Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-03-08

pauperized our population, and lies like a
perpetual and killing weight upon the energy
! of all classes. In addition to this stupendous
evil, we share the elfeteness of Europe
There is but one empire within European
boundaries that is not worn out and pauperi-
zed by debt and extravaganza: that empire is
Russia, and she is the enemy of all the rest,
and desires to rise upon their ruins. Destiny
4 seems 10 have traced her path as it has traced
ours. The Sclavonian races viii inevitably
! be the new lords of Europe. The Anglo-Sax-
on race must be contented to be the lords OF
the large and more SPLENDID inheritance of A.
merica and Australia, In this case what be-
comes of the empire, Great Britanl II falls
to the ground, and exists only-like other
! powers potentates of the world-in the bones
and sinews of its sons and successors, trans
/ ferred to a new soil, and enjoying privileges,
blessings, and opportunities, from which their
/ forefathers were excluded.
Let those who dream of perpetual Britain
think upon these things. The signs of decay
are around US on every side. In our fall we
have not comported ourselves so humbly. as
to be justified in the expectation of sympathy
or aid from any quarter. Our very excellence
has made US foes; snd our violence and Gu
pidity have estranged the nations. We may
have peopled the earth; We may have spread
far and wide our arts and our arms, our COM
merce and our civilization; but we have not
had standing room for our own pretensions.-
Events are more powerful than we are. We
must, sooner or later, yield our place TO the
more prudent, the less embarrassed, and the
mere vigorous offshoots of our race of senility
Nor IS there anything to regret in this. What
is there in our corner of the globe that it
should forever expect to give the law to all
others : The civilization that IS removed is
not destroyed; and the genius of our people
can exert itself as we'll on the banks ofthe O.
hio, or the Mississippi, as on the banks Of the
Thames and rule the world from the White
House at Washington, with as much proprie-
ty as from the Palace of St. James.
We live indeed, in a remarkable period Of
the worlds history-a period in which new
empires take the place of cid ones with won
derful rapidity, and in which old empires are
paying the penalty of transgressions against
the laws of morality and social well-being
committed by them duriug many generations.
Europe has enjoyed power and has abused it.,
and the sceptre of the worlds dominion is
passing from her grasp. Civilization, as Of
old, is following the course of the sun, and
the destinies Of humanity viii work them
selves out in new field and on a larger scale.
The world IS, as it were starting afresh, and
from a more favorable starting-point. The
lover of humility can but hope that the new
civilization which may arise will take warning
from the errors Of the old and that, in decay
and fall of empire, humanity itself would e.
merge from each change in bright lustre, wi
+ ser and juster, more peaceable and more reIi-
+ gious, and doing as much as man can do to
I aid the coming of the prophecied time when
"the people shall beat their swords into plough
shares, and their spears into pruning hooks
when nation shall not up the sword against
nation, nor learn war any more"