The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-01
The New-Ysar-The Prospect.

Itstrikes twelve. The new year Is begun!
We gaze out into the streets The steady
tramp of human feet has ceased, and no football
is heard. The city is buried in sleep. We gaze
up into the sky. The myriad stars move on
without a jar All is harmony, and still, as
If the very heavens were hushed in thought
Amid this quiet, the old year has died, and the
new year IS born, No voice above announces
either event; no token below prOclaims them.
The old and the new mingled into one, and then
parted so softly that their meeting and parting
might seem type Of the harmony which should
reign earth.
The hour was one Of deep interest to us. We
were alone as the toll Of the clock told Of the
parting and coming, and we felt as if in us,
and around us, spirits Asked. eagerly. and earn
esuy-
''Wstchman, what Of the nightl'
And we arose, as men do who are conscious
(snd right glad were we TO feel 50 consciously
nat We could speak bravely for the present, and
more happily for the futare!
A better and larger spirit Of Iiberality and
freedom is swaying refOmers, and reform move
ments.
But q little while ago, and all who labored for
universal freedom were deemed, and forsoOth,
denounced as "fanafies" No party owned fell
lOwshiP with them. All sects bated them with
hot scOrn. Toy were considered lew,
selfish, coarse, and base as well as common !.
Yet now they have their presses, their repre-
ssntatives in church and State, and Legislatures
defer to them, and Congress stops to consider
them, and all parties and sects in politics, or
christianity, think it worth while to enquire,
what they mean, and wither they tsndl A
great victory this! The presage Of greater yet
to be run. Only let the friends of freedom be
true, be wise in action, and wide in spirit and
they will 80 leaven society as to command all.
Men will not stop to ask-Congress and Legis-
lsturss, and sects and parties will not pause to
snquire-if this be sO-what they mean, but
they will proceed to do what they wish. There
is enough of virtue and courage in our country,
to meet every demand which humanity can
make; TO reach and overthrow the mighty evil
Of slavery; TO remedy the social wrong; to en-
tighten and elevate labor; to crush intolerance,
and master every remnant Of feudaIity. For
this end, we have only to oOneenfrate-to pos
ssss unity Of feeling, and move with unity Of ac-
tiOn-to be the worthy advocates Of truth, and
speak for her if we feared no foe, and knew
no faint A courage and virtue like this will
win the day against all odds, and triumph,
glOriOusly, over all difficulties.
A brighter promise yet, consists in the great
sr willingness Of all parties possessing power to
consider its and abuse.
A few years ago, and no man in the South,
dared to present 10 the South the evil or the
wrong Of slavery. A few years ago, and it was
not safe to discuss this subject even in the free
States. This prejudice and hatred is not wholly
silsnced; they manifest themselves in most Sects,
and in every State. But there is power which
swes them into silence, and is combining them
within narrower and narrower bounds. Every
where we see or hear the declarations: the issues
srs made, and must be met; and the spirit Of op-
pOsitiOn-Of simple 0ntsgonism-is rapidly dy-
ing out as one side, in christian spirit, urges
forms, and another, in christian temper, consents
to consider them. 81 agree with you when you
declare" says a generous Shareholder, an Ala
bsmisn, "that the day has gone by in which evil
can be justified by law, or wrong defended be-
cause it is a vested right" The difficulty"
says an aged CarOlinian, sis in making break;
If that be done, and Kentucky and Virginia as
sert freedom as the law, even our State, (South
Csrolina,) will 60 ahead the more rapidly from
being forced, and kept so long, unnaturaIIy, in
an ultra position" Persuade a people 10 kear.
and the battle is more than half won. Set them
TO esnsideT, well as hear, and we cannot
fail to indOctrinate them with the great truths we
advocate. And North and South, the fetters Of
sbssthen tyranny are 50 FAR broken, freedom 40
far advanced, vitalized, that the public ear is
opening, and the public mind willing to listen
thoughtfully TO refecl-upon whatever is es-
sentisl to human liberty, or human progress.
But the brightest hope yet, is the fact that the
south, in part, promises, speedily, to redeem
herself
krNrUcKf is now cursed with slavery. II is
easy to paint its terrible effects; but is not so
easy to say her we shall rid the State of them.