Smyrna times., 1858-08-26
Il Century,

The completion OF the Atlantic Telegraph
VII hereafter be regarded as the most impor-
tart event of the year 1853. This occurrence
C Institutes the middle Of the present century
oint which men will look backwards and for.
wards to estimate the progress of civilization.
he attention of Americans is thus naturally
drawn to their own history, and one is forcibly
led to contrast the state OF things now existing
with the past
The wonderful progress made and making
m Il is western continent may be mpcrfec.ly
IA lied by comparing the present year with
1873. But one century has since elapsed YET
h period has sufliced to change the face OF
ae globe. And numerous as have been the
terations elsewhere effected the greatest ana
ost wonderful of them all have taken place
IN the United States The year 1913 found
Eng land at war with France. The prize for
which these great powers contended in Amerl-
ca was the possession of TIE Canadas and the
fertile valley of the Ohio, which then had been
but recently explored. All that region west
of the Alleghanies, now the seat of so many
commonwealth, was dense wilderness, and
mostly unknown to the white settlers of the At
lantlc border. The very existence of the Eng
ilSh settlements indeed, seemed TO be threat
ened by the French, and the savages who pret-
y generally acted as their allies The imbe-
lad given great advantages to the French in
america. , The defeat Of Bradock, three years
1efore, had awakened apprehensiuns which the
lad management of the British generals in the
north and east served to increase; and it was
not until Pitt became premier that better coun-
ellis predominated, and new energy was infused
INTO the war, which then came to a favorable
issue. The tide began TO turn in 1853.
The people of the United States are not un-
frequently accused of ndulging in self.glorii-
cation, and there is some foundation for the
charge. But when we reflect on all that has
been accomplished by our country within the
limits of a single century, it is not surprising
that we should be somewhat given to boasting.
One hundred years have suficed to raise US
/ from the condition of dependent colonies to the
rank of a first class power. Instead of the
occupants of narrow strip of the Atlantic
seaboard. we have spread ever the whole con-
tinent, and cities are rising on the Pacific,
which at no very distant time will vie with
those of the east. The trackless and dreaded
wilderness has given place to cultivated fields,
to villages, and Cities and become the home of
civilized men. In the same time all the mod
ern improvements in the arts have been intro
duced, and especially those last and highest
products of the mind and skill of man, steam
and the electric telegraph. Population, wealth,
and general intelligence have Increased in
manner never before witnessed All the arts
have made wonderful progress amongst US;
and altogether it may safely be asserted that
the United States has accomplished more with
in limited period than any other nation.
But the most important features presented
by the United States are political. Our mate
rial development is not so significant as that
great struggle between the colonies and Great
Britain, terminating in the war of the revOlu-
tion And a more surprising spectacle still is
beheld in the admirable manner in which gov
ernments were framed and everywhere put in
to successful operation in this country, after in
dependence of the mother country was de-
clared Nowhere else has so great genius
for government been displayed, for nowhere
else has SO fine an opportunity been presented
And it ought to be remarked that these govern
ments are all of them popular. Whatever
power is exercised is derived from the people,
and the officers are finally chosen by the people.
This is a weighty circumstance, and will be so
considered by all those who have made govern
ment a subject of reflection. And, moreover,
it ought to induce every friend of popular gov
ernment to put forth exertions 10 prevent abu
ses which are liable to arise under our system
for in so doing Trey are vndcating the cal paci-
~ of the people for elf-goVernment.-NOrt
American.
. VOLrAIRE's BRAINs.-'Fhe French Academy
, | wo ofrered nv the grandson of the surpeon Wh(