Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-09
COMMUNICATION.
FREEDOM TO THE WORLD.

. turn from future thus obscured by exec
o sive lustre, and, aided by its reflected raw
glance back upon the past Now are opened
even to our limited vision, portions of the i'm
penetrable depths of almighty design; tn
causes of things that have been, the instru
ment, and the end. We see and wonder t
see--this Tree of Liberty-under whose broa
branches we so securely repose not, as al
egotism deemed it, indigenous TO our soil a
lone. The blindness that ascribed TO it littl
more than half century of existence is nov
made manifest. Century after century, il
multitudinous, unerring circles, have inscri
bed the lapse OF ages on its Trunk We SCI
its sinewey, intertwined roots, extending from
state to state, from empire to empire, from
hemisphere to hemisphere through centuries
through ages, through all time, firm planted
in the eternity of the past. The forces of ii.
life, the aspirations, the yearnings of the hu
man heart; its verdure-drawn from the
blood of martyrs and of patriots; the sunlight
in which it basked Gods own benignant
smile. 1t has sent forth its shoots in every
cline but, like the seed of the "sower" soon
sprung up "by the way side" and were ode
voured" "Some upon stony places where
they had not much earth,n ''and when the
sun was up they were scorched''-t'and some
fell among thorns" and were "choked." But
others into good ground and brought forth
fruit. AS it is dependent upon the dignity
OF mans nature for support, so can it exist
but in the reliance of man upon God. Sin,
Ignorance, Despotism, Licentiousness - its
Antagonist principle-have each in their time
checked its growth. The children of Israel
were led forth from bondage and were free
they debased themselves and were slaves
| The republics of Greece and of Rome, in their
multiplied objects of worship, descending in
regular gradations, until their very fears (the
basest of human passions) supplied Deities-
fitted themselves for subjugation; and we are
no longer surprised when we find them ad
ding their enslavers to the number of their
Gods. The world was enveloped in dark
ness--the Tree of Liberty languished, and
slavery, the attendant of Ignorance, like
nightshade spread over the earth. The pro-
violence of the Creator dispersed the gloom
'sLet there be light''-"and there was Light"
Christianity spread overthe earth. Its teach
ings: Equality of man, obedience to God"
doctrine fatal to the sway of Despotism.
But again Antagonist principles for time
prevail The scriptures THAT magma charta
pf apts 81 fbra1
dom prevails-new Despots are enthroned-
the mind of man is again benighted, enchain.
ed, and-lost to the dignity of his nature-he
turns from the Creator and worships the crea-
ture. But again the Almighty hand is exten.
ded, to rescue the Lord of his creation, and
again set him free. His smile beams forth
and lights up the dark horison of human
rights. The Gates of knowledge are thrown
wide; In rapid succession (the magnet points
the way andy Columbus gives another Hemis-
phere to Christianity. The Press sheds forth
the rays of Tuth--Lulher teari the scales
from the eyes of benighted MAI. The geni-
US of Copernicus, Calico and Bacon rend
assunder the shackles of superstition and ex-
plore the Heavens. Locke opens the store
house of the mnd-Newton divulges to man
the harmony, the majesty the inconceivable
grandeur and immensity of the creation, and,
himself abashed and subdued bows in humil-
ity at the feet of its Lord. Cromwell asserts
the right of man 10 self government and Sid
ney sheds his blood in defence of the sacred
principle. Mankind are dazzled with the
light that burst upon them, and the Tree of
ages again shoots forth its verdure. But the
"serpent is scorched, not destroyed Patri-
OF hearts are enchained in the conscience and
denied the right of worshipping their God af-
ter the simplicity of their nature, awe will
seek" said they
''where and our people may kneelb before
''The shrine erect, to the God we adore,
Sand none shall our rights moest.'
The arks of Liberty break the billows-their
Prows touch against the Rock of Plymouth or
CRATE upon the shores of the Delaware. The
Forest resounds with the stroke of the axe
welded by these exiles in Liberty's cause
and the Temple of the Goddess is reared in
the ''clearng." But Tyrany would defle its
altar-one more struggle-and behold ma
ton entirely free from the rule of man, and
bowling in humble worship at the feet of God
The mind of man riots in its freedom. He
explores the arcana of nature and diving into
the bowels of the Earth drags forth its hoar-
ded treasure. He casts water upon the fire
and a mighty power that shames the tabled
"Geni of the Lamp springs forth the SUBJ
missiye slave of his will And now all the
faculties OF his nature seem multiplied; He
steps, and leagues intervene between every
stride. He bids inert matter live and the
engines OF his win perform the labor of a
thousand hands. The lineaments of those that
are dear to him, he perpetuateth, and the
Landscape that delighteth his eye, becomes
fixture by his fire side. The speed of light
he no longer envies, for
"He wreathes his fingers in the Lghtning's name,
and holds it his obedient messenger. He
standeth in the Eas, and changeth il with