Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-04
Contrast and Retrospection.

Contrast and Rctrospection.
1t is often beneficial to indulge in glance at
what we were, what we are, and what it is most
probable we shall be- Retrospection is AS prof
liable to nation Rs to individuals That our
social, physical, intellectual and religious con-
ditions are infinitely superior to what they
were heretofore, none will deny nor that
among &1l the various and stupendous changes
which have fstolhtionized mankind that in re-
i,ssion stands the most prominent and import
ant The Battle Of TIE Mind began in right
good earnest under the a,lspices of Henry the
Eighth, and, though the first little band which
had the courage to attack the hydra-headed
monster, Error-then holding all the power,
both civil and domestic under its supervision
was small in number, it has SO increased ~ to
be now almost countless.
What would such men as Calvin, Luther,
Knox, Cranmer, and others of the early Re-
formers say, if they were permitted to revisit
tho world at the present day? Would not the
result of the labors they commenced paralyze
them with astonishmcntf 1t is past all human
ability to conceive parallel for the Reforma-
son. Its enemies may point to its originators,
and fad something Objectionable in their indi-
vidual characters; but they must allow us the
same privilege they claim for themselves, and
admit that men are not principles. While we
see great tact, foresight, and indescribable tai
ents in such man as Cardinal Woolsey, we
csnnot but ccnsure the conduct Of hts whole
life, which was entirely subversive Of all In
terests save his own. Numerous instances in
history can be pointed out to illustrate this
point, and We are all aware of living witnesses
toits truth---snen who are among the most
eloquent advocatss and writer's upon morals,
legislation, and even religion, and who yet are
unable to control their animal propensities, or
refrain from an indulgence in certain evil prac-
tees
The progress Of society, especially in mat
ters Of religious nature, is nowhere better
exemplified than in the condition Of the Celts
and Anglo-Saxons. If we look at Spain, who
psntsd her flag in this country in the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries, we shall find that at
that time she was TN observed of all obscrv-
ers, and, in reality, the mistress Of the world.
At the same time Roman Catholicism was in
the zenith Of its power. Every new country
then discovered and colonizcd was made new
repository of the Roman Catholic influence,
for that church had its emissaries everywhere,
and lost no time in disseminating its peculiar
principles. The human mind was bridled and
kept in q state Of allegiance, and he was q
peculiarly unfortunate man who dared to think,
much more to say, that any reform in matters
Of religion was necessary.
The power Of the simple priest exceeded, II
possible, that Of the Russian Gar, whose will
ia paramount, and whose law is irrcmediable
But, how glorious the changed Look at En-.
rope now Take Spain, Portugal, Italy, the
Sicilies nay, combine all the Roman Catholic
countries together, and they do not possess oae
1.-THE Of that influence which the one small
Protestant island, England, everywhere exorts
It is hardly necessary to say that she exccls
them allan the extent of her colonies, her i'm.
ports, her vast amount of wealth, (by which
she has made the world her debtor,) her ship
ping, Cher navy as large as all the fleets in the
world combined,) and her literature, the most
extensive In ancient or modern times The
number and quality of her great men, during
the last two centuries, both in literature and
the arts and sciences, far transcend those pro-
duced by the rest Of the world during the same
period. We might further refer to the differ
ence betwcsn the north and south of Ireland,
in illustration Of this subject but prefer to look
at the different effects of the predominance Of
the two religions on our own continent Is it
necessary to ask which portion Of the Ameri-
can continent ia most advanced in all that con-
stitutss the glory of . nationf Mexico, Peru,
Cubs, and other southern countries, have been
for three centuries under Roman Catholic DOM
ination. What are they nowf The few nil
grims who landed Ut Boston in the sixteenth
century, and William Penn, were the founders
OF our present glorious institutions, under the
progress Of which comparison with the other
would be odious.
The United States, whose real existence
dates back only to the year 177e, present to
the world An unparalleled social and political
condition, and physical progress unrivalled
In history or fable. We can point to cities Of
the irst magnitude, which have sprung into
existence ~ If BY magic, Thousands now
living can remember well when the magnificent
State Of Ohio was mere Territory, whom the
site OF Cincinnati was wildwood, and when
Illinois, Iowa. Minnesota, &C., did not come
within their comprehension, and were not even