The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-12-09


world. Her own historian informs us that
hearing of some petty acts of tyranny in a
nelghboring principality, "The National
Convention declared that she would afford
succor and fraternity to all nations who
wished to recover their liberty; and she
gave 1t in charge to the executive power
to give orders to the generals of the French
armies to aid all citizens who might have
been or should be oppressed in the-cause
of liberty" Here was the false step which
led to her subsequent misfortunes. She
soon found herself involved in war with
all the rest of Europe. In less than ten
years her government was changed from
republic to an Empire; and finally, after
shedding rivers of blood, foreign powers
restored her exiled dynasty, and exhausted
Europe sought peace and repose in the un-
questioned ascendency of mOnarchical prin-
clples. Let us learn wisdom from her ex-
ample. Let us remember that revolutions
do not always establish freedom, Our own
free institutions were not the offspring of
our Revolution. They existed before.
They were planted in the free charters of
self government under which the English
colonies grew up, and our Revolution only
freed US from the dominion of a foreign
power, whose government was at valience
with those institutions. But European
nations have had no such training for self
government, and every effort to establish it
by bloody revolutions has been, and mus,
without that preparation, continue to be a, !
failure. Liberty, unregulated by law, de-
generates into anarchy, which soon becomes
the most horrid of all despotisms. Our
policy is wisely to govern ourselves, and
thereby to set such an example of national
justice, prosperity, and true glory, as shall
teach to all nations the blessings of self
government, and the unparalleled enter
prise and success of free people.
We live in an age of progress, and ours
is enophatically country of progress.
Within the last half-century the number Of
States in this Union has nearly doubled,
the population has almost quadrupled, and
our boundaries have been extended from
the Mississippi to the Pacific. Our terri
tory is chequered over with railroads, and
furrowed with canals. The inventive tai
ent of our country is excited to the
highest pitch, and the numerous aPPlca-
tons for patents for valuable improve
ments distinguish this age and this
people from all others. The genius OF one
American has enabled orr commerce to I
move against wind and tide, and that of
another has annihilated distance N the
transmission of intelligence. The whole
country is full of enterprise. Our common
schools are dihusing intelligence among the
people, and our industry is fast accumr-
lating the comforts and luxuries of life.
This is in part owing to our peculiar posi-
ton, to our fertile soil, and comparatively
sparse population; but much of it is also
owing to the popular institutions under
which we live, to the freedom which every
man feels to engage in any useful pursuit,
according to his taste or inclination, and to
the entire confidence that his person and
property will be protected by the laws.
Bnt whatever may be the cause Of this un-
paralelled growth in population, intelli-
gence, and wealth, one thing is clear, that
the Government must keep pace with the
progress of the people. 1t must participate
in their spirit of enterprise, and while It
exacts obedience to the laws, and restraints
all unauthorized invasiOns Of the rights of
neighboring States, it should foster and pro-
tect home industry, and lend It's powerful
strength to the improvement of such means
of intercommunication as are necessary to
proE. ote our internal commerce and
siren CITIZEN the ties which bind us together
as people.
It's not strange, however much it may
be regretted, that such an exuberance OF
enterprise should cause some individuals to
mistake change for progress, and the in
yasion of the righs Of others for national
proress and glory. The former are con-
stantly agitating for some change IN the or
ganic law, or urging new and untried the
ories of human rights. The latter are ev
er ready to engage in any wild crusade
against a neighboring people, regardless OF
the Justice of the enterprise, and without
looking at the fatal consequences to our
selves and to the cause of popular govern>
ment. Such expeditions, however, are Of
ten stimulated by mercenary individuals,
who expect to share the plunder or profit
of the enterprise without exposing them
telves to danger, and are led on by some
irresponsible foreigner, who abuses the
hospitality of our own Government by Sc
ducing the young and ignOrsnt to JOIN IN
his scheme fpersonal ambition or revenge,
under the false and delusive preteDce Of
extending the area of freedom. TP.ese
reprehensible aggressions but retarI the
r true progress of our nation and taI.nish iti
/ fair fame. They should, therefore, receive
o the indignant frowns of every good citizel
Tho C;ncaralv loves his COZ ,ntrv and take