The Empire County argus. [volume] (Coloma, El Dorado County, Cal.) 1853-1857, 1853-12-24
From the Times and Transcript.
Signs of the Times.

Signs of the Times.
In recent issue we noticed some prominent fea-
lures in the position Of California, and viewed the
Pacific ocean as barrier to the western current of
the emigration of the human race. 1t is not that
an ocean is any hndrance to mans movements, on
the contrary, in modern days it is rather facility
but that the opposite shores of this our sea are
peopled by the earlier nations embracing the vast
majority ofthe population of the EARTH and so Dense
ly inhabited as to offer but little invitation to the
people of modern cast of civilization to migrate
thither Then from this point westward, though
the star of empire" may hold it's sway the migra-
tion of this continent will be in another course.
In human history empire, power, culture and do
minion have been moving steadily to the west for
many centuries, and it is true also that another
feature has always been prominent in the great
changes of society," which is worthy of notice in this
country especially at the present time. 1t is that
the nations of the more southerly margins of civil
zation, after ripening for decay, have been swept
from their seats of power driven from their thrones
of influence and swallowed up in the tide of
strength which has poured upon them from the
north. Greece, Carthage, and Rome were exam
pies Of this truth The elements of decay no sooner
begin to show themselves in the sunny regions than
some northern current sets in for the work of
luton. Look at Turkey and Russia at the present
time and trace back through history and it will be
seen that some law or rule OF destiny has governed
the prominent movements of dominion with re-
markabe uniformity
When we look carefully into this subject we will
readily perceive the tendency of events our own
hemisphere. Decay seems to sit in mournful 81
lence upon the turrets of the Aztec and ruinious
lethargy throughout the half-Spanish, half-barba-
rous States of Central and South America invites
the bolder cupdity of the Northmen to strike for
new fields of wealth and new promise of empire
manifest Destiny" g Ocean bound Republic" " EN-
larged area of Freedom" and Spread of Republi-
institutions" apt words, which, with all the
fippancy given to them by the careless and unob-
who feel the beatings of the popular pulse.
To the South the eye is turned by the young men
of North America who, with a liberal or common
school education as their sole patrimony bid fare
well to home for the campaign of life Who hears
of people moving to the North Who dreams of
peopling and organizing State in the frigid
zone IF fortunes are to be made, power acquired,
character established and position secured whittier
do men turns First West, then to the South. 1t
is plain that the expansive element in the energies
and enterprise of the people of the United States is
only augmented by the enlargement of the field
over which they act. We have already history
enough to prove the settled tendency of this ele-
ment. We have already seen enough to apprehend
the free exercise of individual will of citizens in the
new movements of our people The table lands of
Texas, and her low lands bordering the Gulf, are
now no nearer forming boundary to the ambition
of cotton and sugar grower of the more eastery
States, than the gold fields of California, and her
rich land in the valleys fix limit to the desire
of gain and the appetite for adventure which are
stamped on the character of her bold people.
The valleys of Sonora are at this moment yield
ing to the plow of our German citizens. Lower
California is opening to view, through recent
movement ofNorth American emigrants. The Me-
silla valley is covered by disputed title, and the
villages and towns all along the northern tier of
Mexican Departments are inhabited by increasing
numbers Of citizens from :" the States"
But the encroachment of border interests is not
rapid enough for the comprising ideas fthe north
republicans, and peaceful associations are al
ready formed for colonizng, cultivatng, developing
and occupying, the exuberant valleys of the ANA
ZOn.
TO the steady, sober-minded, and thinking por-
tions of our people, these facts lead to many enqui
RIGS involving grave questions of political ethics.
We hear the Fillibuster' denounced the "mani-
fest destiny man. ridicued, and the doctrine of
g extension of the area of Anglo-Saxon freedom
pronounced piratical.
The poor Indian of our own older territory sinks
under the resistless weight of Saxon and Norman
civilization, and his murmurs scarcely reach the
capitol His natural silence seems to facilitate his
doom. He vanishes unheard and unremcmbered
almost with mysterious rapdity from the face OF
the earth, whilst the white man who plows his
hunting grounds knows scarcely how he was
elected.
There is power at work in all these movements
which is but little understood. The influences
which spread the Roman legions through the woods
of Europe, sprung from military ambition and
lust of empire, and the eagles of the empire were
spread by the will of the patrician alone. The fear
full reaction which swept the villas and wealth of
Rome from existence, as with the bosom of destruc
ton, had its origin in the vengeful bosom of Aarlc
and Ata.
The dominion of Britain in Asia was the offspring
of the lust for gold and diamonds which prompted