The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-04-12
From Bicknell's Reporter.
ORR COUNTRY.
The Past, The Present, and the Future.


Far. like the comets way through infinite space,
Stretches the long untravelled path OF light
Into the depth of ages; we may trace
Distant the Frightening glory of It's flight,
Till the receding rays are lost to human sight,
wIt is well, occasionally, not only for
the statesman, but the philanthropist, to
glance retrospec.ively at the history of the
American Union, to ponder upon the
pre sent, and to speculate as to the fu-
lture. Their are, moreover, seasons
at which such policy is particularly op-
perfume. Nations, like individuals, some
times ound forward, as if under the in
fluence of some extraordinary impulse.
Their fortunes undergo a rapid change in
short period of time. Circumstances
and an overruling Providence control their
destinies, and either make OF mar at plea
sure. The progress of our own country
has been truly extraordinary. Ii is the
modern wonder among civilized States.-
The seed of emigration and colonization
that was planted but few years back,
comparatively speaking, has already be-
come mighty and majestic tree, the
growth of which is nevertheless only in It's
infancy. The past, in connexion with
our progress, has been marvellous Our
present position is well calculated to star
| tie and astound all thoughtful and contem-
plative minds. And yet the wonders that
have been realized, are as nothing COM
| pared with the gorgeous visions of the fu-
ture-yisions well calculated to excite and
bewilder the vivid i'm lgination. The
mission Of this Republic is indeed momen-
tous. The part we are called upon to
| perform, is one Of the highest character,
not only in political but social sense
not only as concerns the existing, but
future generations-not only as our imme-
diate people are affected but with reference
to the whole family of man. Already our
example has exercised powerful infu-
ence upon the nations of the old world.
The masses have been reused to due
sense of their necessities and their rights
Monarchs have been compelled to recog-
nize and respect the power and comforts
Of their subjects, and the liberal principle
is still at work. France is now engaged
in great experiment, is endeavoring to
tread in the footsteps of the model Repub-
lie of the New World. The prayer of
every friend Of liberty is with her. Her
course IS watched with hope and with fear
with hope by the liberals and rsforners
of the day-with fear and with trembling
by the despotic, the prejudiced and the
unwise.
But our own country, It's position and
prospects, It's moral tone, its healthy po-
litical character, It's future greatEess-these
are topics well calculuted to engage the at
tention Of every elevated and patriotic
mind and heart. The future looms glow
ingly in the distance. The valley Of the
Mississippi and the shores OF the Pacific
present new and tempting scenes for effort,
activity and enterprise. Our young men
are moving forward by thousands, TO bind
the two extremities Of our vast territory by
iron bands, to penetrate and overcome by
railroads, mountain passes and lofty barri-
ers that few years ago were deemed al
most impassable, and which seemed to
form a wall Of sep lration between US and
the Pacific. A lit le longer, and the Jour
ney between the Atlantic ci les and the
fertile valleys Of the far off West, may be /
accomplished in the course Of a few weeks. |
The trip viii be made one Of pleasure
rather than toll. Our sons and daughters |
will settle there, and the Interchange of
family visits viii be but an ordinary oc-
currence. New cities, towns and villages
WILL spring up, bold prospects will be start
ed, exciting discoveries will be made, and .
the tide Of human beings viii roll on in an
almost ceaseless current TO the golden
fertile West. In 1910, the official census
gave our population as little more than
seventeen millions! The present estimate
Is, that ii IS more than twenty-one and
half millions being an increase of four and /
a half millions in nine years. This is in
deed wonderful result. Estimating the
future increase at thirty-three and half
per cent, in less than century from the
present time, the human beings within the
limits OF our territory, will number 9aarrlitst
THREE HUNDRED mILt &C e. "a So
is . startii,c,-.-z-.- Some OF the Old States
lii nave dwindled INTO Insignificant sec
tons as compared with the ney, and thou
sands and tens Of thousands of eiuman be-
| ings will inhabit spots that are little bet
ter than a wilderness!
And what is the duty of our Sltesmen,
| of our Government under these cirelmstan-
ces, and with these prospects. How
should philanthropy and christiani act,
so as best to promote the lofty obiets of
civilization and the sacred purposes f re-
igion? The influence of one generaion
| is powerful with that which succeeds tt
If the boy be father 10 the man, the fathr
may be said to impress his character, fa
morals, his example upon a crowd o.
succ essors-upon all who depend upons
| look up to, respect and esteem him. In
stitutions have a still more extended infu-