The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-11
FRAGMENTS FROM GERMAN PROSE
WRITER'S.
TRANSLATED BY SARAH AUSTIN.

GERMANY Surrounded by the nations which have
the chief and foremos. influence on the condition and
destinies of mankind, lies Faiherand strong
against ALL formidable TO most, in six hundred thou
never excelled. For whoms0ever and for whatsoever
cause they take arms whoever be their leader with
them rests the balance Of political power the liberties
Of Europe, the welfare Of the human race.
BY Garmans-was the last universal monarchy over
thrown from among them proceeded the rulers OF the
States which out Of its ruins, in of whom,
chosen by themselves Europe recognized the title
and rank of Caesar while the abuse Of his power was
mainly checked by the spirit of German freedom.
country, more than twelve thousand square
miles in extent fruitful yet rather in what ministers
to the necessities, than the luxury and vouptuous
ease Of man fostering the growth Of an active and
industrious spirit by her towns and OF high
culture and civilization by her many capitals; suffi-
cently furnished with and rivers for commerce.
yet not 10 such degree that the mercantile spirit
can ever become national and predominant; lying un-
der climate neither enervaiing from heat pain
full from cold but of healthful men, and thence pro-
ducing organization of the human species equally
removed from the extremes of rigid apathy and eiem
nate sensibiliy; country peopled by men vigorous
both IN labor and in enjoyment apt and intelligent in
invention incning always to the useful, and patient
IN improving and perfectng; full of feeling for the
beautiful and in the fine arts second to none, yet still
successful in the investigation Of the true and in
the accomplishment Of the great remar kablc for
good sense and for unwearied perseverance, obedien
dent at the name Of freedom, and worthy to enjoy
people capable Of any thing if they have but suff
cient pride to throw aside all imitation, and be con-
tented to be German. Such is people-such is
Germany.
Country Kindred and Freedom. Wherever, o
man, Gods sun fist beamed upon thee, where the
stars of heaven first shone above thee,-where his
lightnings first declared his omnipotence, and his
storm-wnd shook thy soul with ptous awe,-there are
thy affections, there is thy country.
haro he frat huu,a hart p,Iu tbv
cradle where thy mother first bore thee joyfuly
her bosom,-where thy father engraved the words of
wisdom in thy hear, there thy affections, there
is thy country.
And though il be among bare rocks and desert
sandr, and though poverty and dwell there with
thee, thou must love that land forever for thou AIT
man, and thou canst not forget it, but must abide
in thine inmost heart.
And freedom is empty dream, barren mag-
nation but in her dwell thy courage, and thy PRIDE
and the certainty that thou art Of high and heavenly
race
There is freedom where thou canst live according
to the customs and fashions and laws of thy fathers
where that which rejoced their hearts rejoices thine
where no foreign oppressor can command thee, no
foreign roller drive thee at his will cattle at the will
OF their drivers
This thy country, thy free country a treasure
which contains within itself indes ructble love and
faith the noblest good excepting religion, in which
dwells still higher freedom) that virluous man
possess or can coyet.
SUNsET.-The sun sinks, and the earth closes her
great eye like that of dying god. Then smoke the
hills like affairs out Of every wood ascends chorus
the wells of day. the shadows float around the enkin-
died, transparent tree tops and fall upon the gay,
gemIike flowers And the FURNISHED gold of the
throws back dead gold the east, and tnges with
rosy light the hov ring breast of the tremulous lark
the evening bell of nature.
Mans DEsTINY.-But man is higher than his dwell
ing place; he looks up and unfolds the wings of his
soul, and when the sixty minutes which call sixty
years have pa sed he takes fight kindling he rises
and the ashes Of is fathers fall back to earth and the
unveiled SOUL freed from its covering of clay pure
as tome ascends on high Even in the midst of the
dim shadows of life, he the mountains Of the flu
ture world gdeJ with the morning rays of a sun
which rises not here below.
So the lnhabitant Of polar regions looks into the long
night, in which there is sunrise but at midnight he
sees light, like the first rosy rays Of dawn cleaning
on the highest mountan-to tops, and he thinks of the
long summer in which il nevor sets.
HoPE AND CoURAoE.-True hope is based on
gy OF character. A strong mind always hopes, and
has always cause TO hope, because il knows the nua
biity OF human affairs, and how slight circumstance
may change the whole course of events. Such sp-
rt, too, rests upon itself II is no, confined to partial
views or to the particular object; and if at last
ii should be lost, it has saved sel-s integrity
and wsrth.
Hore awakens courage, while dependency is the
last of all evils it is the abandonment Of goodhe
giving up Of the battle of life with dead nothingncss
He who can implant courage in the human soul is ts
best physician.
To seek TO govern men BY their fears and their
wants is an unworthy purpose The desire to rule
by means Of cowardice is itself cowardce. Love in
spires courage and hope, and thus douby the giyer
and preserver of lif,
Whatever teaches US boldly TO combat the manifold
doubts and assaults Of life enables TO win the crown
Of victory Special ought therefore to be taken
in education to teach what true courage s-as well in
social and domestic, in public afairs-and by what
means II NAV be best sustained.