The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-06-20
Position and Progress Of the United States, India
and California.

and California.
Since the colonies of Great Britain be-
came the free and Independent States OF
this vast republic, internal and comm er-
cial prosperity, and individual and nation
al happiness, have been rapidly augment
ing. The extent of our resources and the
enterprising energy of our people. within
the last thirty years, have not only pro-
duced immense practical results. but they
have been perceived by the nations Of the
earth-always slow TO believe that they
were to have a powerful commercial rival
on these shores. Even ten years ago,
before the Mexican war had established
our courage and bravery as adequate to
meet the armies of the old world, the
leading journals of Europe, reflecting the
popular mind, sy scientifically ridiculed our
pretensions to national greatness. Pro-
found ignorance was the source of this
treatment. The English nation, in par
ticular, that had advanced to its own proud
position by patient and slow steps, could
not believe that, in three quarters of a
century, puny republic could make such
rapid strides, as TO be competitor with
them in the race of commercial prosperity.
Within five years, however, and just at
moment of vast interest and importance to
our future progress, the dignity, energy
and power of this country have been uni
versally perceived and unhesitatingly ad-
mitted.
A still more full realization of our pow
er and commercial vastness and national
energy will soon be experienced. The
discoveries of gold in California, and the
immense impulse given to every species
of trace by the richness and fruitfulness of
the dry and wet diggings, opening vast
wilds and tangled paths and inland lakes
and rivers, in various sections, and uniting
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, will not
only give full third of added power to
our commerce and products, TO establish
the complement of our greatness, but will
extort from the whole world the ready
confession that we are second in nothing
truly valuable TO any country on The
globe.
1t was not till long after the commerce
of England had planted the seeds of trade
in the East, that Great Britain arose from
a second or third rate, to first class, ma
ton. For two hundred and fifty years,
great toll and perseverance, necessarily
exerted, at great loss of life and treasure,
established her power in India, and con-
tributed vastly, in connection with her
commercial treaties with the Ottoman en-
pire, Greece and the African States, TO
swell the measure of her prosperity upon
her own soil. India, however, was slowly
bent into profit. The emigration to it was
by no means voluntary, but was carried
on by an army, we'll paid, and heavily
pensioned, with all the disadvantages be-
longing to a government military estab-
lishment. Even now, the country is not
peaceably held, but is subject 10 devasta-
ting battles, carried on by the natives
commanded by French officers. True,
India is the source of great wealth. The
trade of Great Britain, with it, and with
the fertile islands and coasts of the East,
produces important results every year,
and some slow advances are made upon
the soil, TO add TO these. Yet, with all the
profit and prosperity derived from India,
the enterprise Of the British nation has
done little to increaseethe facilities for the
enlargement of the commercial relations.
Railroads have been talked of, to obviate
the dangers of the Hoogly river, the navi-
cation of which is difficult and dangerous,
but nothing has been done to carry for
ward this important project Other I'M
portant suggestions have been made to
open and extend the internal intercourse;
but bullets and bayonets, thus far, have
chiefly triumphed. Had Mehemet Ali
received the proper assistance from Great
Britain, the ship canal between the Medi-
terranean and the Red Sea would have
been very favorable to commercial inter-
course; but the report of the French engi-
neer, Linant, was not sufficiently respected
and that approach to India was relin-
quished. What might have been the re-
suit of more liberality, we can scarcely
imagine; but it is very evident that the
influence of India on Great Britain, In
stimulating trade and commerce, though
parallel to that of California upon the
United States, has not been, by any
means, so important as it would have
been under the energy of our people.
California is the India of the United
States. The voluntary population of that
region by civil force, requiring no exten-
sive military establishment like that of
India, must produce far more important
benefits to this nation, than the establish
ment of the British empire IN India has
effected for Great Britain. Though there
are like effects from both tides of enter
prise, the remunerating flood from Califor-
MIA promises to far transcend in power,
richness and extent, that which has flowed
back from India TO England. 1t is true