The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-05
Communicated.
American Art.


Of national progress would secure to them more
willing encouragement than has YET been gwen nen' ~
our county -
eleyating man from the savage 10 the civilized STATE
they refine. esa and expand the splrt OF NATIONS as
well individuals 10 their prog tess 70 power anu
il they furnish for every people VINO chensh hsm im-
posui records which the pen OF history
Il ncompeent 10 make, liberal governments should re-
cognse their claims, and, by generous patronage give
The utmost efficiency 10 their powers -,
The tine Tor more extended eXeilioh OF Tue
genius OF the nation upon WORKS OF nauonal art ana J.
must be thus exered from The same vital necessity that
Nature obeys when the maured stem OF the tree sends
forth The blooming crown and golden fruit.
The national has fixed its firm roots IN the heart
ri The continent and spread lis hbrous branches over
mountains and valleys and lakes and rivers, from ocean
10 Il has hitherto given shelter and shade. The
lime for full bloom and fruit has come.
The reverend masters OF the vineyard who planted and
guarded It's tender germwho pruned and shaped lis
pandng form Tor strength and beauiyor perennial bene
icence and febave passed 10 their reward and we be-
leve their grateful will 10 1t that the inherit
ance runs wasletha the national tree swings not
its branches, neglected and ruthless. over degenerate
and spiress poseriiy, orgetiul OF the haowed past
unmindIui OF the glorious future II should unfold
In search for the basis upon which The hopes OF
aart as an illustration OF the best spirit OF people
are to be bu we led TO consider the analogy OF
individual and national life The necessity OF the one
being illustrated in the other Aso the necessary pre-.
dominance OF the aspiring intellectual, spiritual element
in the exertions OF either for the attainment OF wor-
In a us meraoir OF The life of an individual in a free
state-consdeed in respect to his aspirations and the
plan and inducements 10 exeruon-we have type OF ma
lional being. -
He seeks material possessions, not an end, but
means--not OF supplying the wants OF natures that has
small part in the move-he seeks them means OF
minstration 10 the ideal life, The theory and image OF
which, less exalted, he eAerians IN youth as
something TO be realized IN age
He feels the insuthcency of mere existence. To ex-
pand, elevate, and adorn II, is his secret aspiration mo
tive and hope and the formula OF his forethought and
ever chershed inducement might be thus expressed:
will possess me of estates; will build mansion in
the midst OF veran groves and owery gardens IL shall
be my fixed and safe abode Around shall be gathered
all that employ and enrich the passage OF years; IN
my library, the accumulated knowledge and labor OF the
mind of all ages shall find place Ia my gallery shall
be gathered the works OF The genius OF my own and the
times gone by. In my library and gallery Will devel-
ope my being. Attainment IL knowledge VIII ganiy me
longDgs OF my soul and il may be shall contribute
thought, al least, to the treasury OF the worlds
knowledge ..n .
shall establish family. In the arts, sciences. and
public duties, my shall confer upon 1t honor and
peTmanence. 49,
With nv wealth the wants of the unfortunate shall be
relieved, liberal arts shall be encouraged benencent
institutions supported.
/ shall fill place in my age for which, will be wor-
thy 10 have lived To the future may transmit some
benefits that Will imprint thereon 1or continuance Tue
memory OF life.
States being aggregaons of individual mind, must be
actuaied by analogous motives OF possession, attainment
exertion, and commemoraion Possession OF public
domain, establishment OF authority, development OF ma
teIia used, II not sought, as means or
the realization of the ideal, and IN ITS worthy realization
every aspiring citizen feel unceaslng solcllude
That ii shall not be inferior 10 the image he enersans
that his aspirations Tor the true lie shall not IN public
manifestation degenerate INTO entire engrossment with
material ineTests-must engage his earnest exefuon
and care. ~
found an honorable tablet in the dome OF memory con-
gs,s in the Intellectual and spiritual aamen they gave
humanity and not IN the extent OF their domain OF
the magnitude OF their martial power.
Athens for art and science and Israel for religion and
law though among the smallest States of antiquity, have
shared largest honors from the world
Deep, ineiTaceable and eyerbnghiening are the ina
ges they impressed the heart OF humanity while the
empires. the glory OF any benefits they may
have conferred left STAN of IN the institutions
OF the world 10 be elaborated by the ages OF light 10
come.
We need not take an extended view OF naiiona
growths TO discover in them pfovdenual purpose and
direction for the development and diffusion OF certain
principles yet may give passing indication oil tha
divine guidance in the example nouced.
For the weaving Of the golden fleece into the glow
ing robes OF cyzaton-for extending the OF those
visible signs OF thought which Cadmus brought TO The
shores oil Gfeeee-ior me 1eseopmeni ana peiecuon o.
the sciences and arts TO which those letters opened the
way-ior the formation OF models OF seli-government to
be adopted in after times TO harmonize with the spirit
OF coming religious dspensa,ion-we know the es-
tablishmen nj OF the Grecan States was directed. How
worhy they pursued the national ideal OF life to ITS re-
alzaton, and how II imbOdIed by them In science
phi osopby, and the beautiful arts, Tor the instruction oil
the after times
Thus we night trace the course Of the Commonwealth
OF Israel Observe how the revelation through Moses
developed the purpose OF the national existence
how the ark OF the covenant, its expressive symbol
was cherished and defended and how at last the holy
temple built 10 hold aud guard the sacred treasure
and how the national life aud mission on earth were
finally mboded in the highest art-the inspired poetry
OF the Bible and in the record OF the made OF The
possession Of Promised Land.
The story Of the possession OF our Promised Land j,
familiar TO ALL The direction Of Divine providence IN
the establishment and growth OF our nationality is by all
confessed The great purposes oil the national lie allie
expression in declarations, constitutions and organza
tons. in progress Of development That those high
purposes shall be cherished and pursued with the sacred
zeal OF the early patrotsthat their best spirit shall torT
and be psrsued the natoa's ideal OF lemust be the
prayer OF all good men.
Ii the question arise :" What bearing have these con-
alterations upon the interest Of the ~ reply Ac-
cordins to the spirit OF their suffrage will be their mani
festaon and is desirable that that should be good In
our individual type OF being, considered in view OF the
indictments 10 material possession, requirement ~ shown
to be made means TO a higher end. Sometimes the
lofty purpose Is forgouenmalera gain grows TO be the
ferveni, allabsorbug passion aim, and end; and the
beautiful ideal dice, and disappears even from The memo
ries of the soul
Thus II may be with national e1iseHces In the burn.
ing passion for material ACKNOWLEDGEMENT they may gain
the whole world and like imperial Rome lose their
soul
II becomes The national mind that would glory in liz
superiority 10 inquire wherein consists the right OF its
erulafion II, through favorng Providence, II has
attained possession OF the largest domain IN the Common
wealth Of the world and by heroism unsurpassed, Sc
cured IRON The intrusion oil aggressive States, and esab
lshed CIVIL institutions favorable for individual deve-
opment, that u well SO is national industry, deve-
wealth.
But mountain high may heap up gold, and make The
might OF Weah We night Of honor, and establish fame
Tor power SURPRISING that OF imperial Rome; vet il we