The Kanzas news., 1858-05-22
For Tn. KAsr.s Nxws.
ssT5nion is Strength. .

attempts 20 uO ous OH0 sninS' - - eAaS Cn
bodiment of the truth that human effort be-
comes superior to every obstacle only when
All the resources of its power are brought to
bear upon given point. or for the attain
ment of given end. 1t is only then that
we see the mailed Athlete rising Goliath
like, bearing off the massive prison gates of
scroaq and oppression. and marching forth
fearlessly to victory! 1t is unien that gives
men power. It is all-absorbing concentra-
ton in the Individual that clothes him with
omuipresence and in whatever department
of human effort such an individual is called
to act, there may be seen bright star shin
ingwith eyer-increasing brightness. When
WiIberforce fought the battles of freedom
on English soil in behalf of Afric's DOWN
trodden sons, his whole being was swallow
ed up in one great purpose-that purpose
was Liberty for the groaning ehattelized
slave He entered the contest with spirit
undaunted by opposition and unawed by
power. with an energy of will that could
set fail, and with heart fred with the love
of universal Freedom. He triumphed, and
victory wreathed his brow with her fairest
laurel.
If we throw glance back upon any Pc
Rod of the worlds history, down to the
present time, we shall perceive that u.tty Of
effort has ever been the watch-word of sue
cessful achievement. 1t is this that has
founded empires and built up mighty ma
tions. Every monument of human great
ness is result of unity. Egypt's far-fam-
ed Pyramids; the departed splendors and
magnificent ruins of Babylon, Ninevah,
and rock,formed Petra; Copan and Pa
lenque, those "dreamy Ruins of the West;"
the mighty achievements of modern times
all are eloquent of this truth. So in the
world of mind; Shakespeare and Bacon, and
Milton have built intellectual monuments
more durable than brass-imperishable as
mind itself. So in the moral world; Luther,
and Wesley, and Edwards, are but the rep
resentatives of millions who have built their
way up to Heaven by faith, and love, and
labor, and prayer. So also in the world of
Art, that fair creation of genius, and taste,
and skill. A Grecian Phidias, a Michael
Angelo, Powers and West have snatch
ed glorious relics from the shades of OBJ
livion, and given them place and name
that will endure while Art itself shall live,
or time laugh at the ruin of his iron sway.
When Napoleon was boy, bright and
shadowy dream came to his soul. Thence
forward he worshipped at the shrine of that
phantom vision. It whispered to his heart
of power and dominion and urged him on
ward as by the fat of destiny. Napoleon
hao sc sLo
Had he paused here, it had, perhaps, been
well. But when he stood at the head of
France, ambition pointed to the throne of
the Caesars. It beckoned him with its long
sbadowy finger to follow in the footsteps of
Alexander. 1t whispered in his ear, ''Be
thou Alexander the Second, and read thy
destiny in a conquered world t' He listen
ed. The song of that Syren madened his
brain to fury. He followed the phantom as
it lured him onward. The absolute seemed
just within his grasp. Powers reeled and
toppled from their thrones. The concord
of nations was broken. For a moment the
world trembled as if on the verge of some
fearful plunge. Clouds and darkness seem
ed gathering over the nations. Fate shook
her glittering sword amid the gloom, but,
alas! it shivered to atoms in her grasp!-
Then the clouds rolled away. The sun
shone forth. Solemn silence with her lead
en- lips hushed the angry roar of battle
The stars chanted song of peace, and for
tune, pointing at the fallen hero, bade ambi-
ton mourn over the tomb of her deluded
victiml
Napoleon accomplished much. The world
has furnished but few examples of such un-
tiring devotion-such resistless energy
such indomitable perseverance. But it was
devotion to bad cause.-The thralLdone of
i1ations-and like most instances of usurped
power, it brought fearful ruin upon the head
of the usurperL / need not pause to deduce
the inferences from this illustration. viii
only remark: let the ambitious usurpers of
power and those who prostitute authority
to overthrow right and establish wrong re-
member that they are ''treasuring up wrath
against the day of wrath
Take another illustration. Oliver Crom-
well presents striking contrast to Napole-
on. Like Napoleon, he could boast no
princely ancestry-unlke him, he aspired
to no universal dominion. Like Napoleon,
he pursued, with an all-absorbing energy,
one great object-unlike him, that object
was the welfare and glory of his country
England and the Church-Liberty and Re-
Hgion. He felt that he was commissioned
to be Reformer. He believed his commits
sion was from Heaven, and he dared not
disobey GodI The ful6llment of that mis-
sion became henceforth the one great object
of his life. His unconquerable determine
ton united discordant and opposing ele-
ments in its accomplishment, and the iron
hand of destiny could not snatch the palm
of victory from the concentrated energy of
the Protector! The principle illustrated by
both of these examples is the same, but the
objects of pursuit were widely different-as
different as are the aims of those who at
tempt to sabyert the liberties of free peo-
| pie, and of those who peril life and fortune
and honor to maintain them.