The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1846-01-28

I0le gioOe. ana UIeece, Inat favored Nursery oil
genins, affords evidence equally ineontesiable oi
the impulsve enc gy of cultivated intellect. Il
was the lofty standard which learning attained in
7 that interesting country and the consequent ad-
yahcemem Of her people in the that has con.
ferred upon her an undying renown, and conse-
Icraied her territory as classic ground, and the
works Of Homer and Demonstrates, of Cicero
land Virgil, are standing monuments Of the intel.
lectual attainnents otthose nations Of the 0lden
ltime. Passing from that remote period when
lgenius shed upon the nations of antiquity some
l0f her choicest beams -let us inquire for mo-
lment what mental culture has accomplished in a
lmore recent age and under more favorable aus
lpices. With the decline and fall of the Roman
Ippwer, the empire of mind seems 10 have suffer-
led an almost total annihation. The fires we're
distinguished which had bIazed on the altars of
i learning, and for succession of centuries, the
world was enveloped in the thick gloom Of men,
Etal darkness and ignorance, superstition and bar
lbarism regned with undisputed sway. Then The
recollections Of the past were buried IN the obi
Ivion Of the present, and scarcely ray of moral
and intellectual light shone forth to cheer the
Iimpenetrable gloom of that long night of thou
Esand years.
But time rolled on, and brighter etnanations OF
intellect were seen in Europe in the 18th centll-
Try. indications we're afforded that the world was
about TO awake from the deep loihargy which
had so long hung over it. A few individuals of
Etranscendent genius arose, and far in advance of
the age in which they lived. burst asunder the
Itetters ofignoranee. and gave an impetus to the
|empire of mind which is still felt and acknowl-
edged. Among the first fruits of this awakening
of the human intellect was the discovery of the
art of Printing, made by Faust, of Mentz, and oi.
ven TO the world A. D. 1880. The Reformation
soon followed dispelling the mist of superstition
and ignorance, and placing in the armament Of
intellect that fountain of light, the effnlgence
lof whose cornscati1ns have IIumined the dark
Iplaces Of the earth.
The history of the last six centuries places
before our minds i'll clear and strong light the
benign influence of Intellectual culture. In
the 18th century, the nations of Europe were
little better than communities of barbarians.--
Darkness brooded over the face Of that fair re-
Iglon, and scenes Of bloodshed, rapne and law
less violence were the occurrences of every day;
but the procreant energy Of cultivated intellect
1has raised them from barbarism and degradation
80 high elevation in literature, science, and the
useful arts.
OF all the countries of Europe (says Judge
Leavitte) Russia affords the most signal exhibi-
tion Of the astonishing powers of the human mind,
when excited to action and properly directed. A
Il'ttle more than century ago, in literature and
refinement, she was the very lowest in the scale
of European nations, but the mighty genius of
the immortal Peter infused energy into that mass
! OF intellect which had lain dormant for ages, and
such has been her rapid advances that Russia is
now pre-eminent for physical power, and respec-
table in point of intellectual culture Allow me
also TO refer to England as furnishing an admra-
! bic illustration ofth subject. few centuries
ago, in learning and civilization, she was but
slightly in advance of the barbarous nations of
northern Asia, but the steady development of the
human mind, encouraged by her countless means
of instruction has given her ,nviabIe eminence
and gained for her power which is everywhere
felt and acknowledged
In noticing the benifcent effects Of intellect,i.
Ial culture, as evinced by nations and commun-
ties, II would argue an abstruseness of percep-
ton as well rs want Of patriotism, not to aduce]
our own country as furnishing fit and brilliant
illustration Of the subject. No where have the
achievements Of the human mind been more tri-
Iumphantly exhibited than in This republic With
lin the brief space Of her existence her advances
in moral and physical improvement have no
known or recorded parallel--onr institutions, un
like those of monarchical or despoic countries,
are SO admirably contrved as necessarily TO a.
rouse the energies of the mind And the truth
cannot he too strongly impressed upon our minds.
Dot only that national prosperity is connected
with and dependent upon the state of public in.
ltelligence,but that an unenightened com mnunity
cannot long remain in the enjoyment Of repuh-
llcan form of government. Ignorance and De.
mocracy are in their nature antagonists, and if
itever shall he the fate of our beloved country to
be shrouded in the gloom of mental darkness, the
reign OF despotism wi not be very remote--to a.
dopt the language Of an eloquent writer, "WarI
may stride over land with the crushing step ofI
q -pesiilence may steal over il like an in
visible curse, unpeopling here village and there
a city, until every dwelling becomes sepulchre
famine may brood over il with long and
weary visitation, until the heavens become bra
zen and the earth as iron, wide waste of unpro-
d1ctive desolation, but these are merelyphysical
evils the wild flower will bloom in peace over
the field of battle, over the crushed skeleton
the destroying angel Of pestilence will retire
when his errand is done, and Ii & nation again
breathes freely--the bairenness Of famine will
cease at last-the cloud will be prodiga OF its
boarded rain, and the desert will blossom, but /
for moral desolation there Is no reyiving Of spring
--let the moraEand republican principles Of onr
be abandoned--let impudehce and
intrigue, md corruption triumph over honesty
and intellect, and ourliberties and glory will de-
part foreverof these there can be no resuscita-
ton. The abomination Of desolation will be fix
ed and perpetual, and as the mighty fabric Of
onr glory totters TO liins the nations 6f The earth
will mock Is in our overthrow; even as the pow.
ars Of darkness when the ihroned ones Of Baby
lon becnme even as themselves, and the glory Of
The Chaldee's excellency went down forever.