The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-20
Symptoms Of Decline I'm the American Re-
public.

from the London Times, Dec. 81
There are different ways Of finding out that we
growing old one IA the looking glass; another the al
tera,ion your absent friend since you last saw him.
another the enlargement OF your library another is the
addition Of drawers for memoranda or correspon
dence another Is he growth and accumulation Of all sorts
of rubbish about you that you don't know how to deal
with, whether to bury or to ourn another the length
enng list Of past residences in the memory another Ii
change OF opinions All these tests do not apply 70 all
persons but to and some TO another We viii
add another to this list OF tests of advancing years
and thai Is the progress OF the United States.
Those whose political recollectons can stretch nveand.
mage of country which The United states then
raised In eNerybody's mind. was the image
a newly discovered S, country, for two cen cen
upon that vast continent Of country that had juste tn,
rs. passage o the plough OF primeya forests, virgin
SOIL Of cites just rising 10 the dignity and importance OF
commerce. and of ilmiable, unried resources. which
absorb the activity Of fresh thousands every month,
and allowed nobody 70 stand IDLE for an bour hwas The
without seeing want of world in it's FIRST sprngme aud
infancy, when Naurerepsd hundred fold the slightest
attention, and had only TO be asked in order 10 obtain
from her the ampest nourshmen Of however rude and
simple Kind, for every body That one great con
trast between the United states and England Another
was the immunity Of this new world frcm tie per
pexues Of diplomacy, She eaousies and rivafes, the
encroachmens and the resistance TO encroachmens n-
volved in the European system. In that hemisphere
war was impossible, because there no Zoe, and an
army unnecessary because there was no war Thus
at one stroke an expense which sweed the budget Of
every naun OF Europe 10 most portentous size was cut
C, and taxation did not rise above the lowest and sim
pcst scale, Thus all simple and all was primitive IN
the United States soil policy and finance thoro was no
thng ef the Old World about them they exated IN the
light atmosphere Of national youth, and reoced IN com
pe'o freedom from the gorgeous bn' oneros rappngs Of
the states Of the Old World their pomp titles cereno
nes, ranks, diplomacy and taxey
such the picture Of the United States five and.
twenty years ago; but any with moderate political
observation will see that this picture is now considerably
altered The United States are not, indeed, an old nation
yet bat there arc signs OF advancing tune pressing upon
them. New York q month ago the scene OF bread
riots. That q mark Of age; nation cannot call itself
quite young that ends itself involved In financial cslss
trophe, the effect Of an extremely developed artificial
currency and the cause Of bread riots These fca
lures u old world a long established commerce, of
evergrown population The city Of New York may claim
the rank OF Of those vast concentrations OF hu
power snd activity, and conieusatons OF human
e, which constitute the great cities Of the Old World and
with the rank exhibits also the melancholy accompani
ment e such srow,bi,s large needy, depeaden, mass
living from hand 70 mouth and thrown out OF employ
ment Immediately by any serious jar IN The financial sys
tenn
We may now add another sign Of advancing ago-a war
with unruly dependency-a war accompanied by great
hardshp~ and involving endless marches over difficult
and barren ground where the aiding army must carry
every thing whatever necessary Tor human or brute lue
with H. Fort Leavenworth s about 500 miles from the
American feat OF govcrnment-that short distance;
but when American army has reached Leavenworth
its hostie journey 10 the Salt lake City only begun
IL 10 Port laramie and after reaching Fort laramie
full months Journey succeeds before the salt Lake
oty s arrived at W this months journey the
whole s dificult country, and much Of over
ground With very little grRs, which, little az u r.,
the Mormons will, c course, set FIRE 70. The
Mormons perfectly or the advantage of their po
stou and meet The nyesou With iusolent defiance and
II be added hitherto with successful defiance. The
American advanced force under Colonel Albert Johnston
having proceeded $50 miles beyond Fort Laramie, u
soTyed by seven inch depth of spow, oombined with
total failure - ccrn and gtaes, the Mormon force having
OF ,hcr trans of wagons in tho rear. Under these
circumstances the government expedition pauses and the
rebel state has atemporary triumph. III tho uansiency
Of this triumph have little doubt Tie honor of
the federal government and the honor Of the Whole Of
the tinted states pledged 10 Suppression " the
Mormantc rebellion; but have also ttU doubt Thai
the affalr will cost good deal, and sven dsagecaby
the Tinted states budget
The United states In short as they advance ~ IMPORT
and dignity are also rapidly advancing ~ the cares
rcsrCrsit tics and expenses of empire. This NOrmone
war 4 cTedshc 10 them; they could not consistently
with The raj horror and with respect for their 0wn 10
son ,morg civilized nations, have avoided t No nation
that npHbcr Ct the great circle &C civilized nations,
and fprme Tart of the established phalanx ~ civsza
tion 4 world escape iHe duty 0l defending the
ccssaiy lags ~ civilization That cause a sacrei and
sub, M cause con rn,cd 10 s uast by Providence and
Cpnro' avot tho responsibility o thout giving ~ ts
Place 81 the civilized wosd and s fclowsh in the asso
citation " civilized nators The United States have oly
acted in consistency With their position civilized state
refusing 10 recognize aud sanction the system q poyga
my which the Mormoniies have endca,crcd 90 eIgrait
upon the American Dational code and Il Is this refusal
which hos brought on this But While We give tic
United states all credit for not having avoided an honora
bic must observe at the time that such
as tcsc are sign Of nation growing years THIS Il no
bad compliment 10 country is 10 an individuals the
acc of nation y i,s glory and priict what gvt1h
thafaCter life and weight Anew nation, Ike new word
q ofmless, nondescrpt thing Is hardly nation at all
til IT IN old nation. tll L has iast,
vta q events 1 itok back upon, history to reca 3n
the ros q growing antiquity bring thcr rcspou ibes
cncuntt pegpex tic anu grievances with them Jars
and collisions y the state, dicLtcs Of finance popular
stress. wars taxation. The crown of empire. Ike the
~ reason, brngs ts cares with and SITS heavily
uIOn tine BROW. IL IS not for statesman, says Homer
20 rcst al cnghhe must Re vide awake while others
are sleeping Our transatlantic knsnen arc in Their pr
vate business cite up - this duty aad they will
hcr natna capacity haye more and more 10 exercise u