Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-10-02

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paragraph Of Horace Greeley's last
letter, on taking his departure from
Europe for America. It breathes a
spirit Of genuine patriotism. -esa
But ] must not linger. The order
to embark is given; our good ship
Baltic is ready: another hour, and /
shall have left England and this con-
tinent, probably forever. With a
fervent good bye to the friends leave
on this side Of the Atlantic, | turn my
steps gladly and proudly toward my
own loved Western home-towards
the land wherein man enjoys larger
opportunities than elsewhere to de-
velop the better and the worse as
poets OF his nature; and where evil
and good have a freer course, a wider
arena for their inevitable struggles,
than is allowed them among the fet-
ters and cast iron forms of this rigid
and wrinkled Old World. Doubt.
less, these struggles will long be ar
duous and trying; doubtless, the die
tates of Duty, will there often bear
sternly away from the haIcyon bow
ers OF popularity; doubtless, he who
will be singIy and wholly right must
there encounter ordeals as severe as
those which here try the souls OF the
would-be companions of Progress
and Liberty. But political Freedom.
such as white men enjoy in the Uni
ted States, and the mass do not enjoy
in Europe, not even 10 Britain, is
basis for confident and well-grounded
hope; the running stream, though
turbid, tends ever to self-purifcation;
the obstrucied, stagnant pool, grows,
daily more dark and ioathsome. Be-
lieving most firmly in the ultimate
triumph Of Good over Evil, ! rejoice
in the existence and diffusion of that
Liberty, which, while it intensifies
the contest, accelerates the consum-
nation. Neither blind to her errors,
nor a panderer to her vices, | rejoice
to feel that every hour henceforth
till see her shores must lessen the
distance which divides me from my
country, whose advantages and bles-
sings this four months absence has
taught me to appreciate more clearly
and to prize more deeply than before.
With a glow Of unwonted rapture, ]
see our stately vessels Prov turned
towards the setting sun, and strive to
realize that only some ten days sep
arate me from those know and love
best on earth. Harkl the last gun
announces that the mail boat has left
us, and that we are fairly ahoat on
our ocean journey; the shores Of
Europe recede from our vision; the
watery waste is all around US; and
now, with God above and death be-
low, our gallant bark and her c!us-
tered company together brave the
dangers Of the mighty deep. May.
Infinite mercy watch over our on
ward path, and bring us safely TO our
several homes; for 10 die away from
home and kindred, seems one or the
saddeSt calamities that could befall
me. This mortal tenement would
rest uneasily in an ocean shroud;
this spirit reluctantly resign that ten
ement 10 the chill and pitiless brine;
these eyes close regretfully on the
stranger skies and bleak inhospitality
Of the sullen and, stormy main. No!
let me see once more the scenes so
well remembered and beloved; let
me grasp, il but once again, the hand
of friendship, and hear the thrilling
accents Of proved affection, and when.
sooner or later, the hour Of mortal
agony shall come, let my last gaze
be fixed on eyes that will not forget
me when ] am gone, and let my ashes
repose in that congenial soil, which,
however | may there be esteemed or
hated, is still a.ss s-e,
- ''My own green land foreverH'