New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-23
MENTAL AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.
HoFHEm, a castle of Southern Germany

HOFHEM, a castle of Southern Germany
December %, 1853.
Corresy onoer G. OF The n. Y Tribune
/ sit within the shadow of Feudalism and feel its
coldness. The weight of ancient error, as you may
have seen, resting like incubus on human energy,
debars the individual will from fruitful exercise oa its
own behalf spreading the land marks of o5eIent
industry and elaborate organization but leaving blank
of memorials OF hearty end happy rural life Proud
the embatted walls of this astness and magnificent its
rocky fplendor vet look without and miss the lie
giving aspect Of the humble homestead spot wnereon
the man Of toll may plant his oothold and feel himself
secure in his own eXertons.
Here, in my turret chamber, reclaimed for time
from ruin seridom in all its phases, from the Saxon
svneLerd the last Of the Barons passes in review
before me- Vain tie the social edifce, like the walls
Of the stronghold has crumbled into ruin.
WHO forged the letters Of yOn iron age, when the
bold stirring Of the knghtly will and the free giving of
the maiGen's heart were alike forbidden Who bound
the peasant to the clog Of unceasing and unrequted
toll VITO TUNED the natural affections TO bitterness
and bid tie powsbarestbe molten into flaming swords
Mhol but the tenant still Of these barOnia halls and
the treader of these lofty terraced waks-soit but
treGcherous-for death and danger Turk beneath them
-vho7 but the spirit of despotsm spreading his dark
wings now over the half of Chrstend0m and bidding
us noun that though the vine and fg-tree flourish,
all are afraid Heavy browed and austere Of aspect
stalks this dark being the land planting here the
vet Withholding its esserce-dspensing the rich gifts
Of fancy and Of art with the hand that welds the
threatened fetter ietter how the spirit Of Justice
deprecates goadng fetter how the spirit OF Love
loathes il Yet has not the iron elsewhere fallen and lett
its heavy impress aye, that dear land where
nan has naugbt to fear save deTelcton of principle
or of duty.
Who shall be found to lift the dread weight Not he
who alone anatbematzes-not he who forgets heaveas
first law and sacrifices sacred rights on the altar even
10, rIao hiYng
forces lie must win to his aid-not he who bitterly
bames where far-seeing wisdom enjons deepest sym
pathy-pO he who fails to remember continually thai
the oppressor and the oppressed are alike born to
heritage Of evil
Who shall break the bond which binds the oppre.-
sorl He who convinces his understanding and WARNS
his heart teaching him TO seek his means Whereby
TO ESCAPE from thraldom-he alone who eXp0uads TO
him with rTeiragabe power the Law OF Progrets-he
alone who proves 10 him that present wisdom must
win for him future securty-he alone who intuses
into his being saving knowledge that self-indul-
eence is not bappiness-he alone who shows him
not in glass darby, but in the clear ehulgence OF
modern light that fettered hand is pswerless to build
up solid prosperity-thst chained and degraded soil
must finally yield him stones when he asks fer bread
If witnesses be wanting 10 these great truths, great
though ever so tre let the shadows Of the past now
fitting by me within and without these gray walls,
give evidence
Lord of tie castle and the ,erf why hast thou be-
queahed To thine heirs so bughted ahd exhausted az
iDheritsnce Why the pulse of life dull and
spirtess where you swsyed the destines Of hrn
slnews and labOrOus hands
Because the shackle the existence of the yeO-
mar, and parslyzed the multiplied powers OF energy
and enterprise.
Serf of the ancient days why hast thou so er.1r-
ipely cursed tie soil whence ye drew your vitality!
BecauFe unWittingy for our race, the sweat OF the
bondsman's brow scsthed il fell, annihilatng for
long years the inherent power Of the earth TO support
- hor -knrp adj If he nnhie
and the brave Whittier have fed your prescriptive
rights TO bold daring and gigantic achievement
WHITTIER They have here no abiding place, save in
the youthful daydream which paints their existence
in better land-tkat western paradise, which the
dresmer hopes one day to win
Gentle aud fairy forms of high born danes Cannot
We redeem your posterity from the witherng destiny
apparently awaiting them. opposing your by-gone
spirit Of stirring courage 10 weak supiDeness and
your spell of rOusing ambition 10 the plague spot Of
tame Indifference
Alas! INTENDED By the hand maids industry, utility
End intelligence, and oppressed by luxury and naeton
proud vieor departed and LETT US Poweress 10
bless and 10 save WO for the race WHO cothe them
selves in purple sud fine linen and fare sumptuously
every day
Child OF the hero aud the stroughearted can st not
thou teach thy protoypesto wresre with the fate that
condemns their young lives 10 a false and false
brlliancy and pointing them TO the school eli modern
experience, show them the severe elements of true
greatness and tie stern requirements OF a glorious
futuIityl
Amid the silence Of decay. listen TO the small still
voice Of youthful hope. promising both for the Old and
tie New World By Efforts s,fnposei and s,fsEggOrel
Nv the erpressors, begOten out Of conviction Of en-
Hchtered selfnterest, final though gradual escape
from the heavy tyranny OF the spirit Of eudasm aud
HE curse Of bondage.
Yet before this happy Communication Of events must
many fierce struggles ensue, perhaps not the least
bitter within he camp az Feudssm itself as the fol-
lowing extracts flom The L0rGcB Leader viii show
recsrr 10 mind visions OF the dungeon tie rack and
seouestiation images which We .linly believe had 10
exilterce to-day, but II tie pages Of history.
From ny castlc.,o ono perhaps may fnd It fitting
at your pleasure 10 lee voice reach your readers,
which once within hcte walls mOurned tie destruction