The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-16

| ne Idutu loIIHs " utHtI
The present forblds III license of poetic
imagery and machinery, which endure
NO, the frowning grze of cold, sceplical
philosophy.
A past history, possessing the bold in
cidenl, the strongly marked feature, the
extraordinary viclsstude of fortune, the
tumulluous scene of war, affords all The
nobler elements Of song and romance.
The scene of fiction must be obScured by
clouds on which II may paint the beauty
of the rainbow, and thus obscured, like
the moon-lit landscape, it has a more
thrilling cnchanment. Here it may ele-
vate the hero TO a god, AMI please the fam
CIV more as it taxes, credulity. Even sci
ence smiles at the grandeur Of the antique
temple, while the modern she enters, even
The pcnetrala, and, with sacIIegious
handle, tears the fllels from the affairs,
rends the veil Of mysteries, and exposes
all that is sacred TO the scott Of her srep,ic
sons. The fancy Of Spencer peopIed
fairy world. The pomp and pageantry
of war, the crisis of human affairs, long
! passed, stood forth in Tie ken Of Shaks.
peare, like the distant mountains of the
landscape. The bold adventure of chiva-
ry, the romantic superstilious tale which
ignorant hind might tell, or aged maron.
whose "brain was warped and wrung,"
the wizards charm, the spell of the en-
chanier, were portrayed by the "Grea,
Unknown"
These men have found the materials Of
their nations literature in It's early hislo-
ry; nor arc they wanting to ours The
quaint character, sterling integrity, and ar
dent enthusiasm of the Puritan th, wild
Indian, noble in justice, revengeful of in
jury, with fond affection lingering around
his fathers tomb, whitening and vanish
ing before the breath Of The destroyer;
the ilroes Of mortal combat in freedoms
cause, and the thousand wonderful inslan-
ces OF heavenly providence in preserving
our earliest fathers from destruction in
| hopeless extremity, and their children in
the crises which tried their souls, in po-
verify, sickness, and in war, in planting,
supporting, and urging on this western
empire with giant strides TO greatness
all these arc TO be mirrored forth TO the
eye of the world
Such are the materials for literature
which our early history affords, and they
are sulliceet for a mighty fabric. Other
nations boast Of their learning, ard launt
us with The want Of it, while they enjoy
not the blessings which flow from true
wisdom. The "wse men Of the East"
even now come to behold our halls of JUS
tce, and they may hereafter come to
drink from our fountains of learning. But
yet our nation has much true glory.
Though not immortal in song, she bath
virtue that scatters happiness and beams
of glory OH every side. Her youthful
arm hath planted the standard of liberty,
Tough, her battles, and reared her temple,
TO which the world may look and live.
This is now TO be adorned, the shrine to
be erected, the embellishments to be
wrought. Time alone is wanting. Lite
nature natures not with other develop
ments Of society. A thousand years Of
Grecian history rolled away ere the i'm
mortal Homer struck his Tyre. Rome ho-
nored not the shrine of pocsy ill the last
page of the republics history was written.
As years roll On, the past wakes great in
interest and importance. Here is a deep
mine, rich in the diamond gem, which,
wrought and polished by the hand Of ge-
Mus, shall form our nations literature.
We are not now without fame we may
boast Of names that would honor any ma.
ton; and these shine forth as the stars of
the evening twilight, the precursors of
large, glitlerng, and brighter constel-
| la,ions.
America is ordained to no common des-
tiny. The bow of promise is arched on
the clouds that enveIop the future. The
morning star of her greatness already gilt
tiers on her brow. With certain triumph
she runs the race Of glory. The genius
of her literature follows the fight of her
imperial eagle, that scars among the stars.
The American mind, the pioneer of IL
berty, invlgorated by youthful toll, swell
ing with the conscious pride of its mis-
sion, will gather the gems Of truth from
every shore to adorn that temple, whose
spire shall pierce the heavens, while ma.
tons shall come 10 love and worship at its
altar. S.
Deacon Peaqulrk, a slaunch temper
ancc man, having accidenlly swallowed a
rousing tumbler of gin the other day, was
asked how he fel, after it. How did |
feel ? said he. Il felt as if was sitting