The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-04-20
MANIFEST DESTINY.
An ExauguraI Address Delivered before the
Alpha Kappa Phi Society Of HillsdaIe
College, March Goth, 1858, by VIM. +.
PheIOu.

Sohese, moion S0e", scoo, ny ""' -
PhelOn.
Looking on tho pages Of the past, grown
dim by the vast reach of time interposcd,
VIC sec picture, splendid in the magni-
tudc of its conceptions aud the granduer
of its surroundings. Amidst tho beauti-
fu fertility and oriental gorgeousness of
the plains Of Shinar, can bo perceived ~
busy, swarinng mass, intent upon SIN
glc ubject-that Of piling height upon
height. Then and there were gathered
not few of the worlds workers, but the
whole race Of man, bent upon asserting
their puny human force against the Most
Mighty; but il avaicd as would the tiny
rplet opposed to the storm-tossed, mad,
b llowy ocean. AS the work goes on and
the cloud denrapt summit disappears from
the dwellers below, tho mandates OF the
terrible 1huaderer go forth, and swift mes
sengers from the Eternal Throne of Justice,
unseen AMI silent, have traveised the track
less air, and n spell, potent and fearful,
falls on all. Aghast and confoundcd they
gaze each on the other stupeied, because,
though speaking, they understand each
his fellow no moro than might the brute
to whom language conveys no intelligent
conception. Hcnccforth, as natl ms, kin
dreds and tongues, they arc scattered new
er again TO be united as single race by
that closest Of all ties, common language,
but with modes of communication as wide.
ly different as the antipodes they are to
inhabit, they 90 forth to seek supplies for
the common wants of life. But amidst
the rise and fall of Empires, the crash
and shock of warning po~crs, high above
all, the bright, glorious star Of civilization
and highest mental power has been slowly
but surely moving westward, resting eyer
and anon like tho Bcthlchemic messenger
Of peace and good will 10 men over those
nations who wero ordained by the great
Overruler to raise far heaycnward the great
wave of human progress, giving to the
big, throbbing heart of humanity in its
mighty throes for dclivcrancc from the
giant evil, an impetus not 10 be overcome,
although the dark, tcmpcstuous clouds Of
serviic and base ignorance, illuminated
only by the sullcn glare Of thciI own lurid
flashes of wrath and bitter envy, might
gather more and more fiercely for battle
against the glin mering light which fore
scnger to prevent the complete subvcrsion
Of the immortal principle to Him who
rules rs Prince and Power of the air.
Egypt, telling # the building of her vast
pyramids and cataconhs, her exploits by
sea and land by GEOGRAPHICALLY inscribed
obclisks-Tyre and Carthage, whitening
the waters of every sea, and trading at
every known port-Greeco, trimming to
its brightest flame the lamp of polite litera
turc-ltom", concentrating With herself
the resources Of worll-Spain aud France
with thcii 'onG list OF splendid statesmen.
and learn 4 and talented savans-and last,
vet first oi all, come Great Britain and
America, stretching out their hands for
friendly sa!utation halfway ronnd tho
globe, aad bound together in such close re-
laiionsh;p hy the ties OF common origin,
language auj literature. As all these in
attaining the zenith of their power have
been the beacon lights OF the nations, SO
they are, one and all, examples in point
ID sustain my assertion.
But, rs this grand, triumphal march of
centuries in duration has been thus surely
progressing, the masses in whom lies such
mighty power have reused from their leth-
argy, and shaken off the dca:h-llke stupor
which, incubus like, paralyzed their ener-
gies, and, in consequence, the centraliza-
ton of power has diminished. and in lieu
of single city's issuing its mandates to
the whole habitablc, and enforcing obcdi-
ence with an iron rule, the world now rolls
on content to be governed by the Anglo
Saxon race, at whose head stands Young
America" rejoicing as strong man to run
the race set before him, full Of vigor and
the anticipations of glorious triumphs yet
to be realized. He, true to his ature Of
condcnsing much into little, has composed
the prime pies of his mode of action into
short creed Of two words short indeed,
but full Of meaning, and type and SYM
boil Of the dircctncss and energy of his
character These words, furnishing an in
dex to all his actions and his unparalleled
success. in everything undertaken, arc
manifest Ecstiny;" and 10 this hort SEN
tcncN, SO prolific Of meaning and sou-in-
spring, | crave your at cntion for few
moments AS tn, topic Of the hour.
And in the first place beg leave to call
your attention 20 few ideas altogether
too prevalent for. tho best good Of the
greatest Republic Of ancient or modern
times, but which seem false and Of an ex
cecdingy mischievous tendency, inasmuch
rs they lower the standard Of attainment.
And among these prominent in some minds
this holds place: that VIC arc to unite un-
der one general government tho whole OF
North America, annex Cuba, and filibus-
ter South America and the Sandwich Is
lands from their rightful owners, and over
all TO spread the empire Of that terrible de-
mon, Slavery, to whose orgies the fearful
rites Of the ancient moloch bear the samo
relationship as the sins of the smiling in
fant, yet unsullicd by eartb's gross contact,
TO tho crimes of the daring, hardened fcl-
on who suffers the ext, cmc penalty Of the
law, justly punished for his violation Of
mans sense OF right. Can this bo other
wise than false idea! Is it possible that
our beautiful country, rolling to the ocean
such mighty streams, bearing on their bo-
SONS the commercial wealth Of kingdoms
embracing under its clear, blue sky every
! variety of climate and countrv from tho