. The organizations of society have sometimes been broken up and the strongest governments overthrown; but history shows that after each succeeding revolution the institutions of society have been reorganized on a firmer basis. Egypt attained a respectable elevation in learning and civilization and fell. After her, Greece reached a loftier eminence, and in like manner passed away. Then followed Rome with a civilization more solid and comprehensive but not strong enough to save her from the fate of her predecessors. Out of the chaos which followed the destruction of the Roman Empire has been evolved slowly and with many a death-struggle between right and wrong, between liberty and tyranny, a civilization which takes a firmer hold on the nature of man and which strikes its roots deeper in truth, a civilization which, having outlived the wreck of nations, still acts with all the energy of youth.
The cause of these changes lies back of political parties and men and monarchs. These may be its instruments, but the cause itself is unseen, acting on the intellectual and moral nature of man. The term "principle" best defines it.
Of principles, there are two classes: just and unjust. Growing out of the former are liberty and civilization and whatever makes a true and noble manhood; out of the latter, oppression, ignorance and whatever degrades the human character. Wherever they meet, whether in a conflict between different nations or different parts of the same nation, one or the other must peaceably yield, or the strife must be settled in blood or, what is still worse, a disgraceful compromise. The last has been the mode in our own country until this glorious day. The various forms of contention, from the petty lawsuit up to the shock of armies, are only so many struggles for existence and influence between great and opposing principles—only parts of that sublime battle between right and wrong. Men being the voluntary representatives of these opposing principles, that will finally prevail which is most congenial to his nature, and just principles being more congenial, must at length come off victorious.
The highest degree of civilization is the greatest development of man. Man being made for happiness, where the means to secure it are the most abundant, there development is greatest. These means are wealth, knowledge and morality—wealth being a means to secure the other two as well as the physical comforts of life. The type of civilization in any age or nation embodies its ideas of justice—these being a part of its morality. With justice and benevolence to guide, wealth, knowledge, and morality act reciprocally—the increase of one causing an increase of the others. For example, as wealth increases, additional means are furnished for the spread of knowledge and morality. These three things are not only the means of civilization, they are its measure; as they increase it increases, as they are lacking misery abounds. Their amount has never been so great as today. Modern civilization is the highest the world has ever enjoyed, and just principles are more fully embodied.