The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-10

We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure Of
presenting to our readers the following tribute
to our country from foreign newspaper:
From the London Enquirer of Dec. 3. lS43.
ON THE CHARACTER OF THE CITIZENS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
Suggested BY the recent Letters Of the Rev. Sydney Smith
Illustrious slayer of nations thy work is done.
Soon will it have to be said, fMt Philadelphia
Jonathan is no more. He who denied all other
debts has been compelled to pay the debt Of ma
ture. Full many sturdy creditor advanced, and
took him by the throat, and said, pay me what
thou owest me-" but with his brawny arm he
flung him aside 1t remained for thee, British
Apollo! TO draw thy silver bow, and launch,
with fated aim, across the land and sea, thy
thrice sharpened and well polished shafts, and
there he lies, fairly witstruck, felled by fables,
pelted with puns, pierced with parallels, cut
short lin his days) by comparisons, black in the
face as in character, convused in death-as his
brother nations are with laughter-uttering for
his last words, as the Snowman does to grumb.
ling spectator, "I'd rather not have taken your
money, SIR" While he fingers out the short re-
naming period of his existence, it would be an
ungracious task TO enumerate his faings. Let
US rather run up few Of his good qualities, as
set-of to his recent miscariages. Omittng
the shameful days of Reputation, we will take
the first sixty years of the national existence Of
the United States, and ask,
|. What other civilized and Christian nation
has preserved PEACE, nearly unbroken, through
an equal period
H. What other nation, on the whole, so well
understands wherein TRUE GREATNESS consists,
and has produced jim this period an equal number
of truly great men! Put the question to the Pa
risian, the Londoner the native of Madrid, or Of
st. Petersburgh, what greatness is, and which
are his own greatest names, during this period,
and compare their answers with those of the
American citizen, and say which reply does mos
honor to human nature. Suppose the Londoner's
list of immortals not to be confined to naval and
military commanders, as it probably might, and
that it included Johnson, Burke, Pitt Fox, By.
ron, Scott, Coleridge, Southey. Must it not be
acknowledged, that although all in many re-
spects great, all were either stained by private
irregularities OF the grossest kind, or veered
round with the wind of the court or aristocratic
favor, SO as to deserve the name of turn coats,
or through life defended arbitrary and selfh prin-
ciples, blind and miserable preudces And can
this be said of Franklin, Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, Claiming, &c. Were not these stars
of the first magnitude in the catalogue of time.
pouring down pure, unchanged, and steady
light, from their rising 10 their sitting moments
iii. We would ask, in what country is the
much talked Of POOR MANS cHUBcH to be found
Is it not situated in that land in any part Of which
for very small contribution, or none at all
without any hierarchy, to trample upon him,
wi hout single 1.-THE murder to make him blush
for his religion, decently provided, yet wihoul
pomp and luxury of rites, to steal his heart from
heaven to earth, in log house, school room,
chapel, or steepled church, he can hear the glad
udngs from the minister of his own free choice!
" In, h,f 10 ID.
litcal Philosophy, including political economy il
its range, better understood! In what country
was it that reformatory discipline first began
to take the place of the old feudal re-
vengeful justice; and where have experiments il
the great problem of the amendment Of the offend
er been tried with kindlier watchfulness, and a
more truly philosophic spirit! To which of the
(more civilized and advanced) nations of Europe
could the American citizen be proftably sent to
learn what is yet wanting to him in the lessons
of political science and wisdom! Shall he he
sent to France to learn what bulwarks must be
raised around freedom by those who wish to pre-
serve her; how the press is to be;kept in order
without oppression to Spain, to know how tc
shun revolutions! to Portugal to bear taxes,
where minister who proposes any, however be.
nefcial to the health and well being of the state
is sure to lose his place? or to Russia or Austria
to learn to pay Bonds" in full! or shall he be
furnished with stool at British Home or Fo-
reign Office or India House, to learn how, with
greatest advantage to the state, to dispose Of sub
lects at home, who have just grounds of complaint,
and how to maintain Colonial moderation and
equity!
V. Which is the country, or nearest to being
so, of Unsectaran, Uncompulsory, and Universal
EDUCATION ~
Arise, youngest of the nations and accompa.
ny thine elder sister to the Temple of the Ruler
of the Universe, in whose sight all have offended,
that laying aside the grevous weight Of your sins,
we may run race of generous emulation in
truth and virtue to the end Of time.
*See Biard's estate of Religion, &c. in America"
who observes Gin the six New England States, edu-
cation is nearly universal as can be conceived"
A meeting of the citizens of Newark, friendly
to Mr. Frelinghuysen for Vice President, was
held on Friday evening last