Litchfield enquirer., 1857-12-10
Extract from Rev. H W. Beecter's Sermon
ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

L.
He referred to the evidence which our age
affords of the advance of the world in true
civilization Within the last ten years, the
most extraordinary wars and civil revolutions
have taken place Oh the globe. One such a
combination and movement as we have but
lately bt held, would have affected the whole
globe with terror. Since the French Emperor
lut his bloody foot upon the steps OF the
throne. there have been set on foot the most
widespread combinations Of governments, the
most prodlgious armies, and naves such as
turn the historic Armada into mere affair of
yachts. Once the globe would have trymbled
to the footsteps of such an unparalleled war
So much did the spirit of the past dwell in
military things, that, o hundred or two hun
dred years ago, such a history would have
drawn with it the worlds nerve, and blood,
and vitality. But now all Western Europe
rose up, and the world did not trcmble. All
Russia gathered together, and the Orient cid
not feel it. And the pounding of war i'll that
gigantic conflict disturbed the world as little
as thresher's fail upon the barn-foor dis
turbs the firm earth beneath it. Not even the
nations that carried such battle in their hands
thought it heavy Great Britain took but her
left hand. Not wheel stopped in her manu-
factories. Not an acre the less was titled i'll
France and the world upon this side read the
account simply as ne,cs. 1t produced no more
effect than the last serial story that drags its
long and tedious tail through the cheap and
stupid magazines
Close upon the termination of that, out
sprung the Chinese trouble, and the terrific
Indian mutiny. Yet these, too, were passing
away. But now, upon these Western shores
over-eager capitalists and operators have pushed
their trade too far and built their plans toe
fast. A bank expodes in Ohio then a line
of banks give way in Pennsylvania. 1t shook
the continent more than all the cannonade OF
Sevastopol. Next the banks of New York
suspended. All business stopped. Society
was tremulous from top to bottom! The IT,
dings are borne across the ocean. That Won
derful Island, whose top is broad as the whole
earth, began to culver, and that silent panic
brought her down quicker than an az brings
the OK War could not make her plumes to
quiyer. But Commerce, 10y look, cast her
upon the ground. And it stands apparent to
the world, by the grandest demonstration that
Commerce has supplanted War, and is its
master. The Generals sword, the Marshal's
truucheon, the Kings crown, are not the
strongest things. The worlds strength lies in
the million hands Of producers and exchangers.
Power has shifted. No matter who reigns-
the Merchant reigns. No matter what the
form of Government is, the power of the world
is in the hands of the people The Kings
hand is weaker than the Bankers War CAN
not convuse the worId--but Capital can. This
is not mentioned as if it were all unmixed good
1t has its own mischicfs, for every event grows
in husk, which at first preserves and then
cumbers the grain and Commerce has its
dangers and tyrannes but it marks the
course the world is pursuing, and the progress
of the march.-Reportsd in the ". Y Tribune