The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-08
KNOWLEDGE Is POWER.

duties oil CIVIC llie IN agriculture, manu- features
and commerce, in the philosophc world, that of
science and of arts. in legislative councils and the
whole round of political life, in every station and
relation OF man to man, and of man TO himself on
every side at all times and all places, this fact
ever prominent, stands out in bold relief He
who runs may read" Knowledge is power."-
What gave TO Demosthenes and Cicero. to Mira
beau and Brougham, to Patrick Henry and John
Randolph. the mighty influence by which they
swayed mems minds and moulded their purposes
TO their own? What, but that they possessed
superior knowledge TO those whom thew address
ed, and directed that knowledge in a particular
channel. by which they were enabled first to con-
vince the understanding, then TO captivate the
fancy, arouse the passions, and excite men TO
phrenzy, those who had only yielded to their in
iiuence from sense of their superior know
ledge. What gave to the Great Cyrus, to Alex
ander, to Hannibal, 10 Caesar, TO NAPOLEON. to
Washington and Jackson, each, in his person.
the power of host, when employed to direct the
operations of other men? Cyrus could never
have triumphed over the hosts of Babylonians.
Egyptians, Lydans Sc, &C., who were arraved
against him at Thymbra, under that able Cantain.
Cresus, had he not acted under the direction If
his father, Cambyses, to make himself master of
his own soldiers, by making them believe him
their SUPERIOR and that he knew, better than thew.
what was for their advantage, and to make this
impression upon their minds by really rendering
himself their superior in every department of
knowledge
Without superiority OF knowledge, Alexander
could not have led his Macedonian PhaIapy
through the wide dominons of Persia Thus
alone was Hannibal enabled, in defiance of the
rosis OF winter to conquer the Alps, and lead down
his troops upon the delightful plains of Italy.-
CeSar, without the power consequent upon know
ledge, would have striven in vain for the soyer
eighty of Rome. This it was, that, in modern
times, overturned the Dynasties of Europe and
planted the Imperial standard of Napoleon on al
most every capital upon the continent, from the
kremIn to the Adriatic, and the shores of the
Atlantic What but knowledge enabled our
Washington TO introduce strict discipline amonr
men warning to be free of obnoxious restraint p
How else could he have maintained, for wears. a
successful strife with a foe superior in numbers
In arms, munitions and discipline What but
the power of knowledge enabled our patriot Hero
Jackson, TO triumph over host of savages and
their almost inaccessible Businesses? What but
that, saved New Orleans, with the whole GREAT
valley Of the West, from the power of the spoer
and terminated in a blaze of glory for our coun-
try, contest with the most powerful nation on
earth? Why the efforts of some men crown
ed with abundant success in the ordinary avoca-
tions of life, while others, with even greater exer-
tons, subject to disappointment at every
step2
Is it not that some know better than others the
means necessary to be employed to secure the
end in view? True, misfortunes and accidents,
against which no foresight precaution can
guard, sometimes fall to the lot of nortas, but
these are exceptions to the general rule which is
every day being verified around us, that he who
possesses most knowledge, we mean in every de-
Parlment, not only ofbooks, but of men and things,
is most successful in all his undertakings Know
ledge can make the earth yield seven fold re-
ward to human industry, at her mandate the
waste places of the earth smile with verdure, bud,
blossom and bring forth fruit in abundance. Com
merce under her direction spreads her flowing
sails, and watts wealth and comforts from the
IeIholeSL regions OF the earth Far science is
constantly developing new and important prnci-
pies and applying them TO the various purposes OF
Art, by which the condition of the human race
is being continually improved. knowledge has
step by step, given us most unlimited control over
the elements Of nature. BY its aid the variou;
productions Of the earth are almost instantly trans
formed into fabrics Of one kind or another, most
convenient for the use of man. Even the light
nings Of heaven have been tanned and made lc
bde the bidding OF mortaIs They have been
and are now being employed as post-boys, to fly
with more than the swiflness of the winds, and
bear such tidiDgs as they are told.
In the Political world, knowledge has enamel
pated from the forms and tyrannies Of Europe, the
inhabitants of our beloved country. 1t is that has
secured 10 the people the right TO govern them
selves in the manner most conducive to their own
happiness II is that, alone, can secure them
from the Vaccinations Of the designing, from the
danger of anarchy, and want Of efficient govern
ment on one hand, and that Of Capitalization,
usurPaton, and oppressive misrule on the other
Then will not al who love their country and the