Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-01-17
MIR. MARSH'S ORATION-NATION
PRIDE


The Courier g. Enquirer publishes the whole of
Mr.. Marsh's Grafton at the New England Celebra.
ton in New York on the 23d ut. We give below
its closing passages:
1t is to the want of an intelligent national pride
the universal solvent which mets and COMBINES
into harmonious who C the otherwise dscordant
traits Of individual and local feehng-that we must
ascribe the non existence of well defined and
consistent American character. We have album
dance OF inflated compacency in the present. abun-
dance OF boasttu expectation in respect to the fu-
turc, but too little of sympathetic and reverend re-
gard for glorious past, without which, neither this
present nor that future had been possible
This is partly the effect of a diversity of oririn.
under lcderatvc system, but its real source lies
deeper, and its root may be found in one of our
proudest characteristics. II is proper to all free
people, and eminenty so to that family of nations
to which we belong, to love abstract truth beyond
material symbols, to follow the sp rit instead of adj
herring to the form, and TO bow TO the principle rah
er than to worship It's visible manifestation. But
honorable and noble as this propensity is, 1t is not
without its danger. In seeking for abstract truth
we are prone TO overlook the conditions which lin
it its practical application, and to forget that in the
moral aud political, well as in the physical world
the deductions Of science never be strictly re-
allied in practice. Nor is this the only or even
the greatest danger, to which the trait in question
exposes us. Doctrines tied to no forms, connected
wlthno localities, relying upon no authority but in.
dividua reason. attaches no sacredness TO auuht
cognizable by the senses are more easily overthrown
than when they assume the shape of belief en-.
trenchrd behind the bulwarks of form, prejudice
and opinion. In Europe, where every rock has its
name every landscape its history. the love of
country and institutions is at once STRENGTHENED. bv
thousands Of venerable associations, and narrowed
to the humble shape rather of attachments to local
tiles, than Of enlightened and expanded patriotism.
But with us, who have no dim traditions. no boary
fables to Give not individuality only. bnt almost
life. to plain and mountain. ard rock and river NAT
rioism though larger and nobler and more in
teectual sentiment IS vet less tenocious imnulse
1t is therefore a duty most solemnly incumbent on
every man who prizes institutions depepdent like
ours upon al ADLER security than n sound public
opinion, and who feels hImseIr competent to appre
ciate the grounds upon which thew are buit 10 on
ert that one talent which it is death TO hide, in
maintaining, defending and popularizinr their prn
cipes.
| Our American liberties are menaced. not only bv
apathy and ignorance, but we have too many proofs
of the existence even nmono ourselves. Of do
termined hostility to the cardinal PRINCIPLES on
which they rest Nor let any denv The annroacb
of danger, because as vet he hears moi tho din and
sees not the smoke of the encounter The oorib
quake. which upbeaves mountains and tbe temnest
that scatters an armada. are Invisible forcos bni
there are tokens whereby wise men forsee the sboc
Such indications of danger to our dearest interests
we NAV find among class of our own citizens
who glory in a trucking submission TO Euronean
teachings in our unnatural alienation from olI thot
is great and rood. and reverend in onr own history
in dignifed allcctation of supercilious conlom1t
for every manifestation of conscious American
pride, in a wrong headed peryersitv. Tint loves r.
dwell on the dark side of Our national character,
clothed in the livery of anxious fears of an alien
heart and feiuns TO remble for the stability of Loso
institutions which il is dong lis utmost 70 nndor.
mine. We have too much of tbat Hind ze"i =,
the pupil. which outruns tho nrecon,s of rs
teachers too much of that questionable Protestant
.sm, that trembles with svmnothe,ic feer vben yo,
attack the corrnptions of ponerv ton mucb ~ ;hn,
craven and ratorous spirit that is ashamed of lis