Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-07-19

| pr0Ycments ny winch human labor lS hDIluB-
ed. Without going into details, it may be
sufficient to say,that many of the applications
| of steam to locomotion aud manufactures,
of electricity. and magnetism, TO the produc.
ton OF mechanical motion, TO the electrical
telegraph, TO the registration of astronoini-
cal phenomena, to the art of multiplying en-
cravings, the introduction aud improvement
among us of all the important inventions OF
the old world, are strikingly indicative ofthe
adv ance of this country in the useful arts
The net work of railroads and telegraph
| lines by which this vast country is retculat-
ed have not only developed its resources,
but united emphatically in metallic bonds all
parts of the Union. The hydraulic works
of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston,
surpass, in extent and importance, those Of
ancient Rome.
But we have not confined our attention TO
the immediate application of science TO the
useful nrts; we have entered the fields OF
original research, and have enlarged the
bonds of scientific knowledge. With the
last twenty five or thirty years, remarkable
improvement has taken place in this respect.
Our natural history has been explored in all
Tits branches our geology has been investi
gated with results of the highest interest TO
practical and theoretical science. Discove
ries have been made in pure chemistry aud
| electricity, which have received the uppro-
baton OF the world. The advance which
has been made in mcteorology in this coun-
try within the last twenty years is equal TO
that made during the same period in all the
world besides. In 1893, there was not in
the United States an instrument with which
a good observation of the heavenly bodies
could be made. There are now instruments
at Washington, Cambridge, and Cincinnati, |
equal TO those at the best European Obserya !
tories; and the original discoveries in as
tronomy, within the last five years in this
country, are among the ost brilliant of the !
age. Our knowledge of the geography aud |
topography of the American continent has
been rapidly extended by the labor and sci
ence Of the officers of the United Suites mr.
my, aud discoveries of much interest, in dis
tant seas, have resulted from the enterprise
of our navy.
In respect to literature, with the eXccp-
ton of one or two spelling books, and 9th
er school books of an inferior character, aud
some theological trcatses, of which, none
but those of Jonathan Edwards have any per- !
mnnent value, and some works of local his- |
tory and politics, like I" Ilutchinson's Mnssa- |
chusetis," "Jcferson's Notes on Virginia." |
the Federalist," Belknnps New Hump.
SHIRE" and "AIorses Geography" and n few
others, America had not produced single
work of any repute in science or literature.
We were almost wholly dependant on i'm
ported books. Even our bibles and tesla
ments were for the most part printed abroad
The book trade is now one of the greatest
branches of business, aud works of standard
value, and Of high reputation in Europe MS
well MS at home, have been produced by
American authors, in every department Of
science and literature
There is yet another view. There are
still higher considerations. Man is an in
tcllectual being, destined to Immortality
There is spirit in him, and the breath of
the Almighty hath given him understanding.
Then only is he tending towards his own
destiny. while he seeks for knowledge or
virtue, for the will of his Maker, and for lust
conceptions of his own duty. OF all i'm
portant questions, therefore, let this, the
most important of all, be first asked and first
answered, in what country of the habtabe
globe, of great extent and large population,
are the means of knowledge the more gen
orally diflused and enjoyed among the peo-
pie? This question admits of one, and only
one answer. 1t is here--it is here in these
United States--it is among the descendants
of those who settled at Yorktown-of those
who were pilgrims OH the shore of Plymouth,
subsequent times, have become joined in this
great American family.
One fact, incapable of doubt or dispute,
will satisfy every mind on this point. The
population of the United States is 23,000,000.
Now take the map of the Continent Of Eu-
rope aud spread it out before you. Take
your scale and your dvders and lay of in
one area, in any shape you please, a triangle,
square, circle, pnrallelogram or trapezoid,
and of mn area that shall contain l50,000,000
of people, and there will be found within the
United States more persons who do habltual-
ly read and write, than can be embraced
within the line of your demarcation. But
there is something even more than this
Man is not only an intellectual, but he is also
n religious being; and his religious feelings
aud habits require cultivation. Let the reli-
gious elements in mans nature be neglected, {
let him be influenced by no higher motives
than low self-interest and subjected TO no :
stronger restraint than the limits of civil au-
thority, and he becomes the creature of sell
fish passions or blind fanaticism. The spec l
tacle OF nation, powerful and enlightened,
but without Christian faith has been present {
ed, almost within our own day. rs warning
beacon for the nations On the other hand, '
the cultivation of the religious sentiment re- {
presses Righteousness, incites to general be- I
neyolence, and the practical acknowledge |
ment of the brotherhood of man, inspires
respect for law and order, and gives strength
to the whole social fabric; Mt the same time I
il conducts the human soul upward to the l
author of its being. AS one of its necessary
consequences, il may, think, be stated with
truth, that in no country, in proportion TO its
population are there so many benevolent es- Z
tablishments, bible, missionary and tract So +
cieties, supported by public and private con- I
trbutions, as in our own. There are also J
institutions for the education of the blind, the !
deaf aud the dumb of idiots, for the recep- {
ton of orphan and destitute children, for {