The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-16
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different quarters Of the globe have never been
friends That feeling is already exhibited, and daily
becoming more obvious and as one continues to
advance with such rapid strides towards gigan-
tic maturity, while the other remains stationary
in some instances and retrogrades in Others il is not
we think likely that this feeling will be diminished
1t will grow with the growth and strengthen with the
strength of the New World and the period is prob
ably not far distant when the Old World will look
to the New for examples, if not in coats caps, and
bonnets at least in matters in which tho prosperity
and happiness of nations are much more deeply in
volved.
/ Those who have lived long enough to remember
the state of public feeling which prevailed in the
United States for long period after the revolution
will also recollect that though the people had become
politically independent of Great Britain their minds
continued in a state of subservenoy to her manners,
habits, and opinions. Though they might be said to
act they did not think Independently They remain
ed in sort of mental bondage and setting political
principles aside, continued to look abroad for ex-
amples in everything else. This was most especially
the case with what is usually called the most en-
! lightened class, which has powerful an nhu-
ence in giving the tone to public opinion. They read
nothing but English books for they had access to
others There was then no American literature
cep few mastery productions of the great men to
whom the revolution had given birth and it is one
of the most remarkable features of that most
markablc event. that it accomplished in opposi-
ton to an influence to which the people of the colo
MES had been in the habit of submitting for ages.
The British press still continued to exercise its
customed sway over the American mind professors
of colleges and classical teachers imported from
abroad like broadcloths and calicoes the de-
cisions of English judges guided courts of law
| the opinions Of Lord Mansfield on the subject of
slavery were our oracles; and well remember
that the dicta of the British admiralty court
quoted by American judges authority for the cap
ture and condemnation of our vessels, under the
orders in council.
| The church of the United States was in similar
condition with the law and for years after the
luton Clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal
church was considered orthodox who had not crossed
the Atlantic and been ordained by an English bishop.
In short, if there any independence of thought
or opinion in the United States, it almost oxclu-
svely found among that class of people usually stig
matized the vulgar and ignorant whose sentiments
are uniformly held in contempt by those writer's who
consider the great of mankind created for
the special purpose of doing all the work, while the
happy few do all the thinking for them.
These old inveterate habits are now, however, hap
PLY wearing away, and within our recollection de-
cded change almost revolution, has taken place.
There still, however, remains pretty numerous
AZ n - IN tha rfarlv
Reviews; and the London Times has still many dis
cples, especially among our statesmen and legsla-
tors who instead Of resorting to the constitution to
settle question of internal policy grope in the um
Der garnet of past ages for precedens which, if ever
based on reason and right have become obsolete
and inapplicable most especially in government
which has not yet degenerated into the imbeclity of
old age, and requires no stmulants but the energies
of its youthful vigor to keep alive. We hope and
believe however that in spite of these drawbacks
the mind of the people of the United States is in
rapid course of emancipation from the old cobweb of
colonial subserviency. We believe the time is at
hand when the New World at least that portion
over which the sunshine of our free institutions is
destined to extendwill become really and essential
ly independent, and, instead of applying the maxms
and examples of monarchica and despotic States to
free government as has hitherto been but too much
the practice lean ON their staff and walk straight
forward in the path which Providence to point
out to them.
When the people of the United States shall have
attained this last and highest stage of independence
and become masters Of their minds, what conse
quences may we reasonably anticipate? May we not
confidently look forward to that period when the
great republic of the West shall take its stand side
by side head and head if not foremost, with those
who take upon themselves to sit in judgment and de-
eide on the rights Of the four quarters of the globe p
when we shall no longer crawl all-fours in the
track of nations which, by following it themselves
have been lcd up to their necks in the mire ?when
we shall steer by our own compass, and be guided
by our own lighthouse, instead Of peering through
the miss of distance and obscurity at Pickering
farthing candle across the Atlantic? We think
and trust it is no idle dream-that there is such
time coming and that may possibly live to see it,
The New World cannot always condescend to be
made tool a s-paw to the policy of the Old.
Its momentum is too great to be controlled by the
attraction repusion of lesser planet, and every
attempt to arrest its within the sphere of its
orbit will only accelerate its rapidity.