The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-02-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
t7Sanslatea for tie BO'scm CO"nier.l
THE UNITED STATES.

towards this situation. But Just now tneir
ports looked towards the Atlantic now o.
egon and California have opened TO them
the Pacific. An immense movement, oi
which the Mormons are the precursors, is
turned towards the west Of North America.
The railway which is now in projection will
uni,c the two oceans. From that momen,
the Anolo-Saxons will take position truly
tceniral between these two oceans aud the
parts of the world which they baihe; bui
This central position Of the United States
will be truly conquered only when the mar
rowest portion of the continent, which IS
the shortest passage from one sea 10 the
other belongs TO them, when they are a,
Mexico and Panama.
Then they will be truly established in
the commercial centre OF the world, between
Europe on the east and China aud India on
the west. The unknown city which will
one day rise Oh the spot where the two
Americas are united will be the future Al
eyandriu; it will be an emporium for The
East aud West, for Europe and Asia, but
upon a scale altogether vas, aud i'll propo:-
ton 10 modern commerce, increased with
the extent Of the seas given up 10 IL. The
Isihmus of Panama will be the Islhmus OF
Suez of this gigantic Alexandria, but an
Is,hmus of Suez intercep,ed.-What com
mercial situation can be like il, when Chi.
ma is opened, which must take place when
Southern America is occupied and regenera.
ted, either by the United States, or by Eu-
rope, il i, can accomplish it, which will as
certainly occur at some future day. Then
what country on the globe will be able to
compete with this favored zone, extending
on both sides OF the equator, from the Gull
of Mexico 10 the magnificent roads,cad OF
Rio Janero, beautiful country where all
the tropical plants grow upon the plains,
and where upon the heights, temperate
climate permits the cultivation of The vcSe.
tables OF Europe, which contains the great
esl mineral riches of the land, the gold OF
California, the silver of Mexico, the dia-
monds of Brazil. Ii is not difficult, TO i'm.
agine that some spot in this predestincd
region, towards the point Of junction OF the
two Americas, OIL the route 10 Europe and
Asia, will bc the future capital ofthe world.
Then old Europe will find itself a, one OF
the extrcmiies OF the geographical chart
OF the civilized universe. Ii will be the
past, venerable past-ior i, will be from
her that this new development will have
come.-It will be her language, her arts,
her religion, which which will reign so far
from her; il will be 10 modern liberty, born
in the little foggy island OF England, iha,
these vast aGd serene regions will owe
their complete liberty which they will en-.
Joy. Then pious pilerimages will be
made 10 the old cotinent, as we 90 TO con-
template the celebrated places from whence
our civilization sprung; then London aud
Paris will be visited as we visit Athens or
jerusalem; but the hearih.sione of civil.
zaiion, displaced by the force OF events and
in consequence Of the very shape OF the
globe, will have been transported towards
the point marked out by the finger Of God
upon our planet 10 be the true centre OF hu-
mani,y. Ii The intellectual resources and
moral power exis, and grow in proportion
10 these physical resources and this ma,eri-
al power, the United States will reach de-
gree Of developement 10 which The human
race has no, yet attained.
The intellectual movement in North
America which is JUS, beginning, is mos,
worthy of attention. Now that old Europe
is becoming more and more uniruitiul, il is
curious 10 know il the forces oi though,
will be renewed and gain new strength
from The new sources, or il decidedly the
originality of mind, the power OF imagina.
ton, the eternal sentiments of the heart OF
man, will be entirely forsaken, disdained
by industrial societies and pi,ilessly sacri.
feed TO The useful arts and material we'll
being. Ii is the opinion OF many lha, here.
after, poetry, the fine arts, must give place
10 machines, and no longer occupy the
place in the life Of man they formerly did,
bu, Join the supers,itions aud prejudices OF
the past.-EuIope has seemed TO take these
ideas seriously, for it produces little, and
its intellectual products become less and
less substantial and valuable. Will the
United States create new literature! II
they create il, they will triumph over the
opinion now admit ell by many minds,
that industrial societies can have neither
poetry nor arts, and that these noble pro-
ductions of the mind are the appanage OF
uncivilized societies. However /, may be,
the Americans are seeking 10 give them
selves a national literature. They are
working with ardor they are not endeav-
oring now at least 10 initiate Europe; their
romance writer's and their poets endeavor
TO cypress new sentiments under new
form, and in great number OF their recent
books the hatred of imitation seems 10 have
replaced the ardor of emulation which for.
merly made them wish 10 equal the style
and manner of the different writers Of Eu.
rope. Their style, thanks 10 this extreme
desire OF originality, is often whimsical, al
| e.. h,,,
force nor local zes,. Tho European cul-
turc, the literature especially Of the Ger
man and Enslish,a are evidently studied with
care; bu, these studies serve now rather rs
point than Us All end; in one word the
Americans seem 10 seek 10 graft their Ger.
man and English inpolialions upon The ma
,ional stock. The first who attempted this
revolution is the philosopher Emerson, He
has tried 10 make American applications
of the German philosophy, and thence his
fine cssays,iu which, the most extreme met.
aphysical elevations OF Kant and Hegcl are
mingled with ihe practical science OF the
bonhomHie Richard. He has been followed
or rather accompanied in this path by q
great number OF bold and original writers.
In the intellectual movement Of the
last year, there may be distinguished two
literary currents; which are beginnas to
separate and flow OIL, each by ITSELF accord.
Ing to all appearance, will separate still
more. We shall call one the Germanic
influence, the other the Proiestan, Influence.
At the head Of the school Of German ten-
dencies is Emerson; who announced n
few months ago, new volume, Impress
sions Of tour in Europe The most
distinguished poe, Of this literary group is
MT Henry Lonsfellow, whose success in
England and America increases every day.
Theodore Parker, the iheolosian. the au-
Thor OF The discourses upon matters con.
cerning religion has lust published n new