The New York herald., 1850-04-09
Progress aud Destiny of California.


Bewildered by the rapid growth of California,
men and nations have not yet weighed the inipor-
tance of her wonderful progress, or adequately an
ticpated her stupendous destiny. Let look at
the past, survey the present, and contemplate the
future Scarcely hsd General Taylor been trans
lated into the Presidential heaven of his hopes,
when large portion of the democracy who had
honored him with their admiration, like the ancient
Greek colonsts, directed their energies, enterprise
and enlarged views, 10 the new and golden soil of
the Pacific, as the substratum which TO erect
massive empire, in which republican principles,
ioined to great commercial freedom, might be prac
hcally carried out for the admiration OF netions
and the happiness Of mankind.
The colonies of ancient Greece were more libe-
raj and independent in themselves, than those Of
any nation down TO the present time. The Gle
ruchi were true Californians, and, in small way
reproduced Athens wherever they settled upon
conquered lands. The Romans set of FOOLS
and made their colonies mere military outposts ard
garrison cities, just Great Britain does now,
cursing every body except the officials, who feed
from the public pap strained from TIE people $
blood. The whole Roman system was rotten
The English system, root and branch, is rotten;
and il will never benefit the home government, or
the colonsts, till they study the ancient Greek
colonies, as practically illustrated by California
and her people.
We have scarcely turned our eyes to the Pacific,
and yet we behold new empire already sprung
up as in single night. Theadventurous pioneers,
with Grecian spirit, have rushed upon the soil,
planted the standard Of their common country,
marked out boundaries, picked out homes,eads
erected houses, chosen their rulers, built their
churches, opened TIE school houses before the
childrcn's births, established their local and su-
pcror courts their municipal and legislative coun-
ellis, and have numbered et the gates of Rome
for admission into the confederacy Never. in
the history Of nations, there n result so
grand hberal-unrcitcred enterprise at once so
starting. so satisfactory, stupendous in its
pect, and so monentous in it, consequence
Here we see practice doing more in day than
theory could effect in the lapse ofsycsrs. Com
pare the establishment Of California with the pitiful
attempts Of France 10 give her people good and
wholesome government All the philosophers,
statesmen and generals OF France, are mere thco-
rizers and pay-actors in the science Of government
They mey talk ard plan till doomsday; but all
their talk, their wise saws and modem insian-
ces " amount TO nsthing, when compared with that
wonderful reality that, rising the shores Of the
Pacific is a brilliant beacon To every continent, and
and star Of hope for every people. More has
been done for the progress OF republican principles,
and consequently. for the happiness Of mankind.
by Califomians in the space Of two years, than has
been effected by all tho theorists Of France since
the DAYS Of Robespiere, can be realized in fifty
years 10 come. Talk must yield to action. Peo-
pie will work out politics and government They
have not time to talk. Government springs out Of
them--no, the people out Of the government. IL IL
the curse of France that she has 20 many talking
philosophers She must turn her thinkers into
Californians-downrighi, active docrs and accom-
plshers. She must put her armies into the field,
not behind the cannon-for that produces nothing
but miscLef-hut behind the plough. This ia her
only hopes and il she studies the rise and progress
Of California the histories Of all the authors, from
Xenophon to Louis Blanc may be- tossed into the
ga Of oblivion. The first chapter Of California Is
as mHeh as France can read and digest next year
Let her do IL: and eventually shc will he able, pro-
yided she initiates California. TO work out a good
governmcnt--,hat blessing which never yet
obtained by prayers OF talk
The future Of California viii be the future Of the
whole world. 80 intimately will her fortunes be as
sociated with those Of overy nation. In the brief
rcoord Of her history. We find that almost every
people and every government has inierest-a
EurOpe-the Ro,hschilds-have their agents there.
The Tis,es, the leading spapcr Of Europe, has
he correspondent ihc-c. Merchants OF every cline
hock ihiher, and agents Of every important govern
ncnt are prying into Iie mysteries of this wonder
fal creation Of enterprise and republican talent,
Kings and prime ministers canno, solve the middle.
which, like ell nddlcs is very simple when IL Is
told--cnferprss. unrestricted by govemmeni-gc-
xxrnrnent nm effect and not a cause That ~ the
whole secret and the revelation Of II wil not only
syur on the trading people Of the world TO larger
we've Of commerce. such as even the heSici never
dreamed or but will inspiui labor in every quar-
tsr Of the globe. Mankind wall learn public econo-
my not from books but from the great practsrsl les-
sous oS experience, developed with "a suddensese,a
s,rce. and rpiri;, which will topple down al the
vagaree Of hisiorans and drcaneys, end establish
governments upon rcnosated principles Of ju1.cs,
such as Greece in earliest days family felt, Tut
which now destined TO electnfy tbc age Cs.i-
Srnia is no dream.
THx CLAY BmruD.r FgsuvtL-Thc festival