The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-06-16
CHAP. /.
Seeking for a Subject.

suppose blunt introduction is quite
as good as one clothed in all the glories
of the forensic art, or decked with the
flowers of poesy. So here goes, with
the helm hard-a-port.
If we act, let it be nobly; five speak,
let it be sensibly; five write, let it be
wisely. The world is growing old and
should be wise. Mankind have left their
infancy. put off their swaddling clothes,
passed from the frivolities and passions
of their youth, and now in the giant
strength of their maturity, should shine
out resplendent in justice, truth, virtue,
and wisdom. The days of the Caesars
are past, of the knight Templars and
Cavaliers, and the romance and fiction OF
their lofty achievements, together it is
hoped with the later days of fashion and
folly, corruption and imbecility. And
all the flood of light reading and light
thinking should be entombed in the
same mighty sepulchre of time. If it is
not SO, 'Iis time it was. If the corrup-
tions of French literature and French
society must stink under our nostrils,
until we inhale the poisonous odors
and fill our vitals with death, then it
were better to commit suicide at once,
and save the miseries of disease, the
guilt of its contraction, and the shame of
having aped and being the shadow of a
graceless and infamous career, preferring
the noble fame of death rather than dis
honor. How much more glorious and
laudable for the sons aud daughters oi
America to cultivate patriotic spirit,
and bend every energy towards building
up in everything national character for
their country.
We are q nation three quarters of a
century of age, and in that time, where
other nations that have lived a thousand
years are but sucklings at the breast, We
have grown from band of rebels to be
monarchs of the sod and masters of the
wave, and now our pennant kisses every
breeze and our eseutcheon speaks in
every Cline Born peasant we reign a
king; weak in our infancy We have
grown giant We claim also that our
institutions, form of government and laws
are far superior, far more just and likely
to succeed to perPetuity than any other /;
and yet the precocity of our growth and
the freedom of our institutions is likely
10 contain the very seeds OF the dissolu-
tiOn which we may think will never come
or at least lead to dangerous conse-
quences. With individuals, sudden and
great strength or prosperity undermines
the better Judgment or meekness which
they possessed in their weakness or indi-
genee, and they become proud and over
bearing, or what is worse perhaps, be-
come prodigal and hcentious, wasting
their strength and their possessions To-
gether-for wealth easily won is quickly
spent. s
The like history attends the career of
a nation /; prosperity makes them COW
etious, success oyerbearing and arbi-
trary wealth and refinement corrupts
them and hastens their downfall, and in
these United States there are many sub
terranean fires or fostering sores. which
are now hidden under ground or in the
flesh, which may hereafter raise ominous
clouds in our political horizon. There
Is too much liberty politically and social,
!y. too much deception, and the Ameri'
can mind is fast becoming single idea,
summed up in one word-gold 1.-The
almighty dollar-the ringing rhino. This
is more especially the case In the free
States, where every fraud and deceit is
practised-eyen the sacredotal robes IN
vaded, and intercourse with spirits is had
to raise the 'twind, while none, not even
those whose richly laden argosies waited
aport by fasoring winds, coin money fol
them. are willing to give the .'dolIar" to
carry great moral principle or nationa
good, but willingly and wiekedly expend
to satiate their selfish appetites. We
run man for Office because he Is ayaiia.
able we put him in power because he
Will giat with the spoils. the pockets and
stomachs of the demagogues and "famil.
lars" who trust him, no matter how in.
capaeitated he may be to fulfill the func.
tons of his Office. Party spirit is car.
ried to such an extent that to be poll.
ucian man must give up all claim to an
honest name and make compact with
the devil, though he scarcely need pui
himself TO that trouble for the of,r,oSipo
faction wiil state particulars and even
the most wise and just member of party,
IN politics must stoop to defamation and
-n~-l.s of a., "a,