The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-03
From the Baltimore Republican.
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.

trying lis experiments Of social political and religious
systems amid rising and falling empires Then the veil
was lifted from this land and its vast wildernesses, with
their mighty and unmeasured cSpanse Of fertile
soil, offered as a new field for the worlds fifth and
greatest empire. With faith and heroisn which each
succeeding age will look back upon with admir-
ration, the foundations of that empire were laid here
The handful OF planted and the fruit thereof
shakeh like Lebanon No fables Of Arabian magic have
described transformations equal those which have here
been wrought The tributary rills from every hill and
mountain and the giant rivers which they fill embems
both Of the and the manifest agencies that constitute
prosperity The Of patient toll with its thrifty
rewardsof domestic happiness, with its radiant COM
fortsof intelligent eulureof hgh-ained virtue and Of
kindly charytha has been realized here il not matter
for our Boosting, is the glory of our inheritance
An American system, American set of institutions
has been in part the cause and in part the result of the
great experiment Of empire which has far rumphed
here II took its training in great from these
vast administration the glorious solemn old for
esa whose living nourished from the mould Of
ages The mighty rivers, widening they flowed and
the fair valleys which they waered, helped develop
this American system The rest has been the growth Of
time and experience interpreted and improved by the
counses of wise and good 1t is system which puts
government and religion and society foundations diff
fercnt from those which they have rested before
and it establishes INTERPOLATION between government
gion and society wholly unlike the relations which have
existed between them in any other land This American
system fills TO the European visitor the place which the
scenes and shrnes and institutions of the Old World have
for Americans abroad. The regions whose expanded
fields this system in operation with all their magnificent
natural features of land and water the fitting physical
nsrumentaes Of the experiment which is making
here In place of picture galleries. cahedras and ombs
the vister here has and human character study.
He may miss the wigs and robes Of ofce-the mace the
rod, and the sword Of Satehe may need to ask which
in crowd is the Chief Magistrate the Judge
he finds that all the needul functions OF civilized life are
discharged and that each official has the honor that is his
due lie feels therefore, that there be and
curity ut the bottom of all these strange things.
The American system recognises only two elements in
governmentthe individual and the Of collect
i've men the man, as the germ eptome Of the State,
holds within himself all the functions of civil government
the holds the branches of the oak and the STATE
as the development Of the faculties rights duties and
honors of the mani is the expression Of him whom rep
resent the oak is the fruit Of the Between
pora and spiritual concerns the respective provinces Of
religion and politics, there is relation in our system
which some would call Of respectful GOODNESS, and
others of wachui jealousy The balance At even
point between these two often rival interests when reg-
ion and politics hold each other to the faithful per-
Torrance of the work which each is restricted The
politician betrays dread u priescraft when he finds
that spiritual weapons are introduced into party conflict;
and he is sometimes ndiuf 10 regard good honely
morality, if stress be laid upon 81 too suhmaed mat
ter to escape his The minister Of religion is
Jealous for the ances Of Righteousness when he finds
politicians triang with The distinction between right and
wrong. The State in system, utterly all
legislation for religion, and offers but guarded
recognition Of any Of its forms. But still the State in
trusts Tic citizen with liberty which it knows will be
wrcched and ruinous unless the individual and his neigh
bors carefully look after their own religion.
The integrity Of this American system it is ayerred by
some, has already been impaired by the introduction OF
foreign usages and ntroductons, and herarchica dis
plays reminding them that there is life yet in the ashes Of
the Old World dospotsns and priescra and thata flame
might yet be kinded here. This is the precise point
al issuethc maintenance Of the American systematic
American set Of Neutrality-suspicious. the influence Of all
imported systems under foreign naonalities The ques
ton ~ arises is there any ground for suc issue
We unhesiangly reply that the fear is idle, for the Ro
Catholic system diluted here that if do moth
ing concentrate its energies they be relaxed and
the system must ia consequence be modified All foreign
nationaltes must become assmilaed this soil, has
been already proved By curious and amazing evidence
| But even allowing-which we do not accept for The
sake of there for recognising
threatening issue between American and European ns
iutlons this SOIL let seek couceament let
shelter ourselves behind the secrecy of party organiza
ton, bound either by oahs pledges, with view
ayetng manly issue. The support Of the American sys
is just and honorable motive of political part,
action to require consist with measures of any
kind The exercise OF the elective franchethe discharge
of citizens proud duty-is solemn and responsible
trust party in politics whose members secretly in
itaed and held to principles not openly avowed Their
neighbors, must later, excite alarm greater
than that which called into exiseRcc If plans
projects which intended to have their effect upon pub
lie matters exposed the oversight of those who may
differ with tits mott for secrecy party Will,
professions and purposes disclose all the work ofanohe
party We certainly have right to know each Others
plans and aims interests which concern us all alike
We suspicious of all orders and plotngs that work
their way The dark perforated only by crevices
into which spy may peer leaving his report uncertain
rumor We suspicious of all manuuvres in our po.
cal affairs that open upon by surprise and show
plan already completed before had been announced
Under the FIRST flush of excitement particularly the ex
element of success party in political affairs acting
through organization may pass unchalenged by
community except the single of its
method Of proceeding. But byand-by, the possible
and probable incidental abuses of mschef and ourapes
eyen to which such secret organization may lead are
fairly recognised by of cool Judgment say nothing
of alarniss the fatal tendencies of the party win disclose
themselves Though evil forebodings may then exngger
ate the harmful issues the consequences will be bad
when contemplated the legitimate effects Of the intro
duction Of entirely and dangerous element into
our politics. The influence Of secret party will be feared
in the of justice in the Of business and in
the relations of private life Men will discover enemy
by their side in whom they supposed to be a