Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-05-02
Contrast between Russia and Amer
ica.

The author Of the book recently issued,
entitled "RuSSia as IL u.s." draws the follow
ing graphic contrast between Russia anG
Americas:
In Russia, the sword Of Damoces is sus.
pended over the Gear, as well-as over the
whole social order; every new day Of the
existence of America is brighter than the
past one, is marked by material as we'll ms
by social and moral improvement and as
cension. There we see master or driver
of millions; here millions Of independent,
intellectual. freely moving beings. Here
the legislator is the people; there lhe law is
The result Of the will o! one, often Of his
whim. In the self-consciousness in the
sel.reliaRce Of each individual. is founded
the greatness OF America; in Russia an order
from the Government is The only life inspi-
ring agency. The Goyernmen, in Russia
as in the whole Of the Old World, is obliged
TO ,ake minute care of The prosperity OF lis
subjects, as of a hol-house plant; here il
grows freely and prospers in the air--in an
atmosphere loaded with liberty, in ,hesocia
soil of equality. Therefore intelligence.
energy, elasticity, sell.consciousnes and
sel(relionce. pour inIo the individual, and
10 them excusively,is due. the prosperity so
enved by The Governments OF the older
hemisphere. MOI in physical conditions,
not in geographical position, is the arcanum
Of this wonder-lhe like conditions, and
some Others even more fully acting andd
veoped exist in olher countries and regions;
but, the all powerful source thereof is equal.
lily and liberty, limited BY reason Or It's laws.
Those believing in The interference with
human affairs. or iniheir benedic,ion from
above, can find a palpable manifestation
thereof in The prosperity Of America, because
she alone is lrue TO the eternal laws and con.
dilions Of The existence Of human nature. =
j Nothing is checked and depressed here by
artificial barriers; free will and free action
have full play. But every thing Is hamper
ed, circumscrbed, restricted IN Russia, as
everywhere else; and these restrictions are
curse continued through centuries. Thus
! while other countries move rapidly toward q
dreadful colaclysm, America has before her
an immense brigh. horizon; aud If some
clouds may be- visible on il, they never can
extend 10 war Of clemens, 10 social lorna
Dies like those hoyerlng over Europe
America is ihickly thronged with humanity;
Russia is as yel Peopled by docle tools -
Russia has some iinl Of superficial vurnsh
and polish; America bears In lis womb alrue
human civilization. or this no superficial
refhemenl forms the criierion; no fasldious
culture prevailing among some few privileg.
ed ones-nol even The high literary and ar.
ts'ical creations of few men Of genius con.
slilule the primordial aims OF civiIizalion, o,
aro ils real fruits, bul the rights Of all asser.
| led recognized, respected. When this Is
! obtained, refinement, culture, delcacy Of
taste, arts, will follow aud flourish, complel,
, ing and adoming the heollkful society In
saloons OF, palaces, in sumplunus dwellings
I The European, and above all the Russian
civilization is confined; the Americpn bios
SONS in district schools spread overlbe coun.
Try, In townships, villages and hamlols, ac