The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-02
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Mastery Inactivity.

We moi disposed 10 cav about The origin Of the
maxim 40 delay action until The time las arrived TO ac
with effect" We not whether the phrase "master-
" inactivity" hrsl used by American or Greek
statesman and whether MIR. Calhoun or any body else
used II IN debate; we know that the maxim - good
one, and that it recommends itself strongly 10 the com
mon not only OF our legislators but OF our people
Not To not to think not TO act VIII destroy nations
As rdivduas but TO see, TO think and 10 ecl al The
proper hme-in other words, 10 wait TIL ihe oper time
tor action has arrived and, in the meanwhile, not 10
waste words not 10 grow FESTIVE OF impatient, and not
10 sink power by hunting the shadows Of things 10 adj
vance OF the reality ia wise maxim ol ripe staiesnan
Ship as IL proper rule OF conduct IN all ordinary
actions Of life. How many men are daily losing their
best chances OF success by impatieace how many men
running themselves IN anticipation OF large fortunes;
how much labor and money are daily expended IN the
frui,less endeavor 10 change to-day ino Tomorrow.
There time for sowing and Tor respiGg, Tor planting
and for gathering CROPS The fruit whicn is plucked be
fore !, s ripe is unfit for The boy who anticipates
manhood will waste his strength before be can apply u
useful purpose the youth who pants Tor The ex-
perience Of age, be comes a premature old man.
The same holds OF nations. nation which has no
misAon to fulfil leads mere vegetable life, such as
Mexico and all The South American States now lead
n.y. without thought, reflection, consciousness Their
ey isence and duration depend merely circumstances
avorng their growth decay they possess no indivd-
uay. organism that can ssslpiIa,e aud elaborate
whatever TENDS 10 increase their strength, and power
10 throw off overcome whaev,r suseless or Injurious
Thew historical satellites, accompanying and
subject TO the lave OF those nations which have a ms
fulfil affecting the general Interests OF humanity
A people without a historical mission can have moral
elevate high sense OF Duty none of the virtues
which arise from The consciousness OF strength, With
an encour aging prospect OF The future clearly per-
ceived and steadily kept in view people lacks the s,
ulus 10 action, and the self reliance TO sustain it in adve
sty. Such people is nothing but humus 10 those who
come after IT.
And The same thing may be said Of a people which,
having had ~ s-on 10 fulfil has proved unequal 10 the
task. Such apeope u doomed 10 inevitable decay. II
has nothing sustain il in misfortune, nothing restrain
II in The days OF its prosperity Il may die OF plethora
or OF extenoslion but perish II must 10 be succeeded
by possessing the necessary qualification for the
task. This is a law OF Nature Necessary 10 life, by
which youth and vigor take everywhere the place OF
weakness and decrepltude.
But there nations who have had a mission, and
fulfilled IT. These also declining, no matter how
great the achievements with which they filled the pages
OF history, Alexander, when he bad nothing more TO
conquer, could do nothing bu, die Rome, after haviae
ruled the world by the sword. had survived ITSELF and
persisted the Jewe after having given birth to Cbfis
tianIty, dispersed all the globe The empire
OF Chariamagnc after receiving the gefn OF modern
| civilization, divided among his sons Napoleon
after ploughing up the sol OF Europe with his cannon
planted II with The old seed, and died captive The
m,sson oil France WAS to destroy the Old social edcs
OF Europe, but she could rebuild II, England grea
mission TO the seed OF civilization in The mos
has been wonderfully successful and this /, her true N,
mperishahs glory. Her people have carried the rrnci
pie of liberty, The form of stlf-rovernmeni viereys
they went and long particle OF that nlsson re
mains he accomplished. and Eng land has the rnea
accomplish it. she will not hoeessy decline or
the lie Of nation may he said 70 be in proportion /,
Iis consciousness of having something live Tor tina
Iconrbuies the progress OF the when that con
soo.nesss dead, or gives place to the mere selfish in