The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-15

ton Of this great conception TO human uses and Of
ihe catest boons conferred upon the world Is
Indebted Tao foFeahels and the proud occasion
a which thn Is the anniversary IL the inst sue
cesfu application of the idea of individual liberty 10
states well people it made the concentration Of
great social power oopaibe with popular government,
with Individual rights and human feelings IL did away
with the necessity for the strong of the conqueror
and the ownership OF the subjects by the government in
order "a bring large territories and many people into
association and brotherhood. Henoeforth none
% be subjects all 10 be sovereigns and man
enabled 10 increase the power of society To which he
irlongei without sacrificing his moral dignity free
cnt II rconces the principle of association with the
lasts and rights Of individual identity in persons and
sie and IN doing made the greatest forward step in
tie seilce % government which taken before
hut u may c said that most Of the nations of the earth
cannot reap the fuil measure Of these advantages because
they d. not recognise this principle in their governments
Admitting this ~ b. true must do, sn there
unsiesiably grcat amcomtng influences at work upon
all the governments In Cnristendom L have before adj
vette 10 the lact that the great corporations of the
shue the Aehoo and Of commerce, fast assuming
csnlopoe character and tending TO unity Of feeling
Apd Interest amongst s members whcIesoever they
~ D. found That these common influences tend
~ uvc Che poac Of the world and increase the chance
q hufean development, Is obvious enough. But they
hase still another tendency; each OF Them within its
alieEe h exertng worldwide influence upon public
opinion. and that public opinion Is felt not only within
tie lm, bat Ia the government, OF every civilized
sSirty The Improved facilities for human intercourse
eaiia che Church o. the school collect the senti-
nents ~ their memiTs not merely In province
tason but throughout Chstendom, and express it in
time ~ beer upon every great social even political
question With may deeply affect the interests OF
The ruln,eeia community. too. whenever the interests
~ is iaciobes ~ al nations idcnticand this is the
much oieneE than generally supposed will be
he through these facilities Of intercourse 10 unite
thrn tcsbcr IN general prcSsnrc uponany government
Whose actian may le supposed 10 interfere with their
casnmon interests In proportion public opinion be
enlightened and efficient through these and
tf.tlaa
difect upon both governments and individuals Indeed,
viii take direct jurisdiction the latter Ia
points which the former has heretofore exercised an
imperfect and not always beneficial, control II Is this
pnlJie opinion which Il dcstaed 10 lie the great ral
and moving power o civilized society with the influences
AZ work upon H. and The which exist for
trailing and expressing H. the empire Of physical
force would seea hereafter 10 DC impossible The day
has conc Is al hand when this public opin-
hon may be said 10 DC the verdict which the worlds great
jury pFunOnnccs upon human conduct and right-a Jury
whose verdict Il likely % We just and impartial any
ever yot empannelled when rightly informed and
which has The power to before its bar
al human authorities aud all responsible human agents
As Il has been said that criminal could evadc the
pursuit II government within the confines Of the Roman
empire 80 u may We affirmed that human being
escape the execution ~ this sentence, within the bounu-
es 81 chTtendom. II is the worlds great voice which
all who hear must heed and before which, later
must bow all human powers, aud prncpaites, and gov
ertnlents
have that the march Of civilization hereafter ever to be
forward and onward for the great and good agencies OF
human society appear 10 I've tending IN that direction Ii
may not DC loo presumpuous 10 hope that man, whilst he
remains upon cath continue 90 ascend with progres
step through the fight of ages they roll on in cease
less succession the hope founded not ia the blind
Of those who projected the Tower Babel
but rather IN the spirit Of the patriarch who saw in his
dream the ladder lowered from above by which he was 10
ascend from Earth TO Heaven.
fro coscLupEp xonRow.