The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-08

them az the spontaneous and growth of seeds
winch have been waited over the ocean, for half cen
Jury past, from our own original Liberty Tree'
The distinguished writer of the Declaration which
made TINS day memorable full of appehensions as to
the influence of the Old World upon the New He even
wished on one occasion, that an of fire. might
roll between America and Europe, to cut off and con.
sumo those serpent destinations and seductions which
were TO corrupt u not to strangle outright our infant
freedom In Its cradle. ~
Doubtless these no idle fears at the time Doubt
less there are dangers STILL which might almost seem to
have justified such WISH But it is plain that the cur
rents OF political influence thus far have deepest and
strongest IN the opposite direction. The Influence of the
New World upon the Old is the great moral of the events
OF the day.
NJ Jeisrsons ocean OF fire" has. indeed been almost
realzed tremendous engnery has covered the sea
with smoke and flame The fiery dragon has ceased TO
&c table The inspired description Of Leviatban full
hlled to the letter. "Ou of his mouth 90 burning ams
and sparks of fire leap out, Out Of his nostrs roeh
smoke, as out of seethng pot or cauldron His breath
kindleth Goals, and flame goeth out of his mouth He
like pot of ointment"
But the Saint George of modern civilization and science
instead OF staying the dragon, has subdued him to the
ocean OF fire has only facilitated the intercourse which
world. Wy
New modes Of communication, regular and more rand
lnterchanges Of information and opinion reer and more
frequent comparisons of principles of institutions and of
conditions have at length brought the political systems
OF the two continents into conflicts and PROSTATE thrones
and Keeling empires this day bear witness to the shock
Yes, fellow citizens, (if may be allowed the figure
ihe great upward and downward trains the track OF
human freedom have at last into collision Ii is
too early yet for any pronounce upon the pre-
else consequences of the encounter But we can see al
glance what engines have been shattered and what en-.
gneers have been dashed from their seats We can see
too that the great American built locomotive Liberty
still holds on its course, unimpeded and unmpared gath
erng strength as i goes developing new energies to
and hoor IL, "a -
tram OF twenty millions of people with speed which
knows no parallel
Nor can we fail to that men are everywhere be-
ginning to examine the model of this mighty engine and
that not few have already begun to copy its construc
ton and to initiate its machinery The great doctrines OF
our own revolution that "a men created equal that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain nalen-
able rights that among these life, liberty, and NE
pursuit OF happiness that to these rights govern
ments are instituted among deriving their just pow
ers from the consent OF the governed that whenever
any form OF government becomes destructive of these
ends is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute government laying its foundation
such principles and organizing It's powers in such
form TO them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness these fundamental maxms of the
rights OF man proclaimed emphatically this day in
Paris, as they were seveny-two years ago this day in
Philadelphia
And not in Paris alone. The whole civilized world
resounds with American opinions and American princi-
pies. Every vale is vocal with them. Every mountain
hath found tongue for them
- Sonum toto Germania colo
vi Audllt, 81 lnsOltlS uemuerunt mOtibus Alpes.
Everywhere the people are heard calling their rulers
to account. and holding them to just responsibility
Everywhere the cry is raised for the elective franchise
the trial by jury the freedom of the press written const
In some cases. most fortunately the rulers themselves
have not escaped some seasonabe symptoms of the
yadng feryor for freedom and have noby anticipated
the demands of their subjects To the Sovereign Pontif
of the Roman States in particular belongs the honor of
having led the way in the great movement of the day.
and no American will withhold from him cordial tribute
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designed for the regeneration of Italy Glorious indeed
the page of history will be the of Plus TX if the
rise OF another Rome shall be traced to his wise and lib
eral policy Yet not less truly glorious if his own
hory should date its decline to his noble refusal to lend
his apostolical sanction to a war of conquest
For Italy, however and for France, and for the whole
European world alike, great work still remains A
rational, PRACTICAL enduring liberty cannot be acquired in
paroxysm, cannot be established by proclamation It
IS not-onr own history proves that II is not
'The hasty product of day,
But the well-ripened fruit of wise delay"
The redress of few crying grievances the reform of
few glazing abuses, the Punishment of minister, the
burning of throne, the overthrow of dynasty-these
are but scanty preparations for the mighty undertaking
upon which they have entered New systems are to be
constructed; new forms to be established new govern
ments to be instituted, organized and administered upon
tween liberty and law. and secure TO every one the en-
joyment OF regulated constitutional freedom.
And it is at this moment citizens, when this
vast labor is about to be commenced when the files Of
the Old World are searched in vain for precedence and
the file LEADERS of the Old World looked to in vain
for pioneers, and when all eyes strained to find the
men, to find the man, who is sufficient for these things
it is at such moment that assembled on this PIN
nace of the American republicl might almost say by
some Divine impulse and directono hold up afresh to
the admiration and imitation of mankind the character
and example of George Washington
Let contemplate that character and that example for
moment, and whether there be anything in all the
treasures of countrys fame-l do not say merely Of
equal intrinsic value but of such eminent adaptation to the
exgencles of the time and the immediate wants OF the
world. st
\ will enter into no details of his personal history
Washingons birthday is national festival His whole
fe boyhood and manhood has been learned by heart by
us ALL Who knows not that he was a self-made man !
Who knows not that the only education which he enjoy
ed was that OF the common schools OF Virginia, which,
at that day, were of the very commonest sort Who
members not those extraordinary youthful adventures by
which he was trained up to the great work OF his des
ny! Who remembers not the labors and exposures
which he encountered land surveyor, at the early
age of sixteen years Who has forgotten the peris of
his Journey of Oryone days and five hundred and sixty
miles, from Williamsburg to French Creek, when sent,
at the age of only twenty commissioner from Gov
Dnwidde to demand OF the French forces their author
ty for invading the Kings domnions Who has notfo-
he threads his way through that painless wilderness at
one moment fired at by Indians at fifteen PAGES al the
next wrecked upon raft amid and ice, ana sub
ected throughout to every danger which ee
ments, still more eacherous enemies, coud Involve
Who has forgotten his hardly less miraculous escape,
foremost in that fearful fight he was the only mounted
officer of the British troops who was not either killed or
desperately wounded !?
Let me not speak of Washington merely self-made
man. There were influences employed in moulding and
making him-far far above his own control Bereft of
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