Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-11-28

AAo q oti mug p1oOi Vi ihS iNiiiiNJ VI
American genius, the patent office can
furnish most complete cabinet of arti-
fetal curiosities, of machinery, in minia-
ture, purely of domestic invention. OF
these we shall name only three-the
plough, the printing press, and the ma
rine pump, as of primary utility.
The stupendous works which are
here undertaken, to promote intercourse,
and improve internal navigation, by con-
structing canals, locking the cataracts,
and sinking the beds of our navigable
and boatable rivers, is another evidence
of the boundless extent of American en-
terprize.
Although Great Britain, France and
Italy may claim the pre-eminence over
US in manufactures and the fine arts, yet,
with confidence may it be asserted, that
no nation on earth, at the expiration OF
1900 years from the date OF its origin,
had ever made equal Improvements in
heSc respects. ana many OF our
manufactures already rival, if they do
not excel the European, in texture, fine
ness and durability.
Respecting the fine arts, every person
of can, 'or, taste and refinement, must
readily grant, the Americans have ar
rived much nearer the goal of perfec-
ton, than could -alionally have been ex-
pected from a peopiss IN an lntan'lie
state. That we are not deficient III
architecture, many of our public eds!,hces
and private dwellings furnish convinc-
ing testimonials and our public ships
are, allowedly, the most perfect models,
and by competent and impartial judges,
have been acknowledged to be equal, if
not superior, to the finest ships of their
size in the British navy, for speed,
strength and durability.
In painting, Trumbull, West, or a
Leslie, might do honor to the pencil Of
Raphael
Respecting oratory and rhetoric, an
Ames and a Randolph, if inferior TO CT
cero and Demosthenes, will never be
found occupying the back ground, when
set in competition with Burke, She
ridan, or a Chatham. Would our time,
and the readers patience admit farther
discussion, we might readily shew that
the Americans have been no less atten-
tive to music, bellies lettres, sculpture,
engraving, &c.
The United States admit no rival in
trade and commerce, (Great Britain ex-
cepted.) Our flag waves inevery ocean,
our canvass whitens every sea.
As to literature, although our worthy
progenitors emigrated from the humber
walks of life, and could lay claim TO but
a small share of science and learning,
they paid seasonable attention to the es-
Enlistment of schools, academies, and
colleges. Some of these have been
erected on very liberal principles, and
are handsomely endowed. These have
produced numbers, who have exhibited
a shining figure in the republic OF let
ters--a Webster, Bingham, and all
Alexander, have done much in refining
and improving our language. A Morse
has defined the limits, portrayed the
landscape, and enumerated the privi-
leges and productions of our country.
Jefferson, arshall, Ramsay, Williams,
Trumbull, Belknap, and Hubbard, shall
transmit our annals to future genera
tons.
States and Kingdoms, like individuals,
have their rise, progress, and decline.
The progress of ours has been uncom-
monty rapid. Like Minerva, the United
States were " born adult" If, therefore,
we indulge pride, luxury, and effemina-
cy, here is reason to fear that our ruin
will be equally precipitate. Indeed, we
have been visited with some judicial dis
pensations of late. Witness the dis
tressing and extensive fires iii Savannah,
Schenectady, and Troy. We have the
consolation, however, to hope that these
affective dispensations have had, in some
instances, happy effect Oh the morals
of the citizens. Should this prove to be-
more generally the case, and honor, vir-
tue, morality, and religion be coextensive-
with our numbers, we may entertain the
pleasing hope, ere long, to realize the
accomplishment Of that transporting de-
claration of the Jewish prophet, "and
all nations shall call you blessed; foa
yc shall be delighsome land"
PATRIOT.