Washington sentinel., 1853-10-12
THE RICHMOND wHIG AND OLD
..F." FOGYISNI.


We have a word or two for the Richmond
Whig 1t manifests, in its issue of the 9Th inst,
an attachmenttoa Anticipated ideas and time-worn
usages that but i'll comports with so racy and
spirited sheet. One would as soon look for mo.
rality and godliness under jauntily worn hat,
a rakishly cut coat, or a saucy Byron collar, as
for regular old fogyism in that very pungent
daredevil 1--WE beg pardon) and ferocous paper.
Yet, by one Of those strange contradictions that
will sometimes occur, it is even so.
The very idea of progress appals onr Rich
mond contemporary. 1t regards the indications
of advancement presented at the present time
with horror that freezes its blood and makes
it shudder Let us reason little with that
paper on the subject 1t has manifested a
lively interest in, and an extensive acquaint-
ance with farming. Does it not know and will
it not confess, that the ploughs of the present
day are decided improvements on the old style?
1t has been traveller. VIII it not acknow-
ledge that steamships are preferable to the old
fashioned packets? Itprefers darkness to light.
VIII it not acknowledge that gas is better than
tallow candles?
Well, as Of these things, so Of progress gen
orally, and by progress we mean proper adj
vancement and real Improvement We do not
mean to dig up all old things by the roots and
cast them away. By no means. Preserve all
that are useful. But dig up the stumps, and if
they cannot be dug up, take the agricultural
mode of burning them. cold things are passed
away-behold all things are become new"
The word progress, a very simple English
word, is sadly misinterpreted, and most reck-
lcssly abused in these days. To say that man
is in favor of progress, is, in the estimation of
those worthy gentlemen who belong to the
stand-still school, tantamount to saying that he
is rogue, burglar, highway robber, and an
incontinent plunderer of the public. Tospeak
of n class of politicians as advocates of pro-
gress, is to alarm the fears of those who slumber
in sleepy hollow" They start up as if legion
of grim devils were after them. They make
| progress mean every crime that bad men com
nit and that good men abhor.
Let these perturbed spirits compose them.
selves. Progress loves law and order as much
as they do. 1t keeps treaty stipulatious as
faithfully. 1t advocates peace as warmly 1t
is quite as honest and just as truthful But il
its rights are infringed, it will fight for them.
That there is such thing as progress, ad,
vaucement, improvement in government no
man with two eyes in his head can deny. Were
not the people of England freer and better after
the stout old Barons eXtorted their charter
from King John at Runnymede than they were
under Druid or Roman rule Are they not
freer now than they were under the feudal sys
tenn? And are not we freer than the English
No one can dispute these truths. There is pro-
gress in government as there is in everything
else. Every step that has been gained has
been gained by fierce contests with error, pre-
judice and established powers, and sometimes
! at the point Of the sword.
The Why also takes us to task for saying
that the whig party is not dead. Ii grows sar.
castle as it warns with the subject. We did
say so--we plead guilty to the charge. But il
in place of saying that, we had declared that the
whig party is dead what would the Wing have
then said. 1t would doubtless have fallen on
us with the crushing power Of thousand Of
brick. II seems that it is determined not to be