Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-05
Progress.


matters, and believe, firmly, that our
country, under its present Government, is
to extend and improve in it's every ele-
ment, ministering to the enlightenment of
mankind and the prosperity and happi-
ness of the human race at home and
abroad, in proportion as it has extended
since the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot on
the blarney-stone of New England. Under
the influence of.thesc sentiments, we con-
fess to have had our heart thrilled by
Caleb Cushings Newark speech, which,
after short breathing spell, has fairly
become the target of all who are disposed
to 'save the Union" in the way of pre-
venting the " expansion" spirit of the age
from dashing it to pieces. We recollect
that the acquisition of Louisiana, or, in
other words, of the great valley of the
Mississippi, was. first denounced by the
anti-progressives of that day; that Of
Texas subsequently; and, later, that of
California. From each of those inevita-
bilities, coming an appropriate express
sion, unheard of calamities were pre-
dicted! Pulpits, newspapers and stumps
were eloquent, vehement and indignant,
by turns, against these acquisitions, as
fraught, with dangers dire to the general
welfare and to the integrity of our Gov
eminent as made by our fathers, if not
to its much longer continuance even in
name. We need make no showing of the
fallacy of these predictions, because these
three events are now universally regarded
as the three great steps forward, which
the United States have taken, since the
war of the revolution, in the march bring
ing us so soon to our condition of we'll
nigh universal prosperity, and, indeed, to
the pari pasu condition of improved pop
ular liberties, general information, &C.,
&C., which, altogether, make up the sum
and substance of the greatness moral,
liberal, intellectual, industrial and nation
al--of this already best-progressed people
.ho ever enone OH. Nevertheless, we
have among us those who continue to
verify the truth of the adage of past ages,
which AYERS, that there arc g none so
blind as those who. will not see." Per-
sons who continue to croak whenever
man Of the times ventures to alludc in
pubic, to what common sense and expert
ence teaches of the destiny of the United
States, in, America--a destiny in which
the croakers themselves believe as firmly
as those who, not distrusting the princi-
pies on which our institutions and Gov
ernment are founded, look forward with
out fear to the distant future of our
March! March T. March !!!' =, ..... De-.
Among the latter stands, perhaps fore
most, Caleb Gushing. Foremost, because
from the combination of great learning,
rare eloquence, the manhood of 1ife's
prime, indomitable energy and industry
and unsurpassed sagacity, he bids fair,
in the estimation Of the many to be re-
cognized, in time, as the standard-bearer
in the cause of sound, safe, and yet swift
American progress. Never was greater
compliment paid to statesman than that
which is fairly deducible from the violence
and Misrepresentation with which his now
celebrated Newark speech has been at
tackled in all directions. 1t tells that
those who sympathize with the opponents
of the acquisition of the valley of the
Mississippi and California, see in his flu
ture, elements which are probably to do
much more than almost any other one
statesman's share in the work of progress
Strange as it may seem, his rival for the
leadership in the cause of American pro-
gress, is no other than-don't start read
er-the gentleman Of all others to whom
the eyes of well-nigh every anti-progrcs-
siye man in the United States are turned,
as the man for their candidate for the
presidency in 1856! We alludc to the
polished and patriotic Edward Everett.
Bred in the strictest anti-progressivc
school, he has become sincere convert
to the theory Of Caleb Cushing, and
though all the hopes of his future depend
on the continued favor of the conservatism
of the land, he rushes eagerly forward to
be first to teach that their tinc-honored
views in this connection are short-sighted,
fallacious, and opposed to the public in,