The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-21

pulse 10 the energies VI tbc tluIHdH hHhu'
81 are awakening tho great mass olthe popu-
lation of the civilized world to exertions
unparalleled in the history Of our race.
This nation has every facility for sailing
directly onward in. this tide of improve
ment, and the inventive and enierprlsng
genius, by which many of its citizens have
signalized themselves, prove that it is quail
fed for advancing on its foremost wave.
And this is not only an age of increasing
light but it is an age of benevolent action.
The growing zeal of the protestant christ
endom for the universal propagation OF the
gospel, and the astonishing success which,
in many instances has attended christian
missions among the heather, mark this
as an aye preparatory 10 the moral renova-
ton of the earth. New and wonderful
scenes are evidently about TO open. What
facilities have the American people for act
ing glorious part in that greatest of all en-
terprizes the clirsfanization of the world!
Who can tell but that an all wise Providence
has nourished up colonies in thea Mds Of
this continent, conducted them to national
independence, defended and sustained them,
after becoming sovereign states, through ev-
cry trying crisis of their history, and fur
nished them with such vast resources that
they may exert mighty instrumentality in
the moral improvement of the whole hu-
man family? So far as we can gather from
prophecy the concluding scenes Of time are
Fastening 10 their developement. Ameri-
ca has commenced her career at period
when, after doing much to usher them in,
she may battle herself in the MONDAY splen-
dors of millenniaI glory.
=" Hope waits the morning of celestial light;
Time plumes his wings for everlasting flight,
Unchanging seasons have their march begun,
Millennial years are fastening to the sun.
Seen thro' thick clouds by faiths transpirng eyes,
The New Creation shines in purer skies"
Nor should the position ,cbich the finer
ican people occupy before other nations be
overlooked IN estimGting their privileges
and responsibilities. We have cast off the
incumberance of monarchical govern
ment and all their burdensome apendages,
have adopted the representative and repnb-
lican form and have undertaken to govern
ourselves. And this is regarded by all the
world as a, very doubtful experiment, as it
is well known that the republics Of ancient
time, while they were subject TO frequent
and great popular commolions, were Of but
short duration, while those of modern
times have either soon reverted into mon
arches or degenerated into aristocracies.
America has, therefore, the eyes of many
nations fixed upon her, with the deepest
intensity. Ever since the commencement
of her political existence, she has been the
subject Of the maledictions of princes and
lords and hierarchs. The advocates of des-
potism have been exulling over every ap-
pearance Of her instability and have been
loud in procaiming every token of her fail
ure, and loreboding her downfall. On the
other hand the oppressed and the struggling,
OF all lands, have looked to her as their po-
lar star, by whose light they hoped to be
guided t9 the haven of freedom and happi-
ness. Nations casting off the yoke of des-
potlc power, have been cheered by her ex-
ample, and taken her institutions for their
pattern, in the formation Of their own. She
has been honoured with the appelalion Of
the model republic. France in her finally
unsuccessful, but not altogether useless
attempt to abolish her feudal' institutions
was incited by her example. The States
OF Central and South America, in their re.
cent exertions for independence have been
animated and emboldened by her success
and copied her political organization. 1t is
evident, therefore, that she has it in her power
to exert mighty influence upon the poiti.
cal and social state of the world, and can
LEAD the way in the enfranchisement and
reformation. of the nations. Should she
sleadlastly abide by the principles she pro
iesses, and the constitution and laws. she
has adopted, should she, while she main
talns herself invioate from tyrany on the
one hand, stand aloof from INSTRUMENTATION
ana anarchy on the other, and in her mag
nlhclent Union of many States, pursue hel
glorious career for century to come, whc
can measure the effects of her example II
dong away those rigorous and oppressive
systems of government, and those despotic
and lnlquitous institutions which, all oveI
} the earth, have so long bowed down intC
the dust the soul ofmanl Ere the close o
this period, her influence will have shaker
down the entire ancient and gigantic slIuc
lures oil European feudaism, it will hayl
rlyen the massive chains Of Asiatic bondage
twill have hurled eyeryAfrican tyrant from
: his throne of gold and ivory, and renova
ted the remoteSt islands of the sea