Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-04-17
American InvcEtiou and Imprevenicrii

What an age of invention and improvement is
this What progress has civilization, what ad-
vancement has society made in half q century,
Sixty years ago, when family was about to
leave New England for Michigan or Ohio, all
agreed that the emigrants were going a measure
less distance into the wilderness and after these
States became comparatively settled and improv
ed, vague reports went back to the East at long
intervals, of the richness of the far West-of
Wisconsin, of Illinois, OF Iowa and Missouri and
Of the wide, rich plains where the poor might
have home. The more bold and adventurous
made long and careful preparation for the jour
ney, and when about to start all their friends and
neighbors came to bid them long and sorrowful
farewell sincerely believing that it was n great
and perilous undertaking to make u journey of
one thousand miles and it was under the cir
cumstances, and at the time when it was perform
ed, But rs time advanced, invention and inn
ptovement divided the distance, until now the
wild territories are filled with palpitatng life aud
commerce.
But the contrast now A passage TO England,
three thousand miles, is made in ten days, and
Journey of seven thousand miles to California is
now accomplished in half the time required fifty
years ago, to reach the back woods of Ohio. The
stcam-horse is coursng through valley, around
and across mountains ; his neghng is heard from
the lofty crags Of the Green Mountains, and from
the frosty soltudcs of the Aleghanics, and, ero
long, wild beasts and savages will fly his chariot
track through the passes of the Rocky Noun
tains and along the belts of verdure that redeem
the desert from utter dcsoloton. Fifty years
ago what man of science dreamed of the electro
magnetic highway Of thought, over which the
subtest spirit of the elements is trained to fly
with the speed with which it WAS wont to leap
unshacklcd from the clouds
Americans have learned for what end they
were created-to improve society, and elevate
human nature nearer to the Godhead. But we
still stand only on the banks of uneXpored riv
ers, and have gathered but q few of the golden
particles made bare by the chatting waters while
yet beneath, deep in the beds and bars, lie larg-
er masses of precious treasure Great and pro
found truths are still hidden from our vision and
other sciences of higher exaltaton are yet to be
evolved by the scarchings Of Christian, philo-
s0phical enlightenment
Nations are subject TO dgitations and excite
ment in everything pertaining to their worldly or
spiritual welfare ; and in the evolutiOns of sixty
years multform changes have been in politics,
morals, manners and customs No former period
of the worlds history affords the record of so
many wonderful events-not even that including
tho fall of Nineveh Babylon and the Roman En-
pre, and the grand decay aud subversion of sys-
tens, laws and doctrines Of which wc read with
instruction and admiration. Excepting tove-
rentiy, the Doluge and the advent of Christ, no
period of fifty years has been 20 remarkable as
the last, for startling incident
But until recently, there was no surplus Of
population, and the inventive and exploring ge-
MUS of man was not stimulated by necessity
Countries were not over crowded, but a prophetic
voice bade men Of thought and genius to make
provision against time when that state should
be changed. Wealth was then not the chief title
of distinction genius, rank, birth, all obtained
respect. Faint memories of feudal and chival
rous times, tinged with glow of sunset the man
ners and customs of all classes of society. Edu
cation, but narrowly difused, was more distinct
i've short and ccrcmoniOus were its visits to
palaces, and il turned away haughtily from the
cottages of the people. GRovELAND.
SHASTA, April, 1858