Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-20


longer called for, but the 18th century thunders IN
our ears, "give us practical men," Men are want
ing to break the ice of the Arctic Ocean, Men are
wanted to explore the deserts of Africa. Men are
wanted to bind continents and hemspheres togeth.
er with the magnetic wire; TO rib the earth with
railroads; to sail ships and steamers into every I'M
known bay and gulf in the world; to mark the
of the stars, and the ways of the winds-ali
around u.s. everywhere, men are wanted to reveal
the hidden things and to make dark things bright.
Our times call for representative men, who will un'te
deep theoretical knowledge with the art of using II
in practical affairs And these are the heroes OF the
nineteenth century. Amidst the orange groves OF
Cuba the spirit of Kane leaves his mortal BODY, ana
the Geographic wires tremble they bear the sor
rowfnl news to a weeping nation. Commerce spreads
her white wings, and the sad tdings are carried over
all seas The polar winds and waves, whispering IL
to the frownng icebcrgs, murmur mourntul requ'-
en- History perpetuates his deeds, poetry emoalns
his virtues and the world is the mouIner at the
tomb of the "Great Arctic Explorer tie Is hero,
not like Canrobert and Raglan ministers OF war ana
ambition but hero as the representative OF his
age-a discovercr in the dark realms of ignorance
Utilitarianism despiscd by the intellectual Athencan,
considered as beneath the dignity of a Roman cit-
zen, and debas,ng and groveling in the estimation
of the pedantic schooimen, is the heroism of the
nineteenth century, This is attained through intel
ligence and energy. Every nation and kindred and
tongue boasts Of its literature. Every neighbour
hood has its school, every district its academy eve
ry section its college, and every State its university
Our times are intelligent. The merchant is not con-
sdered qualified for his pursuit unless he is familiar
with the history of commerce. the principles OF po..
litical economy the great of agriculture and all
the different sciences that may possibly have the
least bearing upon his calling. The lawyer, nova
days, must accord with Cicero's idea of the perfect
oratorbe acquainted with all the arts and sciences
and every department of human life. And then the
energy of our times. Everything is done by steam
E,rht fsn1l Of t6nS o,,th
som into harvest, the product is steamed into shape
steamed across the ocean, steamed into cloth, steam
ed all over the world, and in few mouths from the
time the harvest was gathered, clothes mankind.
few border rufians leave civilized life settle in
western wilderness, have fisculf fight a great eX
element enSues and in a few years, Kansas takes
its place among the nations Of the earth. Men be-
come impatient Of the great length of timc-ten
davs-nrcesSary TO hear from opposite parts of the
globe, and forthwith at the bottom Of the ocean
path is N De for the lightning of Heaven to leap
from continent to continent III moment. Ali nn
solved problems now within the pale Of poSShl
ity. The question is not now can men do such
things, but rheh will they The representative man
of our times never SncerS at the probability ct prog
ress in any direction, but investigates and calmly
awaits the promised contamination. Why. the re-
aliticS of our time are more Improbable than chill
drenS tales Of geni and fairies. States founded
cities built institutions firmly established the whole
machinery OF society more perfect at the start than
Athens Iii her palmcSt days, or Rome when the en-
sign OF the word iioated over her seven hills.
As a natural consequence of such a luXurlant
growth. weeds and thiStes also abound. There must
be some dark blotS or the picture ef human nature
would BE- perfect. Hence find Mormon'>m seek
ing shelter in our Republic, and all kinds of de-
mo- allz!nS "i>ul> taking root and ourShiEg by
the side OF puritan pety and progress. And TOO Of
ten, aaS the lowlv child of virtue denied the
praise and favor freely bestowed splendid guilt.
IY,fy hose holm
On in its progress, for they furnish that by which
alone the world has been will be guded-eXperi-
ence. That faith in the final triumph OF the ri ht
tie wrong. which is characteristic Of age,
teaches that ali these will finally be
moved and the word will sweep swiftly on to the
con>umuaiion of lis destiny the development of
every good Of which See but the germs
Then Utopia will exist esew here than in the realms
of fancy, and the world will be one vast Happy
Valley" full Of contented Rasselases.
Prominent in this career Of progres is America
Founded on virgin soil, with no crumbling towers
and moss-covcred ruins. remnants Of another
izaiion TO cause Old worn out theories and preju-
does 70 check her progress with the most correct
notions Of liberty and human right. she has sprung
into al existence alike wonderful and great Stand
ing the shores OF old Europe, ard watching the
little eInigrant barks by they stranded
the coas: Of the world who could estimate the
re<ult: As Roanoke Island caught one and Ply
mouth Rock another, and jamestown another until
the shore lined with the white surge Of civza.
ton, and the waves began to swell and break over
into the continent, who thought Of their dashing
to the foot Of the A.eghanies. And as the tide
swept on, covering old landmarks, erasing Indian
mounds, swallowing up the priIneval forests, beat
ing back the aboriginal race, and carrying the An
go-Saxon on its bosom to the empire of the world,
who thought that this tide of civilization would at
last minge with the Pacifics waters? Yet, in two
hundred years the Rocky Mountains are scaled and
the Western ocean reflects waving fields of grain,
crowded cities, and all the evidences of American
progress. And now Virginia Dare, the smiling North
Carolina infant, born Roanoke Island, is hailed
in history the mothc. of % 900 900 of free men,
This people, then scarcely able to get foo,hold on
the sands OF the sea- now dictate treaties to the
world, whiten every with their commerce, clothe
mankind with their cotton, scatter Bibles the
earth, and by their moral Influence peacefully ex-
tend the glorious dominion of Liberty. Where shall
this people be placed in the coming time? Shall
they, with their natural capacity for leading the
world, with their finished education in self govern.
ment, and their prestige Of success IN every thing
they have attempted, shall they not continue to ad
vance? Yes! Yes! Naked distractions shall
cease to them. Petty jeaouses and strifes
shall be submerged in the thrilling consciousness of
their destiny. and the union ofinterest and purpose
bind them still closer together And when perhaps af
ter the lapse of centuries all the world shall be
convinced OF the blessings of freedom, kings shall
cast down. their crowns before the sovereignty of
the people, mobiles shall throw away their empty tt
ties and all men stand up before God /" free and
equal" then perhaps America shall be crowned
queen Of the nations, and her government be the
government of the world. At such a time, where
Shall be the place for North Carolina? The patri-
OTIS eye moistens and his heart swels when he
thinks OF her noble past of her sufferings in Lber
TVS cause, of the shame and contempt she has since
silently borne, and in in his soul he feels that her
future must be glorious.
Founded in love of civil ard religious liberty,
North Carolina was made to last forever. When op-
preston fell upon the homes of her simple-hearted,
honest people, not knowing nor caring what others