Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-12-20

eoIHHhcIciaI deAllngs since the peace o
Europe. There has been no era like /
n the annals Of tho world. Never until
the dawn Of the latter half of this cen
!ury, in 1881. has it been possible fol
foreign merchants to look each other in
the face-possible, in q moral sense, fol
correspondents 10 look one another in
the eye without blush-possible, in O
physical point Of view, Tor men ofcvery
nation to meet together in one arena, to
compare the fruits of their industry ahd
art. But this great event, this unfore
seen possibility. has como to pass! Poo
pie different ir religion, in language, in
costume. in customs, in modes Of living
and habits Of labor, have been brought
into ,ntact-all to stand beneath the
trumphaI edifce Of Anglo. Saxon skill,
all gazing at ench others products, all
teaching or acquiring knowledge, all
imbibirg reverence for human fellow.
ship. all catching fire from emulation
in the industrial arena. see before my
minds eye the crystal structure in Hyde
Park, founded by princeIy sagaeity,and
reared by the mechanic art Of British
workmen, in the Commercial Capital
OF the world. II stands in the midst oil
the warriors ofsea and land, surround.
ed also by memorials Of cloistered learn
ing and Of Christian sympathy, encom.
passed besides with the proofs Of a liv.
ing civilization Of the highest type, and
filled with curious stuffs that industry
has wrought and commerce has collect.
cd. Man out Of every country. every
kindred Of the lands are congregated
therein, speaking tongues wherewih
they were born, yet feeling that there is
common language that all can under.
stand, belonging to the family Of the ma.
tions. In Imagination, | am beneath
the transpa' tent arch, looking upward 10
the armament Of the stars, and outward
upon the earth, and around upon the
masses OF mankind; and conceive that
| am contemplating the Progress Of com.
mcrce, its triumph, its promise, it4 gor.
gccus jubilee. That Crystal Palace
was symbol. 1t was q kind Of sacra.
ment. 1t was the outward and visible
sign Of national fellowship. i, was the
dialem Of peace. No former age has
been competent to produce the phenom,
enon of the representation Of the wofld.
No other age has Witnessed a universal
concourse, unarmed, undisturbeI. con.
fdins, serene and Tranquil, conscious Of
their security, under the safeguard Of
civil law. No other age nor geners.
lion has been able TO furnish an oppor.
tunity for heart 10 beat against heart,
anl hand to join in hand, with the
pledge OF Peace. Thegreat idea is fixed +,
and is taking root. 1t is already repro.
ducing itself 1t is grown up beautiful.
ly in the midst Of US. 1t is bearing fruit
in other countries. The spirit of the age
in Commerce, and its temple shall be
reared in every land. But this spirit Of
the age suggests dangers and warnings
as wei! as hopes and 2ratulations. The
imminent danger to commercial men is
covctousness. The rapidity of comm er.
cial agencies has accelerated everything
they touch. Men are more impatient
than when the wheel Of intercourse went
slow, and the arsosy made one voyage
year. Haste to be rich-haste TO re.
alize fortune, is dangerous snare to
honor and 10 honesty. Beware, then,
of that idolatry which shall end in
shame. Beware Of the love of money,
Il which is the root Of all evil. God has
made Commerce the pioneer to his Re.
ligon. He has purposes higher, holier
and more blessed than 10 promote mere.
ly the temperate comforts Of mankind.
The merchant should be mindful OF
Gods designs and Providence. The
merchant should believe that he is a
minister and steward of,he mysteries Of
God, in his appointed sphere and mea.
sure. Let him, then, cease to be more
shopman, trader, a selfish accumulator
of filthy lucre. But let him he the
Statesman,the Philanthropist the Chris
tian, The fate Of Tyne awaits those
cities which, like her, were puffed up
with pride Of wealth and fulness Of
bread, forgetful Of Him "who giveth US
power to get wealth." Let US hope
better things; for ..as commerce has
wrought exploits in civilizing the world,
so ought we to expect her to fulfil her
mission in helping the Church to chris.
tianize the world. Thus shall the po.
cts idea be realized in the merchants Of
our day-that accomplished merchants
are accomplished men," Let me con-
clude with DR.. Young's concluding
verse in his ode to the merchant:
"Merchant! Religion is thy care,
To grow as rich as angels are, [main
To know false coin from true-to sweep the
That mighty stake secure, beyond
The strongest tie of field or fund [GAIN."
Commerce gives GoLD-Religion makes its
The Pacific Ours.
The Richmond Examiner, in speaking
Of tee Sandwich Islands and our com
merce in the paci6c,suys that that Ocear
is as exclusively an appurtenance, case
ment. common appendant Inland Sea o
this Republic, as the Chesapeake Bay
itself, or as the Irish Sea is Of Grea
Britain.
True, we have not deed under sea-
and sign manual from the other nations
or if-true, we could not maintain ouI