The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-08

Dllnu us mo Dellef tnat III is right, ul'
intelligence of the people, aided by TIT
thousands of sentinels at the head of tn,
newspaper press continually on the aler
TO point out error in our administration
and even to see it where none actually eX
lists, will not suffer us long to remain il
darkness with such safeguards. Error cal
never long prevail amongst us, and de
signing men are taught i'll language not Il
be misunderstood, that honesty in polite
as well as in other things is the best poll
cy. Once in four years is judgment pass
ed upon the acts of our rulers, and each in
dividual citizen, without fear of punish
ment and unactuated by any hope of per
sonal reward or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at tn,
ballot boxes, casts his vote of condemna
ton or approval of a previous administra
ton, ard they, trembling in their seats
dare not but be honest and faithful to the
interests of those who have called them tC
watch over them. As means of intelli
gence our papers are OF incalculable value
Their number and cheapness place them
in the reach of all who would stretch GU
their hands to receive them. Even those
who run may read and become informed
through them of all that has transpired in
the political world. The world of science
and the arts-even the backwoodsman,
hundreds of miles from civilization--is
better informed in relation TO our govern
ment than thousands of men living in the
metropolises of Europe arc OF the despot-
isms under which they groan; our books
and papers are sent to every quarter OF the
globe, giving light TO thousands who
otherwise would not hear of liberty, and
imparting warmth to the hearts of all who
feel that man was born to be free ; our
political movements are anXiously watch
cd and dreaded by every crowned head
in Europe; and, as link after link of the
hideous chain of tyranny and oppression
is exposed TO view, the world is actively
engaged in striking them from their limbs
as fast as discovered; and in time--a
short time--it is no vain or idle prophe-
sy, to say that the people of all nations
will know their rights, and knowing, dare
to maintain them, and to America will be
the glory of having been the first in mo.
dern times to proclaim TO the world, thai
a people can only be free and happy
when each individual, no matter how
humble his condition, has an interest and
voice in the councils of his rulers, and
feels that he is their equal.
Since, then, our institutions are so va.
liable, and the blessings we derive from
them are so great it may not here be out
Of place TO consider on the means neces-
sary to preserve and hand them down to
our descendants as perfect as we ourselves
have received them.
1t is a we'll known and melancholy
fact, that all governments have had their
rise, decline, and fall Rome, imperial
Rome, (Which sat on her seven hills and
from her throne Of beauty ruled the
world and Greece, "sad relic of depart
ed worth, immortal though no more"-
where are they' They live but in histo-
ry ; their power has passed away like a
dream, and we know them but in name
"Obliyion vii! steal Silently the remnant of their
fame.
Beside the eternal Nile Tic pyramids have risen.
Nile shall pursue his changeless way, those py-
ramids shall fall,
Yea, not stone shall stand to tell the SPOT
whereon they stood -
Their very site shall be forgotten, as is their
builders name
History proves that all nations have had
their rise and downfall Some have ex-
listed for longer time than others. 1t is
true, some have withstood the shock for
centuries, while others have passed
through an ephemeral existence of but few
days duration and republics, especially
have been of short duration. But our own
republic differs from all others that have
ever existed, and upon the intelligence
industry, and virtue of the people, it may
rest with well founded hope that it viii
be perpetual. But what is necessary &c
ensure a continuance of it!
In the first place, | consider that it is
necessary that we should form habits o.
industry, economy, and sobriety, withou
which nopeople can be happy or virtuous
1t cannot be denied that luxury is one o
the most ruinous vices that people car
indulge in. 1t is ruinouS alike to bod,
and mind. When we revert back, ant
seek for the causes which have aided il
the dowlall of nations, we sec amongs
them luxury stand pre-eminent. It's ap
proaches are silent, but no less certain
Let us, then, discard it as the most deadl,