Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-11-14

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he refused to do for nerya Nothing abso-
lutely nothing! How, then, is the deep wrong
the marked indignty, and the shameful out
rage he has suffered. to be repaired! Regard
this question. American freemen, as its i'm
portance demands. for you or we may be the
next victims Of such despotic power.
Our CoUNTRYs MISSION IN HIsToRY.-We
have read with great pleasure and instruction,
the address delivered at the last anniversary
of the Philomathean Society of Pennsylva-
MIA College, at Gettysburg, by President AL
LEN, OF Girard College, which has just been
published in pamphlet form. Our readers will
thank us for kying before them the following
extract, which is full of startling truths, forci
bly, expressed, and worthy the careful atten-
tion of our countrymen. Mr.. ALLEN says:
cit is worthy of remark how quickly the po-
litical exiles from foreign lands, who take ref
uge among MS, become charged TO excess with
that bold independence which is characters
tic Of our people. They touch our soil, and
are electrified with new and strange lite. One,
before he has been week on our shores, un-
dertIkes to eXpound to us the esoteric mean
ing of ashington's Farewell Address. An
other, before he has had time to learn the dis
tinctiOn between Hards and Softs, Silver Gravs
and AdamantincS, reads the government lee
ture on the courtesies of diplomatic cores
pondence, forgetful that the right to abuse our
public functionaries on our own soil is an
American monopoly. The same gentleman
even proposes to make us tine fulcIum OF a
lever to move the world; proposition which
means, in plain English. that our country is to
bear on its patient back the weight Of the le-
yer, with the world at one end, and our mod
ern Arcnimedes at the other! ISsachar trorch-
ing down between two burdens Our adven-
turous refugee may learn, ifhe has not learned
already. that whenever a fulcrum shall be
found for the woodworking lever, the Ameri-
lp IN hold n h,. LONG
arm where the power is applied.
Perhaps we ought not to be surprised if
emancipated mind, in the consciousness OF its
ncwly-discovered power, should run into some
eXcesscs. 4 troop Of boys, just let loose from
school, play pranks worthy Of the pencil of
lIogarth; and SO, in the intoxication of free
dom, we may commit eXtravagances which
amusc OF amaze the world, with the laudable
purpose of demonstrating that we ara not
bound by prescriptiye rules of behavior, and
therefore, are not sold fogies.'' But the ex-
| travaganccs We commit arc only straws upon
the surface of society, which show the direc-
ton Of its mighty current. They not the
drivelling follies OF dotage, but the freaks of
youths exuberant strength. They are the pa-
tural, though superfluous, offshoots of our Wig
orous and progressive civilizations; not para
sites which exhaust its life, nor fungi which
feed upon its decay. They only need to be
pruned OF, and the sturdy trunk will remain
healthy and fun of sap. to nouriSh the expau-
ding branches of our prosperity, and mature
the wholesome fruits Of liberty. The brain of
the nation does not grow giddy with the height
it has so rapidly attained; its eye looks upward
and onword, still higher and further; its heart
beats time with the clock of progress, whose
dial-ingers TOint the hour the earth and
heaven; and all its aspirations are prophetic
of an expansive and glorious future.