Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-09-21
Ayred.-Bruce. Washington.-Th,

most elevatlng passages. in the history of
our race are those national resurrectons,
as we may call them, in which the popular
spirit that has seemed extinguished has
suddenly shot up again into blaze, and
the cause OF liberty or independence, after
having been given up for lost by almost all
men, has yet been raised from the dust and
set on high by one mans patriotism, which
no despair could quench. Even if human
life were mere game, every such rebound
OF people from depression and degreda-
ton would be pregnant with interest and ex-
cltement. But the occasion is always one
on which far higher qualities are called into
exercise than mere skill and dexterity, or
any kind of talent and courage: ability,
great and varied, there must be-, of course;
but the sustaining inspiration of the effort Is
always the moral grandeur and strength
which the crisis developes, both in individ-
uals and in the heart and soul of the nation.
VI all the other means and resources by
which contests among men are influenced
and decided, there is generally more store
in the hands of established Tyranny, than
IN those of the young power that attempts
to throw 1t down; there is no reason, at
least, why the counsellors and generals
of the former should not be fully the equals
of those Of the latter in political wisdom
and in military science, while with armies
and the whole material strength of war,
they are likely to be much more plentifully
provided; if the issue therefore depended
solely or chiefly upon the conflict either of
physical or intellectual elements, the chan
ces would always be greatly against the
success of even the most righteous insur-
rection. But the life and best might of
such cause lie in higher principle than
that either Of physical force or Intellectual
capacity. "Thrice is he armed" it has
been truly said, "that hath his quarrel just )"
besides the blessing of heaven that may in
that case be deemed to go with him, his
sense of his quarrel's justice is as good to
him as another right hand, and braces eve-
ry sinew to double vigor. On this side
too, every thing is at stake. The struggle
is not tor mere power and glory, but for
existence itself or for all that makes exist.
ence dear-for air to breathe or for the
decision of the question, whether the breath
that's drawn shall be life or poison. Hence
the care, and vigilance, and activity, of
leaders and followers, the circumspection,
and economy in all things, the quick seiz-
ure Of every advantage, the great deeds
that are achieved the important ends and
objects that are gained, with the scantiest
means. Hence perseverance to the
death, and endurance whose nerves toll
and hardshps only harden and strengthen.
And not new energies only are called
forth, in all engaged in the solemn enter
prize; it infuses something Of its own ma
iesty into each and elevates his whole mind
and nature -
, Gods walked the earth or beings more than
Such contest, crowned with victory,
never fails to leave behind it certain
nobility Of blood and character to the
people which has worked out its freedom.
1t is cheering also 10 observe how often
1t happened that national regeneration of
this kind has been essentially the work of
but q single individual. The circumstance
no doubt in all such cases may be said to
have called forth the man, and to have pro-
vided him the means of accomplishing
what he did; but still, without the man to
turn them to account, the circumstances
would have existed to no purpose. They
were at most the ready instrument, which |
with all their aptitude, would have laid dead |
and useless had they not been taken up and
welded by his living hand. 1t is cheering,
we say, to perceive in this way, what one |
man can do. 1t helps to keep alive that
| fol in oh IL e.
what in danger Of losing in highly artif-
cial state of society, when the individual
seems to be wholly swallowed up in the
throng like drop of water in the ocean;
and all operations seem to be carried on,
and all effects to be wrought by the move
ments Of men in masses. This state Of
things is attended with great convenences
and advantages; and it is, besides the inev-
table result of advanced civilization so
that, if its advantages were less than they
are, it would be in vain to struggle against
it; but that is no reason why we should not
resist and gladly avail ourself of whatev-
err helps us better to resist any depressing
tendency il may have in the direction we
have mentioned. Nothing could be con.
ceived better fitted to train mankind to any
yoke of bondage to which it might be at
tempted to subject them, than the extinction
of all strong belief in the efficacy of indi.
vidual exertion, and the general diffusion
among us ofthe conviction that each individ-
ual in the system of society, was no better
than one of the units in battalion, or a
helpless revolving spoke In one of the
wheels of machine.
Of the modern European communities
almost every one has, at one period or ano.
Their of its existence, been served out and
saved in the manner of which VIC have spo-
ken. Thus Spain has had her Pelayo,
Switzerland her Tell, France her Maid of
Orleans. Porinpal her Alfonso Henrinnns