Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-06-22
MISCELLANEOUS SELECTIONS.

MISCELLANEOUS SELECTIONS.
OUR COUNTRY IN PROSPECTIVE.
It's fact which, on account Of the
consequences with which it is pregnant,
ought to be continually reiterated, that
our population doubles in twenty-five
wears. How shall provision be made
for the intellectual and moral improve
ment Of these swarming millions?.-
Within twenty-five years from the
present day, provision ought TO be
made for the education of ten millions
Of young citizens. My countrymen,
look along the line Of time. Antici-
pate the future. Contemplate your
country as filled with two hundred
millions of citizens, educated, virtuous,
manly, high-minded freemen! all liv-
ing under equal laws, all happy, and
ministering to each others felicity.
Think with what power America will
then be invested what glory will sur
round her. The faircst forms that ever
presented themselves to the eye Of the
poet, in the hour of highest inspiration,
and when the most enraptured visions
broke on his Imagination, do not exceed
in grace, and beauty, and glory, those
which our country may assume in the
enjoyment of truly virtuous and well
regulated liberty.
But there is painful contrast to this
scene. It is mournful to behold, yet
the sight may be salutary Suppose
then that ignorance and vice should ex-
tend their deadly influence-and that
the masssof population should become
the miserable victims Of Incidence and
dissipation; should be such creatures as
we find ON the margin of our great wa
tiers, or in the hearts of some of our
intcrninable forests--what then would
be the state of the country? Where
now the freeman raises his manly front
and shows a countenancc conscious Of
inward dignity, and an eye bcamiDg
with intelligence, we shall see the poor
abject, crawling fattercr, the pander Of
a great mans lusts, the minion of pow
er. Is this impossible? Look at Rome.
Where once the eloquence Of Cicero
pouredit its light and beauty; and where
once higher spirit than he rose, reful-
gent from the stroke of Caesars fate,
and shook his crimson steel, and called
on Tullcy's name, and babe the father
of his country hail, for Rome again is
free; even there, men who have dared
to call themselves priests of the living
God, and representatives of the meek
and benevolent Savior, under a hypo-
critical prctence Of religion, have ever
forged chains for the mind, and bound
conscience in letters. There slavery
in the most degrading form has prevail
ed, and has. branded with lis disgrace
the image Of the Most High, in nan.
Look at Greece, where eloquence
moulded at will the fierce democracy;
where Leonidas fought and Dcmosthe-
mes spoke; even where the cross itself
has become the emblem Of subsection;
and the descendants Of Greeks have
worn the chain even amidst the Sc
pulchres of their fathers. Athenian
and Spartansmothers have sent sons to
serve in the palace Of the pachas, and
daughters 1.-The seraglio. What has
been may be. Vice and ignorance will
always pave the way for dcspotism and
slavery. Essss7. s. :
Seeing these things are so-what is
our duty? Are we not urged by eve
~ motive Of patriotism to unite and