Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-12-18

pageants; and (most strange Of ally al
most without taxes--in Short, without
force applied to their persons, or frauds
practised on their understandings, is a
conclusion most deyoutly to he depre-
Gated by those who hold mankind in
thraldom, and only slowly believed by
the liberal minded, even after it had re-
ceiveda practical demonstration. Gene
rations yet unborn will bless and honor
the men who confided in The virtue of
their species in defiance of power and
ridicule, and made The bid experiment,
the issue Of which has r.ised The destiny
OF The human race. The Washlngtons,
the Franklins, the JcHersons, who framed
those noble institutions, will be hailed
by the enlightened and generous, as the
greatest benefactors of mankind. Their
courage and wisdom have realized a
state Of society SURPRISING all that an
cient sages had imagined in the dreams
Of their bnevolepce. While the glo-
rious work exists, wereit even in the re-
motest corner of the globe, there is
hope of emancipation for the most be-
nighted nations. But in lis present state
we see but the feeble beginnings of that
influence which, in the fulness of its
strength, il is destined TO exert over the
fate of the wofld.--lt is dcducible from
undisputed daa, that in the short space
of one century, fhe United States will
contain hundred millions ofinhabitants.
Such a population, speaking one Ian
guage, living under one Government,
and enjoying the benefit of institutions
calculated above all Others to develope
the energies Of man, will be phenome-
non (which the pasthistory of mankind
can scarcely enabk US to form concep-
ton. The American Government will
then be at the had of an amount of
moral and physical force which has
never been equalltd, and must be ire
sistible. II tyranny shall then exist in
any corner of Europs, it must be by the
sufferance Of America.
+ A government SO constructed is the
greatest achievemcnaoF philosophy since
philosophy had her birth. Andi it is sur
prising, that an objedt possessing such
unrivalled moral grandeur, has so sell
dom awakened corresponding sentiments
in the minds of tiIose VIII. lave contefn-
plated or described it. Something must
be allowed for the effect of those modes
of thinking which have grown up amidst
thcusages ofthe old world; which teach
us to confound grandeur with pagesntry,
and simplicity with mcanness. Notwith-
standing cur pretsntions to refinement, ii
is undeniable that in all public matters
VIC exhibit the srotesque and piebald
taste of an Insian. The South sea
islander, who tapos his face with ochre,
and runs iish's bone through his nose,
is not more ridiculous, in the eye of
reason, than tle European Prince or
courier, who DIVERS himself With gild- |
ing and trumpfy gewgaws, which man
of sense would be ashamed TO have in
his house, and then exhibits himself like
a harlequin tothe admiration Of children
and the dersioa Of men Of scnse. I'he
taste which dictes this barbarious buf- !
fooAery is Of tie same stock with that
which prefers Eilded block ofwood 10
"a Grccian s,atu4. And The man who
Identities grcatness with such paltry ex-
hibhions is as liable TO appreciate the
sublime simplicity ofthe American sys-
TEN, as savage is to feel tie beauty OF
the DeNiderc Apollo. Every Vulgar
minded Greek cbnld admire the Olympic
chariot of Dionfsius but it was only a
small and rhos III circle who could feel
the sublimity oithe death Of Socrates
The volume before us shows that in the
philosophy whth results from exaliation
of sentiment, wbnen often get the start
OF the men. The moral sublime Ok the |
American democracy was neyerso deep
ly felt, and SO eloquent'y described, as
ii these Letters Of In English y oman. "
The generous feelings of her sex save
her the trouble ofla!prious speculations,
Nor has her Enthusiasm been nourishedi
in ignorance of its object. She has wit
messed It's all prevailing and beneficial in
fluence, and her admiration Of the Anne
rican Government is but an expansion of
those sentiments dbehevolence and love
Of Justice which flourish in every mind |
whers cultivation is united with true
sensibility. 1t j impossible to despair
of a country wheje such minds are strew-
ed through the dircles OF private life.
THE RATTLE SNAKE.