Lewisburg chronicle, and the West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1849-1849, 1849-09-12


Celebraiion OF ih= 4,h Jolly last.
IEE CAUSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
aus FORMATION OF NATIONAL CHARACTER
Numerous and GaI8Diess are The causes
that contribute 10 Ihe forrnaii 70 of natiuoal
character. Tie most efii-ien are those
which exist ~ the habits and feelings OF
the people; and among the most important
Il hrsc. caI e enumerated patriotism and
tnerplisr-tov when these self-re, ing and
fearless a.er.- blend ~ the character OF a
rd ION, they f.,m basis aud sustain
Structure Of raiiona ueaury, ina, wi, stand
"!'iie these elements exist.
We turn your n,'D 3 for moment 10
the co'.ieinp'l'irn ot ne Causes. both phys-
zeal and social, rha moulded the national
character OF RnmH. We see in her form.
anon. many peculiar agents that caused
her TO attain high and command ng e!e-
'aIon. Her gril o! ovcl'ness, her beautiful
and bright Italian siy, her genal soil and
ta'my climate, her lmpid streams and far
cities, 'he goreeops spiendnr Of her palaces,
her magnificent RUNS, exalted by the rem
embrance o. heroic achievements, and
''entwined in the graceful garlands of pro
dlgal nature" caused her arms, her power,
and her glory TO extend over all the then
known globe. Ih-ir genuine influence
inspired her ciiizfns with the love of true
greatness, They teld forth the golden aad
brilliant git Of Liberty. They placed before
her eager gaze the bright statue of Free
dom which Hinged The distant horizon with
Ms glow, and was seen bs her noble aspir.
ans. like guiding star by the weary ira
'eler, TO lead 'hen 10 the goal of their
aspirations. The ufT cian, which her
inhabitants had for these lovely scenes. !
rn'wined their hearts. 10 b. torn asunder |
only by the hand OF Death. And this
slndled in their breasts light of unfadine
lnsire, which cheered and sustained her
own sons through the long and dismal
night of the Dark Ages. and afterwards
d'ifused its briIIiancy over The whole East
cru Continent, and has been as preceden,
10 modern nalil =. The examples of valor,
Of truth, of pstriotlsm, and of eloquence,
which shone so conspicuously in The actions
ui their iorefslhers. exerled an influence in
the formation Of their character, which
proclaimed to every people, what she was
ard wha. they must be. And can her
unrivo!ed elnineace be attributed 10 the
m're effect Of chance, or the sport Of ambi,
ton No. certainly not! For did noi
these causes upaoId her in the most cheer.
less hours Of her sufftrings7 For at a
cerla n period OF ihe Roman empire. when
the notorious Calaiine and his band OF pro-
iliga,e conspirators had marked out that
mighty city TO destruction, and lis inhabn
ants TO dealh, the thrilling and powerful
e'oquencc Of her gifted orator scattered
widely and fr ever, with the impetus Of
The Simeon tie evils lha, inipcnded cloud
Ike over her, and secured safety and hap
plness TO her grateful citizens. This agent
protected their fiiesides from The wan,on
cruelty ana vengeance Of that consPiraior,
who dehshed IN ihe bu'chery and blood
and ason!as of his victims. This agent
Ilted, as II ~ere, the country from an
abyss o! run, ana ins;iiled a national vigor
mat boldly dared 10 resist any oppression
mat threatened the vital powers Of her
constitution. Hence, ue say, that these
causes gave her such resis,.ess might that |
her eagle hovrred on tliumphan, pinions
from Northern sGow-capfed mountains 10
Southern sunny pains.
But We leave ihis nation, whose constil-
uiion has long since been efaced by the
hn2er Of Time, and consider the causes J