Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-14
FoR THE AMExIcAS 0RGA
Our Manifest Destiny.

No subject since the birth of this nation, has
been more discussed, and apparently more misun-
derstood, than its " manifest destiny" From the
statesman who inwove his own with his country's
history to the maddest ranter that ever blew off
Observation-Disclosures Fourth Of July Grafton, the sub
ject has been theme of boundless speculation.
And that " manifest destiny "-oh II Is a SPLEEN
did affair For notwithstanding the pacific pre-
elections Of some, and the obstinate old fogyism
of others, there is sublimity in conquest and ours
is to be vast one.
"No pent up Utica contracts our powers,
The whole boundless Continent is ours
Canada is to constitute two States, and Labra-
dor, Russian America, Mexico, Guatemala, and the
minor States, Mosquito, and all, are to be gene
rousy included in the glorious hug Of hearty I'm
Gle Sam. But the end is not yet, The Sandwich
Islands West Indies, all South America, and ire
cent events warrant the assumption) even japan,
are all in due season to be invited to nap under
our liberty tree. From the north pole to Terra
del Fuego, an ocean bound republic" Nay, we
shall have sky -bound republic, the whole globe
one universal Yankee nationl"
But to be serious. We may be pardoned the
regret that American craftsmanship should dis
Germ in our future no nobler destiny. The great
ness Of our empire is not to be measured by the
acre, nor its glory by the achievements Of armed
legions, or the cunning lcgerdemain Of diplomacy.
/ doubt not the extension of our limits and, for
aught know to the contrary, Congress may yet
meet biennially at Washington and Rio Janeiro,
and a retiring President from the valley of the
Mississippi greet his successor from the valley Of
the Amazon All this may be, but it must be as
a consequence OF the development not as a means
of developing ideas Of selfgovernment These
ideas, like the Indian, are aboriginal to the New
World; and though in the South. kingcraft and
priestcraf have smothered, they cannot extin-
guish, them; and the bloody day must yet come
when they win burst forth and sweep In wrath
over the continent like the angel Of death in the
olden time over the camp Of the Assyrisn. Amer
lea was the last portion Of the earth 10 make the
acquaintance Of tyranny, and the first to spurn Il
away, whether Of kings or popes, cardinals or
viceroys, and she split mitre with little more
compunction than she smashed a crown.
All America must be free--repubcan and to
that every State the continent, not already 30,
Is progressing. And in this grand march Of free
dom the United States must lcad---not armies to
conquer, and rip with the sword, Democracy from
the womb of fnturity-but by tempting others to
freedom, by displaying It's blessings and teachings
the way to win and preserve 1t. And over
the ocean in the king cursed realms Of the Old
World the millions who are dumb of thought and
ignorant Of greatness, with but vague glimpscs Of
the true nobility Of man, win learn the lesson Of
freedom, and bring to an eternal conclusion the
history of regal oppression.
Thus is 1t, the manifest destiny Of our country,
by it's example, to snlighten to elevate and to emo
BILE mankind; to become the political rcdeemer Of
an enslaved world, the Moses Of nations, TO lead
them out of bondage. A different destiny Is
not manifest" even II Desirable nobler des.
tiny Is not possible, even to desire sAu.