Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-02-12
The Present Ct cur Country.

There have been few eras in the history O.
this Continent since its discovery which pre-
sents to the politician and philosopher more
interesting subjects for the reflection of the
mind than that which the present unfolds. Il
we first survey the vast area of our own limits
and note the great and rapid improvements
which science and the useful arts have made
in every direction, within a little while back
to expand our commerce and bring our rich
lands embracing every clime) into cultivation
and within reach of our magic growing cities
the senses pail in contemplating the growth Of
the future from the evidence of the past, OF in
measuring the wonders which mind and the
attributes of wealth and energy will assuredly
give rise to.
In the matter of Internal IMPROVEMENTS
system so peculiarly adapted to the wants, the
habits, the industry and the social condition of
our people-we are leaping forward with a IA
pidity at the present moment-oyer our valleys
and our rocky heights, deep rivers and arms of
inland seas, from the far frozen North to
the sunny South-which has no precedent in
any former epoch of our own or any other
land. Indeed, we may say that our rail cars
have out-travelcd the prejudices of politicians
and Partizans, and 10 have reached 4 climax of
progress and popularity as to prove that those
who were once backward in advocating a sys-
TEN and a science which seems so pre-eminently
useful in binding together the interests and
sympathies of this Republic: are now takirga
prominent part in having the country t~rayersed
in every locality by the steam carriage and its
train.
While, as nation, we are undoubtedly TAX
ing the lead in fixing our attention upon works
and arts which enhance the interests, the hap
piness, and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the human
.race-giving origin to inventions rs startling
and wonderful as they are the pride of Ameri-
cans and the envy Of foreign governments, and
which seem directed by a Divine power to de-
velope the resources of 4 mighty people-we
are on the other hand not unmindful of those
minor and humber acts which wisdom prompts
to fill up the measure of contentment of 4
peaceful and prosperous people.
But it seems that it is more upon grand and
magnificent conceptions of the human mild,
carried seemingly miraculousIy into operation,
that the present era of our country is to be-
famous in the history of the world
Before we had yet seen displayed to their full
est extent the %triumphs of printing, in the in
crease and rapid transmission of works and
from the steam press, to scatter learn.
ing and intelligence through the world-before,
VIC repeat, this holy art of Goethe had reached
perfection to which it was destined-tbe
lightning Of the telegraph, introduced and har-
messed by soRs of our own soil, opened TO US
IN urdreampt of :ge, characteristic of the pro-
5ress and might of our people, in genius and
energy and marking the era with a celebrity
intellect in the past had but seldom
But scarcely had the telegraph showed
he wonders it was able to accomplish, before
mother superhuman effort of the mind, and of
'ur own land, burst forth to distinguish the
'poch, and to make still more glorious the an.
lals of history. We refer to the patent of
which supersedes the use of steam {
tut an Immortality which probably only rises
lpon the fame Of Fulton to be itself succeeded !
" %triumphs of genius equally as successful I
nd wonderful.
But the "present Of our country unfolds I
objects and reflections too numerous and SUI l
lime for one short article in our columns, and
! the absence of a taste to mingle with the
arty jarring-likewise Distinguishing the era
which we live-we may again recur to the s
Dove caption. n