American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-12-17

WILMINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1924

Extract from a +" Communication ON the improve
ment of government read before the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, in
presence of General LA FAyETTE by CHARLES
J. INcERsoLL.
Our enviabe associate, Gen. La Fayette, the dis
cple OF Franklin, intimate of his legitimate successor,
tor many years the President of this society, who car
red into the Presidency of the country the beneyo-
lent, economical just and pacific doctrines oil the phi
losophy OF the age has uniformly, under all ycssi
tudes in both worlds maintained it from the Fl, 81, Till
ded by the brilliant present; when part of his
requiais popular coronation, to which the triumph
OF old or any modern pageant bears but faint
semblance. For cold and cherries is bespoken
and organized pomp. No spectacle is either ply
slcally or morally comparable in magniicence to
that OF rejoicing nation. No government can
rouse people like their own awakening. No trea~
shry can afford the means, no ordinance pro-
duce the effects, of the gralutous ostenation of an
unanimous people. America does not forget the
romantic forthcoming OF the most generous,
sstent and heroic of the knights OF the old world
TO the rescue OF the new. She has always dwelt
delighted on the constancy of the nobleman who
Icould renounce titles and wealth, for more histor-
ical and phanthropic honors the commander re-
nouncing power, who never shed drop of blood
for conquest vain glory. She has often trembleds
but never bushed, for her oriental champion, when
tried by the alternate and rage of the
terrific mobs, and imposing monarchs. She knows
that his hosp!table mansion The shrine at which
her citizens in France consecrated their faith to n-
dependence.
Thither did all her valiant youth resort,
And from his memory inhame their breasts
To matchess yalour. and adventures high.
Invited to revisit the scenes of his FIRST eminence,
the very idolatry of his welcome abounds with re.
deemng characteristics of self-government. A
squadron of steam boats brought him TO the
shore. A steam boat of larger dimensions than
the ships of war to which. in the time of Henry the
Great, those of all the rest of Europe yelled their
Gags, has been a vehicle of his pleasure embles
matte OF the enterprise, mobility, abundance, COM
fort and equality of the country, which the last
time our distinguished guest assisted a meeting Of
this society," July, 1885, was poor, in debt. feebes
and uncertain of its destiny. A population more
numerous, more homogeneous and lncomparably
more intelligent than that of England, when Louis
the Fourteenth, with half million of reg ular SOL
ders, chased to the gardens of Versailles bets
ter housed clothed, and led than any other stand
forth, in mass, more than ten million strong
ing two thousand miles square of territory, mar
tia and lofty nation, without any impulse of gov
eminent, displaying their happiness, their strength,
and their gratitude by national jubilee to signal
re the arrival of their guest. The sons OF sires
triling tax, ready to lavish their last cent to
make him welcome. An industrious people, who
earn their daily bread by labor, suspend all occupa
ton bur rejoicing with him. His voluntary escort
consists of larger bodies of well equipped troops
than could be raised throughout the revolution.
Hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts, of all sexes,
all ages and conditions, daily and nightly throng-
led together in his train, without disorder, confusion,
or crime. Learned and pious societies, the female
all the church, the professions, the various
trades, the swarms of innumerable schools city
corporations, the magistrates of four and twenty
sovereign states and of the adult empire Of their
Union all business laid aside-lhe courts OF JUS
Itice shut-party, and avarice, ard every other pas
sion hushed- from every private dwelling and pub
Lie edi6ce, pour out to swell the perfectly placid
and regulated current that bears upon its bosom
not cheftain reeking from reckless victory, spark
ling with the trophies OF rufian war, drenched with
tears of blood, incensed by vulgar aduation--No:
But simple individual, without authority, power,
patronage, or recent exploit, venerable with age,
meowed by misiortunes--who has nothing but his
blessing to give IN return, whose merits are remote
recollections, whose magic is Observation-Disclosures
proved by long life of temperate consistency, to
be worthy of this homage in the commemoralion
of Independence. The man of whom no instance
is known of selhshness or dangerous abuse-whose
sword itself was the gilt OF the founder oil the
temple of concord-with such man, as the repre-
sentative of the prosecuted but triumphant cause,
a sedate and thinking people give vent to their en-
thusiasm. They raise him before the world as it's
image, and bear him through illuminated cities and
widely cultivated regions, all redoent with iestivry,
and every device of hospitality and entertainment,
where, when their independence was declared,
there was little else than wilderness and war.
A. 81, If CoI a,,,T,~