New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-11

States held about FIVE millions now, over twenty.
1t has leaped through degrees Of latitude from 81
Marys River 10 the Gulf OF Mexlco II mas
stretched from Longitude 70 longitude, until Two
oceans wash lis opposite shores Of granite and OF
GOLD and its area has expanded from one million
souare miles into more than three. The concom-
i,apts Of this growth-the spread Of Commerce,
the increase Of Agriculture and Manufactures, the
building Of Cities, the birth Of states-I cannot
dwell upon. Nor can stop 10 instance the mani,
fold improvements in the accessories oil living ana
m the command Of almost all classes over tue
accommodations and Injuries Of life. flalniy
enough is ii to be seen that the age winch - pass
ing away is peculiarly marked by "'0ef'"' "0''e"-
nknts.
I observe. in the next place, that it has been
neriod of remarkable intellectual Gcts0tty This,
H il were not so markedly apparent, would De I'M
plied In what has already been noticed. These
material achievements indicate the far reaching
and restless movements Of the human mind. Other
epochs have been remarkable for this activity ;
such as the time of the Reformation and the age
of Elizabeth. But we may safely say tn at in no
period has this activity extended so wide, and de-
seconded so deep. The interest Of education plant
ed with the earliest germs of Institutions, has
in this era received peculiarly the fostering OF
legislative care and been distinctly recognized as
one of the frmest pillars of the State. This,
Joined with the freedom and productiveness OF the
Press, has made as q reading people, and If not In
the profoundest sense a thinking people, has at
least kinded the livelist interest In and excited
keen discussion of the most elevated and imPor
tant topics The came influence, though more
hampered by censorship, and by popularignorance,
operates the other side OF the Atlantic breaks out
In the most startling theories discusses questions
of every grade, agtates Churches and shakes
Thrones. The literature OF our own country, from
n feeble infancy and a despised servility, has
grown into q worldwide renown. But perhaps
In no form has this intellectual activity been more
marked than in the eras Of Newspapers and
Journalism. No influence In our day is more po-
tent, and may say,despotic. None exerts so wide
q sway for good, or for evil. Read by the mer-
chant In the counting room and the vagrant in the
street, catching lightning announcements from
every quarter Of the globe, flying on the wings of
steam to every hamlet, they are an expressive
symbol, as well as a mighty agency, Of the time.
Close in connection with this, appears another
peculiarly Of the Nineteenth Century. 1t has
thus far been On age Of great political excitement.
The ideas which were written ia our own Decla-
ration, and which were practically wrought out In
our war for independence have sent an influence
through the civilized world. 1t has been pecu-
hsry the age OF Revolutions. Revolutions in
South America and in Greece, the Revolution of
1880 and the Revolution of ls4s. While the pre-
vious epoch ended in the crash Of falling institu-
tons, the last half century opened with the thun-
der OF NapOleon's cannon, and closes with ele-
ments OF popular commotion that lie around the
thrones OF Europe like waves after a gale-not
dead, but sleeping. Together with these may be
TeckOned the sharp controversies that sccompa
MED the settlement OF our own Constitution tho
agitation that has grown up around the question
OF Slavery, and such great movements as the He
form Bill and Anti-Corn Law There is no room
for specifications, but it is enough TO say that In
no half century have there been such struggles for
popular liberty such developments OF the demo
cratic idea such proclamation of the Rights OF Man.
Once more, the closing half century is dstin-
gushed by its moral and religious movements.
said, just now, that 1t was emPhatically the age
OF Science. Ii 10 Just as emphatically the age OF
Reforms. Although Christianity contains pro
test against all modes of vice, cruelty and OPP
preston. and alone furnishes the power by which
these can be vanquished, it is only within the
present period that they have been made the OBJ
jects of distinct and organized crusades. The
preliminaries of most Of these great movements
may be said TO date within the century DR..
Rush published his tract upon the Effects of Ar
dent Spirits in 1904, and Noah Worcester his Sol.
emn Review of the Custom of War, in 1914"
Side by side with these, springng from the
same rOOt-the christian idea OF brotherhood, and
the worth of the individual man-have grown up
associations for penal reform freedom aud purity,
and against the more outward and striking ele.
ments Of evil Other forms of good endeavor,
more interior in their work, and more distinctive
ly religious, such as Foreign and Home Missions
and the Sabbath School, have received their most
characteristic developments within the period we
are now contemplating. While ranged around
these more active movements, also the offspring
Of the present age, at least in our own country,
stand glorious institutions, silently expressing
their great and beautiful mission silently telling
us how deeply has entered into the spirit OF the
age the influence of Him who lets no form OF hu-
man suffering appeal in vsin-homes for the out
cast and desolate, schools for the deaf and blind
asylums for the idiotic aud the insane. Adding to
this the increase of liberality. tolerance, aud en-
hghtened religious sentiment we may complete
our description of another peculiar feature OF the
half century, and one which stands far before its
material achievements, its political endeayors, or
its intellectual glories. True, 1t may be said that
these forms of benevolent effort 70 which | have
alluded are not ne'c-that they have always been
cherished by the Church. and were practically
exercised by that great branch OF IL which has
maintained so wide and so long a dominion.
will not linger to discuss this point 1t is enough
that this more salient philanthropy this organized
sympathy, this cry of man TO man thrilling through
the world and calling out independent efforts OF
consolation and upliting-this profounder insight
into the relations which should be practically re-
cognized throughout the race, characteristics OF
the age too distinct and peculiar to be denied.
Thus, my friends have endeavored 60 record
the great features Of the passing period-not such
as II has manifested in common with other ages,
bat those which, think, impart to it that dssmi-
larity, TO all others Of which have spoken-fea
lures that exhibit themselves in sll departments
OF human action material. intellectual moral, re-
hgious, and which are expressed in innumerabe
notifications. have, Of course presented not a
picture bat mere outline, yet enough has been
recalled 10 enable US, in the next place to con.
slider some Of the lessons to be drawn from the
survey.
And the frst is lessonrespecting Human Pro
gress-the cause of truth and INTERCHANGEABLE
kingdom OF God upon earth In taking these gene
raj surveys, in considering any period Of history
long enough to comprehend the lifetime Of gone
rations, this is one Of the most essential points
en ne chloe has there been growth, or decline
Do the revelations which the epoch unfolds far