The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-08-12
(FoR THE BANNER.
THE TENDENCY OF THE AGE
TO DEMOCRACY.


ods Of civilization: and then descending
to modern times and making a compari-
son, we are forcibly struck with the con-
tinually onward and upward march of
civilization. How bright, how captiva-
ting, and how glorious the fact, that the
world is continually progressing, and
that, amidst all the changes and tur-
moil of the world, society never suffers
a retrogressron. Victory, victory marks
the campaign of genius-the war of
mind, of morals, and Of intellect. Both
reason and history establish the truth of
the perpetual expansion-youth and ad
vancement Of the. human race: indeed
it seems the favorite theme Of prophetic
inspiration-the burthen of the old dis
pensation and the glory of the new.
With how much wonder and asto-
nishment-with how much pleasure
and and satisfaction, and with what glo-
rious and sublime emotions do we con-
template the rapid, the luxuriant growth
Of science, philosophy, and religion
those great agents in the work Of civili-
zation, and the consequent wonderful
intellectual and moral progress of the
world. But if civilization advance with
the same rapid strides which have mar
ked its onward progress for the last quar-
ter of a century, what will be the chan
ges both social and political, ultimately
effected on our globe2 Where is the
nerve strong enough to contemplate
them! Where is the mind comprehen-
sive enough to grasp the subject and
who can look into the future without
dizz,ness2 May we not hope without be-
ing too sanguine-that the dawn of that
age is not far in the future, when the bles-
sings of knowledge, liberty and happi-
ness, will be enjoyed IN nearly equal de-
grees, by all classes Of men, when the
combined influence of science, philoso-
ply, religion, and of free government,
will have fitted and prepared the down.
troden of every nation, for the enjoy
ment of the fullest and broadest liberty of
thought and action-when the entire
world shall be enfranchised-.when chris
tianity shall spread abroad its wings over
the earth and embosom the whole hu-
man race within the ample grasp of one
harmonious and universal family; and
when men shall beat their swords into
plough-shares, and their spears into
pruning-hooks, and nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn the art of war any more"
The ultimate position and power Of
these United States, since the adoption
of our federal constitutional governme mt,
has been problem both with philoso-
pliers and political economist. Two of
the strong exciting causes to this spe-
cies Of speculation are, first to discover
the effect of the freest institutions man.
kind have ever adopted, on the happiness
and prosperity Of the people, under their
influence; and second, to mark the influ-
epce which the example, of a great re-
publican government, prosperous and
happy at home; influential and power
full abroad, exerts over the POLITICAL de-
y
stinies of the world. Although near
two thirds of century has failed to solve
these problems, beyond contingency.
yet it has furnished US with some great
foreshadowings of the ultimate result
Those especially which relate to physi-
cal growth and power may be regarded
as leading to certainty of result.
From the time the ancestors of the