Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-07-14
American Progress.

RIackwoods Magazine whose embittered hostility
- overvthing American has grown into fable, seems
last to have opened It's eyes TO American progress,
and ia have become convinced of the perpetuIty OF
Smericar institutions In its last issue 1t says:
Although the eyes of the world are just now d.
.ootpd almost exclusively to Eastern Europe, In
bich events are occurring of far more than nation
al import it may not be either llltlmed or unlnter-
sting to cast a hasty glance over another quarter
If the globe, in which Development OF power is
COMO on. silently but rapidy-unattended by the
Sartling incidents of battle by land sea, yet not
the less pregnant with results which may influence
the destines of a large portion of the human race
We need scarcely say that our remarks point to the
American Republic, and that it is that young giant
Of the West whose growth TO maturity affords an oo'
iect of contemplation infinitely more instructive than
anv which barbaric Russia presents IN her frenzIed
struggle for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or the pow
ors Of Western Europe afford in their ill-cemented
and doubtful union to repel the aggressor Until
within the last few years we have been TOO much IN
the habit of treating the accounts brought before
# American progress to greatness, as extravagant
casconadc. The governments of Europe have been
isnospd 10 ignore the pretensions which she has put
forth until from one after another, she has wrung
rpDaraton for actual or imagined wrongs. Even
when we saw her flag flying in every port of the
world, and felt the active competition OF her mer-
chants and shpowners, were disposed to regard
her rather an nteroping traficker, with whom, from
her distance from us and her isolated position, Eu-
rope could have little sympathy, than as the germ OF
a powerful nation with ighty future IN prospect
With view to bring about proper recognition OF
the actual and growing Importance OF America as
member of the great family of nations, we propose
here TO give few statistics illustrative, not only of
the innate elements OF strength and progress which
che D0ssesses but also Of the genius shown by her
people in tuning them TO profitable account.
But we turn once more, before concluding, TO the
oreat country of the West, with a view to inquire
whether it's institutions, and their past working af
ford a guarantee of its permanence and continued
prosperity There was Period-in 1928, it we re-
member aright-when disruption threatened the in
tegrty OF the Union and it was prophesied that in
terests so different as those Of the Southern States
and the New England and Western States, must ul-
timaely bring about their separation. Even now the
slavery question is provoking serious dlscOrd, and
may have, to those who have not studied the position
Of the country somewhat menacIng aspect. But
since 1928 much has been effected TO cement and
strengthen the entire confederation. The various
lines of railway and other communications running
from North to South the Atlantic seaboard and
along the valley between the Allegheny and the
Rocky Mountains, through every variety of climate
and of SOIL from the temperate nearly to the trOpc,
have created vast interchange of the products, both
of agriculture and of manufacturing industry, which
no section of the great republic can afford to
forego, or to see diminished. The Importance Of
maintaining the condition OF mutual dependence be.
tween the various States is becoming day by day
more acknowledged. The manufacturing and West
ern States especially feel the advantages afforded tc
domestic industry by increasing crop of the raw
material cotton, and the of national wealth
in the shape of exports, which the produce of thu
Southern States provides whilst the latter, from tar
if reductions, and the great advance made in domes
tic manufactures of every description, have ceased tt
feel that they taxed for the exclusive benefit o
the other States of the Union. These consideration
induce US to believe, and indeed to hope, that thu
nj no antIr Of thp AD1nrI Re
public will continue, that the political compact o
the various States which compose it will remain I'm
broken, and that high destiny for it amongst ma
lions is in the future