Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-09-14
The Mission of America.
BY EDWARD EVERETT.


Mr. Everett, at the recent celebration in Boston
of the National Anniversary, was called out for
speech, in which he referred with his usual force
and eloquence, to the event of the Revolution
and the consequences which followed the expert
ment of free representative government. His
remarks upon the present era are forcible:
| "We live (said Mr.. Everett) at an era as event
full, in my judgment, that of '76, though in a
different way. We have no foreign yoke to throw
off but in the discharge of the duty devolved upon
us by Providence, we have to carry the republi-
can independence which our fathers achieved,
with all the organized institutions of an enlisht-
ened community, institutions of religion, law, ed
ucation charity art, all the thousand graces of the
highest culture, beyond the Missouri, beyond the
Sierra Nevada!-perhaps in time around the cir
cult of the Antilles-perhaps the archipelagoes of
the Central Pacific! [Great cheering.] The pio-
neers are on the way, who can tell how far and
how fast they can travel! Who that compares
the North America of 1853 but century ago,
and numbering but little over million of souls
of European origin: or, still more, the North
America of 1868, When there was not fifth part
of that number; who that compares this with the
North America of 1853, its twenty-five millions of
European origin, and its thirty-one States, will
venture to assign limits to our growth-will dare
to compute the time table of railway progress,
or lift much of the curtain that hides
the crowded events of the coming century! Tgreat
cheering. This only can we plainly see-the
old world is rocking to its foundations. From
the Gulf of Finland to the Yellow Sea, everything
is shaken.
The spirit of the age has gone forth to hold his
great review and the kings of the earth are moved
to meet him at his coming. [Cheers.] The band
which holds the great powers of Europe together
in one political league is strained to its utmost
tension. The catastrophe may for while be
warded off, but to all appearance they are hurrying
to the verge of one of those conflicts which, like
those of Pharsalia and Actum affect the condition
Of States for twice ten centuries. The Turkish
empire, encamped but for four centuries on the
frontiers of Europe, and the Chinese Monarchy, |
with David and Soloman, are crumb- |
ling. While these events are passing in the Old
World, tide of emigration which has no parallel
n history, is pouring west across the Atlantic,
md eastward across the Pacific, to Shores
The real political vitality of the world seems NOV
ng to the new hemisphere, whose condition and
fortune it devolves upon US and our children to
mould and regulate. Great cheering.
Sir, it is grand, let me say solemn thought,
we'll calculated to still the passions of the day. and
% elevate us above the paltra strife of parties
Applause 1t teaches US that we are called to
he highest, and do verify believe, to the most
trust that ever devolved upon one
generation of men. Let US meet it with cores.
'onding temper and purpose, with the wisdom of
we'll instructed experience, with the foresight
ind preparation of glorious future; not on the
narrow platforms of party policy and temporary
,xpediency, but in the broad and comprehensive
pirit of seventy-six.'