The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-07

THE VOLCANO OF THE WHITE TO WEIR.

In the course Of Thomas Francis Meaghers second IL
Illustrated lecture Central America, lately delivered in
New York. occurs the following thrillingly grand de-
scription of Thurialba, the White Tower
That volcano is terror to the people the burning
agony is incessant no human foot has scaled it none
has dared the exploit-and the poor Indian, with his
clouded brain growing darker and sormier with the be-
lief that the Great Hend dwcs there and that they
lost who venture to ascend The dense prmeval forests
the ravnes and chasms the vast fields of lava and the
perpendicular bare smooth rock springng up several
feet from them to the lips of the surgng crater all which
clearly visible beowhese what this day have
rendered it fearful and nscrutabe. But day will come
when Thuralba shall be scaled and its lightnngs and
thunder peals shall be the PRONUNCIATION of law
and covenant, and the birth of nation what those
of Sinai to the revelation of the illumination of his
people Yes in that pillar of smoke by day. in that pill
lar of flame by night, read the sublime promise of
rmed liberty to the land wealth and power instead of
comparative insgnifcance and humble fortunes the
wilderness garden and for mankind going up from
the ends Of the earth to the high places thereof purer
happiness statelier attitude and brighter aspect
Yes when the wastes between the Mississippi and
the Northern Andes and beyond them again the blue
frontier of the Pacific shall have been peopled and the
cities multiplying at this hour between the Atlantic and
the Mississippi shall have become to the cities of the
prairie what Antwerp and Genoa and London with their
vied walls and centuries of renown are to your city in
this the day of its fresh and sumpuous youth and the
whitest palace, the foundations Of which were laid but
yesterday, where merchants buster and weather than
those of the RaltO most do congregae shall grown
deaced AMI dark with age even then and ever 60 there
shall be another empire of democracy free this of
which the soaring eagle is the symbol opulent and irwin
cibe planted with its asces and its ensgns upon that
stupendous rampant which ntercepts the ocean
Inwardy to behold this vision, and boldly to disclose
It, no gift of prophecy hazardous philosophy deduct
ing its predictions from the laws of science and the anal
ysis Of human progress even that spirit of poetry
which sometimes gives to the iterate the wisdom of the
philosopher, and the proane the infallibty of the
prophet is wanting. From the great book of nature
which Is open to ALL which all read and from which
the humbest mind seldom fails to derive lessons high
usefulness and expansive forethought speak this night
and for the land of the vanished Aztec predict an nex
ampled renovation. permanent barrier to the en-
croachments of the two great seas and gradually rising
from their level in series of ample terraces each exhb
itng its peculiar forms of animal and vegetable life each
its peculiar soil and climate each its aaptability for
special physical condon-thus, step by step, de-
veopng the whole phenomena of creation until as in
Costa Rca, at height varying from three to four and
six Thousand feet it rolls off into extensive pateas Ia
BILE lands, divided by parallel and intersectng chains
of mountains crowned with fortresses like that of Thu
raba and pouring down upon their errands of health
and fuitfulness waters that fail-Cenal America
PRESENTS in the language Of Senator Astaburaga the
lover of nature to the of science to the agrcultu
ris to those who prefer pastoral cares to those who
the precious metals the merchant to the most
ambitious and insaabe-as, indeed the most indus
tious and adventurous of every denominations field of
Incompatible novelty and exhaustess wealth. In
word the forests the Mines and the valleys with which
it abounds all eeming and overlooking with the treasures
of nature, constitute in itself world which, In the
partial obscurty that encompasses it, TO have been
reserved by the Providence of infinite views for future
generations and for exhibition of happiness and glory
which shall transcend the fortunes and achievements of
this day. Justly priced and appauded as they are,