Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-06
Progress.

reg 0isH Progress. i.'! ''i ...-s.
Governor Clifford, at present the Chief
Magistrate of the State at Massachusetts,,
at the recent celebration lat Plymouth
of the anniversary of the embarkation of
the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, delivered
speech, which we, may not properly suf-
fer to pass without word Of comment.
The Governor, be it known, is an esti-
mablemiddle aged gentleman, who, being
a lawyer Of fair rank in his profession,
obtained his present position through
long devotion to the fortunes of Daniel
Webster, his mortal deity. He is rigid
conservative, generating all things only
in proportion to their age He holds that
We are going ahead too fast; and, on this
occasion. in speaking of the spirit OF pro-
gress which is abroad, after &c slushing"
Massachusetts to her hearts content for
the manner in which she has progressed
since the days of the Pilgrims to the pre-
sent he continnra Saying: 20 'it =. -a.
= But, sir, the manifest destiny doctrine
Of our day! is it right? Mr. President. and
you, sons and daughters of the Old Colony.
ms 1t the true Pilgrim stamp, and vii it bear
the test of their christian chemistryl Why.
sir. believe the mos. recent and autho1ita-
tive exposition OF it. forgetting almost thar
there Is Col iru!eth among the nations Of
she earth, IT, that it is the manifest destiny of
this country Of ours, one of the in51orabIe
1f =. =, NJ
IaaTeh. MARCH in the path Of pagan Rome
through Heids of blood and battle, till it has
accomplished its mission, like that of the
anderlng Jew, who is taken for it's en-
blem- Sensation. Mr. President, who rel
ishss this foredoomed and predestined tramp
Sng Of a nation like this Who is'not rather
sentsnt to cultivate the glorious arts Of peace
and reverence fur God, and respect for law.
and To observe that great mark of Justice in
civilized people. which the late J, ,hn q Adams
declared was the ighest honor of our Pilgrim
Fathers They we're he says, the first
European Coi0nists who observed the NATURAL
right of the Indian 10 the soil on W hich he
hssd. and that OF the territory which was OBJ
tanned by them, whether BY. tho barter trade
~ two jack knives or piece Of wampun. still
for every inch Of ground they obtained thev
were paid by AMIR compact most eminent
writer. the ceIebrsted Eattel, has dono mer-
tied honor to tbs Pilgrim Fathers Of New
Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay stating that
they were the first to establish this prescrip-
tive rule of natural justice and ne ti6nal right
Sir, are We content to- initiate the example of
.sxy fathers in this respect. OF DO We desire Ia
~ Sn aud make it one Of the aondi tions of ouI
national existence that We shall march.
march l,archn' No, sir, the Pilgrims had a
better motto and shield. They saw with an
undinmed vision in the clear sky above them,
rs clear as the fsbied cross OF Constantine to
his eye, the admoni'loG-' pray, pray, pray,
work, work, work Industry piety, frugali-
ty, and reverent faith in God. They were
content to follow Gods providence to danger.
or prosperity and honor. Cheersl nv fol-
low eeuntrymen. sons and dauyhtsrs Of New
England, which do you choose which will you
carry from hero, as your guide in the coming
days, that the country you love and enjoy, and
in which your children are to hive, should be
symboIized by q wandering Jew or by a Chris
tian Pilgrim. still warning the hearts and suf-
fusing the coGntepance of yGar. son or yoar
daughter, lGreat applause. . -.
Now, in the extract which we quote,
the Governor, not content with misrepre-
senting the obaracteF of the progress for
which the safe and soiind progressives Of
this coHntry contend, .fas!ffs history.
We know of no set of msH in this coun-,
try, Of sufficient numbers or importance
to be ranked a party, who advocate vio-
lence against any neighboring nation for
the sake of the acquisition OF territory:
nor do we know Of any class Of American
citizens of sufficient weight in public at
fairs, to threaten seriously TO intesfere with
the continued supremacy of the doctrine
of the fathers of the conedracy, relative
to the rights and duties of the Govern
ment, in connection with the affairs Of
other nations. So, what the Governor
says Of marching ahead, after the fashion
of Pagan Rome, and all that sort of thing,
is merely to blind the.eyes Of Buncombe
to the true character of the march upon
the road TO our national destiny, Of which
men Of the times, everywhere, approve
New England, in the progress which has
been her lot to. this time, has been nair-
lever, operating to turn the rolling ball.
That is, we are indebted to her for much
of our progress in literature, the arts and
sciences; and, more, in innoeulatjng all