The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-28
Pioneers aud Leaders.

"Old men for counsel, and Young men for
war;" Never was axiom justcr. if the world 8
history be taken for the test. The blood of
youth may be fiery. its tongue quick and its
heart impulsive and passionate, but more than
counterbalancing all these are its hope, its
faith, its energy and endurance, which when
experience has ripcned and tempered Judgment
and speech, still spur on to high heroic action.
The pioneer men of the world on the battle
field, in the van of colonizaton in the develop
ment Of art and science, and in the prosecution
of the mightiest and most perilous enterprises
for the world s veal have stood on the easter n
dcclivity Of lifc--have begun the march, prose
cuted the endeavor. and won among their most
iadeless laurcle ere the noon of their threescore
and ten was past
Unfortunately for the peace and true glory
of mankind, the lan1smark men of hstory-the
men on whom the eyes and hearts of the mil
lion have most admirin%ly rcstcd-have been
Its chief warriors some of them indeed noble
as mighty some founders of great empires and
redeemcrs of nations But of the nobIest and
mightiest. those who began TO win glory brave
ly, past the middle of the "mortal span" are
but an exception to the general rule Hector
and Achilles, Alexander and Sesostris. IIanni-
bal and Cesar, Washington and Napoleon, and
thousands whose names have been light aud
a terror, trod in younli manhood the steep
''whrrc Fane's proud temple shines affair.",
1t has been 50 from the beginning--it will be SO
to the end of time. While age Sits in weighty
deliberation, consulting its fears and doubts,
and arguing delay. youth leaps to action.
+" Advance. flames for motto ON its banners
and, scornng cost and sacrifice. it strikes for
the imperial goal and purple. Often madIy. no
doubt. and to evil purpose. if not with evil in
tent, yet mainly with an arlor Of patriotism and
generosity native to its impulses and blood.
Not yet made selfish by the scliishncsS of the
world not yet cold scnrncr of dreams and
castles in the air." amid many pliantoms chas
ed with passionate enthusiasm. it finds the
track OF mighty, obstinate NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
discoveries, grey old errors, and new truths
and conqucrs them bringing revolutions upon
the world ideas and habits, and faiths, fore
vcr broadening the field in which humanity
struggingly aspircs towards its ideals.
Philosophy, alone may claim its champions
from the ranks of age but while the Tlatos
found " visionary" republics and bewiller man
with beautiful distractions, the hoy David is
staying the giant Phiistine: the Divine child.
Jesus, is contounding the doctors OF the law.
and rejoicing the world with practical saliva
ton new, real world, with republics in its
bosom, rises on the vision of young Columbus ::
Calico is dcciphcring the mystery of the cxtcr-
nal heavens, and brave, bnoyan: youth, fired
by love, chlvalry and ambition. is everywhere
hurting down hydlas and chimcraS, by daring
to fellowship with the new, and TO penetrate
the unexplored.
Youth, up to the zenith of manhood, is the
true life-period of nations as well as of man. Up
this point nations. Ike man, grow--beyond this
they but exist and decay. Where is the empire
that has conquered or wrought most bravely
after its prime-wherc the man. safe small eX-
ceptions, who pluckcd his brightest wreath
from the brow oil glory. past his prime? 1t was
not IN Egypt. nor Greece, nor Rome not Sliak-
speare, nor Raphael. nor Phidias. Lofty. beau
tlful, generous achievement belongs to the
young manhood Of men and nations. Youth
is curious, fearless, earnest. 1t seeks to know
all, explore all, share all. 1t must, it can. it
willard so, while age halts, thinking of its in
frmities, its aspirations conferred in self youth
bounds. spurred alike by the past and the fu-
ture, and pioneers the new generations beyond
the affairs and ashes Of the Old to higher goals
aud to larger triumphs.--.l. Y. Mirror.