Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-02-17

In me past history OF Inc WORM, uu'h, anu
right. and justice have neither been acknowl-
edged or followed in the practical life of hu.
manity, however much they may have been
percepuble to men of genius. whose opinions
indeed are no test of the character OF The times
in which they lived; for they are OF all ages
and times. like the truths they worship.
I'VE eanno, help reu.arking," says an elo-
quent English writer, in this connection,
"what deception We suffer TO pass on US
from history. |. celebrates some period IN
nations career, as pre- eminenily iinstrious
for magnanimity. lofty enterprise, literature.
and original genius. There was perhaps
learned and vigorous monarch, and there were
Cecils. and Waisinghams, and Shakespeafes,
and Sponsors, and Sidneys. and Ralelghs,
with many other powerful thinkers AM actors,
TO render it the proudest age of our natioual
glory. And we ihoughilessly admit. on our
imagination this splendid exhibition as repre-.
sentlng. in seine indistinct manner tho coliec-
tive condition OF the people OF that age. The
ETHEREAL summiis of IA tract OF the moral world
are conspicuous and fair in the luc,re OF heav-
en-. and we take no thought OF the immensely
greier proportion Of IL which is sunk IN gloom
and covered with fogs. The general mass of
the population, whose phoscal vigour. indeed,
and courage, and fidelity TO the interest Uf the
country, were of such admissible avail 10 the
purposes, and under the direction of the nigh
ty spirits that welded their rough agency;
this great mass Was sunk in such menta! bar
barism as TO be placed at about the same dis
tance from their illustrioos intellectual chiefs,
as the hordes of Sythia from the most eleva-
ted minds Of Athens"
In this way is injustice done to the present,
and the hopes Of humanity darkened. We
compare the brightest spirits Of the past. ten
ants as they are Of all time, with the daily
drivel or dirt. that we encounter. But. III
jos, comparison. the prospects of mankind, as
they are now evidenced, grow SO bright as TO
dazzle the Imagination Of the most hopeful.
Ii there is much crime there is also world OF
sef-sacriclng and determined goodness. The
spread OF Christianity, and more enlarged
perception of its glorious tendencies, reforms
the world now as fast as old supersti.ons sank
it into Ignorance. Whatever the practical life
OF The man who lives in the nineteenth centu-
~, he dare not so run counter to the spirit OF
the age, as 10 proclaim any but the best mo-
lives for his conduct. He assumes a virtue,
if he has i, not, THIS may make hypocries
OF some, but it makes good men OF more, for
SO benign is the influence of vii,ue. thai her
maxims cannot be repeated without having
some effect upon The heart. OF Ike blessings
that flow from the wide diffusion Of knowl
edge, by means of the mail and the press,
those great arteries through which lifegiving
knowledge is conveyed to the meanest mem
Der of The body polite. we have lefi ourselves
no space TO speak. Tha, we are now address
sing thousands of readers, who, for sum
which the poorest can miss from his earnings.
are supplied with whole encyclopedia Of
learning. with weekly store Of information.
which no lime or expense could 10 oden times
have Obtained, is very notable fact of itself
Ignorance is The grearest foe TO mental and
moral improvement. Her sway is fast yield
ing TO the power Of the press. 1.-The inven-
lion ofprinting is indeed the noblest scquisi-
lion Of science; il is the impregnable fortress
Of civilization; no political changes, no physic-
al viciss,udes, no mutation short Of the com.
p!eie extinction Of mankind. can henceforih re-
store the empire Of The world TO Ignorance"