The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-07-14
him who cultivated. habits Of selEsacrifce and

devotion to duty, for protection and advice
This tendency of affairs in the earlier history
of our government, led to the most fortunate
and happy results. 1t brought forth into ac-
tive public life, a large number of the great
est and best men, which have ever adorned
the high places which they occupied or did
honor to the land of their birth.
1t Is to the American, an honest and Just
theme OF exultation, that until recently in all
the departments Of the government there have
been glazed men who in all that constitutes
true greatness of character, find no equals in
tne representatives OF any nation upon earth.
we are, and justly should be, proud of our
great Americans In their day they had no
equals. There acas no man to stand bu the
side of Washington.
And where will we turn in history to find
such spirits as Hancock, Adams, Hamilton.
Jefferson, Henry, Franklin, and their compeers
all associated together in one country, at
one time, for the accomplishment of common
object? History furnishes us no such charac-
tiers elsewhere. Andin after times, where will
we find men to compare with jackson, Web
ster, Clay, Calhoun, Story, Marshall, Adams.
Wright. ~. N
Alas. we will search in vain in other lands
1T was the liberal spirit, which have attempt
ed to show, chalacterizing the earlier history
OF our government, which brought these great
men into public life, and which devoted their
priceless services to the good of their country.
But they have all passed away, and the ex-
preston is almost universal in our land, that
there are none to fill their places. None to
fill their places! Why are there none to fill
their places? Has Genius departed from orr
country forever? Has patriotism no longer a
votary in our broad land? Or, is there anoth-
er influence which has spread all over the
and, poisoning the fountains of public senti-
ment, and exciting in the public mind % i'll
founded jealousies and alse alarms which
tend to rob the public service of our best men,
and to throw the affairs of the State into the
hands of dishonest time serving politicians.
1t seems to me that the spirit of party of
late years has done all this. From high places
in the government, the demoralizing announce.
ment has been made, that to the "victors be-
long the spoils." A declaration which, if it
had fallen from the lips Of Washington, would
have darkened his memory forever. And yet
such is the extent to which party spirit has
been carried and such is its corrupting inhu-
en:e, that declarations such as this are hailed
| with rapture by the partizans of those who
make them. He who has regarded with any
care the progress of parties in the United
! observe, that heretofore there has in reality
been 10 material difference between the great
| leading parties of the country The diteren-
ces Of parties as they have been organized
have arisen in the main from association and
party prejudice.
| Fellow ci, liens, the mission Of Republican
ism is too exalted in its character and results,
to be hindcred or delayed in its progress by
such Influences and prejudices as these. Not
withstandng the wonderful accomplishments
| of our ancestors, in the acquisition OF the
| right OF self-gOyernment achieved by the Dec
laration Of Independence, and the arduouS
struggle which succeeded and notwiths;aud
| ing s., the still more difficult achievement Of
| forming confederated government, there is
| yet a task more arduous and difficult tnan all,
to be accomplished. 1t has been predicted
that times noblest Empire is the last" The
great mission Of our Republic is to fulfil this
Sabine prediction. 1t is to raise Our govern
nlent and our people to the - true grandeur OF
a nation" To establish an empire over the
human mind and over the physical world. TO
level down The mountains and fill up the val
lies: 1t is to adapt all the powers and rcsour-
ces Of this great land, not only the physical
but the moral and intellectual, for the improve
ment and elevation of man. 1t is to do away
with ali oppression and tyranny. 1t is to set
IN example TO the world, such as was never
known before, OF a nation great, and powerful,
and froo v,,,h0ut the faint Of tyranny or OPP
preston upon her. A nation whose greatness
consists rather in the .riumphs OF truth and
the security of peace, than III The glory and the
victory Of war A nation whose government
is stronger than that of any governmen. on
earth, because it. is nation wherein the people
have gained the mastery over their own pas
sions and prejudices, through the Improvement
of the moral and intellectual powers o. the
mind. The great mission of Republicanism is
to improve and cultivate, through a system of
education, the minds and hearts of all men,
Because it is alone through the diffusion OF
knowledge and of truth, that the principles of
Republican liberty can be maintained
1t is the further mission Of Repubicansm
in the United States, to cover the country
all over with Railroads and Canals, to the end
that the physical comforts of man NAV be
supplied as his intellect becomes strengthened
and refined. And to the end, also, that the
bonds which bind these States together, may
be bonds which can never be broken. But
above all, it should be our aim to cultivate
peace, for it is through peace and good will
that a Republic must be maintain, If it is main
Out"diu power call
never, for great OF length time, sustain pure
Republic. Its strength, and its power of self
preservation, lies deep buried in the affections
of the people:
10 accomplish these great purposes should
be our highest aim, and our nObleSt ambition |
10 these ends should the great purposes of our
government be directed And when to these !
transcendant purposes the public mind shall be |
turned. as it surely will be turned, then will
the spirit of pIrty, forsaken and lost in the
onward, upward march OF this great people,
return TO dwell with those who had excited it,
in obscurity and forgetfulness. Then, too will
be a returlrto the early practices of our gov
ernment in the selection Of such men only to
administer it, as shall possess the entire conf
dence Of the people. Then again will the
American Senate be elevated to its former
dignity and honor. Again will the Senate
chamber resound with true patriotic eloquence
of such as fell from the lips Of the imnlorta.
Clay, Again will our hearts be made glad
with the bold, manly, unanswerable logic,
such as of old we welcomed from the lips of
Webster
The spirit of dscord andof party strife, will
give way to the spirit of peace, and the Eagle,
with the olive branch in his beak. will triumph /
over the Lion and the Leopard for ali time to
come. ada
q :