The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-01-06

Obates uVe-aDu-bdeuty JcaEs HGoi pus oHy
one with moderate political observation
will see that this picture is now consider
ably altered. The United States are not,
indeed, an old nation yet, but there are
signs of advancing time pressing upon
them. New York was, month ago, the
scene of bread riots. That is a mark of
age; a nation cannot call itself quite
young that finds itself involved in inau-
cial catastrophe, the effect of an extreme
ly developed artificial currency, and tho
cause of bread riots. These are features
of an old world, of long established COM
merce, of ofoyergrown Popl1atIon. iheeit,t-
of New York may claim now the rank of.
ono of those vast CONCENTRATIONS of human
power and activity, al d condensations Of
human life, which constitute the great
cities Of the Old World, and with the rank
it exhibits also the melancholy accompan-
iment of such growth-its large needy,
dependent masses, living from hand to
mouth, and thrown cut of employment
Immediately by any serious jar in the t.
nancisl system.
We may now add another sign of ad-
vancing age-a war with an unruly de-
psndency-a war accompanied by great
hardships and involving endless marches
over difficult and barren ground, where
the invading army must carry everything
whatever, necessary or human or brute
| life, with it. Fort Leayenworth is about
Que Thousand five hundred miles distant
! from the American seat of Government
that is DO short distance; but when an
| American army has reached Leavenworth
| it's hostile journey to the Salt Lake City
is only begun. Another journey of six
| hundred and fifty miles up the Platte riy-
er conducts it to Fort Laramie, and after
reaching Fort Laramie full month S
journey succeeds before the Salt Lake
City is arrived at. Of this months jour
uey the whole is over fficult country,
aud much off over ground with very lit
tie grass, which, little as it is, the Nor
mons will, of course, set fire to. The
Mormons are perfectly aware of the advan-
tages of their position, and meet-the In
vasion with iDsolent defiance, and, it must
be added, hitherto with successful defiance
! The American advanced force under Col
onel Albert Johnston having proceeded
$50 miles beyond Fort Laramie, is stop
ped by seven-inch depth. of snow, COM
bined with total failure of corn aud grass,
the Mormon force having cut off their
trains of wagons in the rear. Under
these circumstances the Government ex-
pedition pauses, and the rebel State has a
temporary triumph OF the transciency
I I of this triumph we can have little doubt.
The honor Of the Federal Government
and the honor of the whole of the United
States is now pledged to suppression of
the NJ Mormonite rebellion but we have al
SO little doubt that the affair will cost
good deal. and swell disagreeably the
United States budget.
| The United States, in short, as they
advance to importance and dignity, are
also rapidly advancing to the cares, re-
spousihilities, and expenses of empi e.
This Mennonite war is creditable to them;
they could not, consistently with nation
al honor, and with respec. for their own
position among civilized nations, have
avoided it. No nation that is a member OF
the great circle of cilivized nations, and
forms part of the esta blished phalanx OF
civilization in the world, can escape the
duty of defending the necessary laws of
civilization That cause is sacred and
sublime cause, committed to its trust by
4 Providence, aud it cannot avoid the res
sponsibility of it without giving up its
place in the civilized world, and its fellow
ship in the association of civilized nations.
The United States have only acted in
consist ncy with their position as civil
lied State in refusing to recognise and
sanction the system of polygamy, wh'ch
the Mormonites have endeavored to er-
graft upon the American national code
aud it is this refusal which has brought
on this war. But. while we give the Uni
ted States all credit for not having avoid
ded an honorable war, we must observe
at the same time that wars such as these
are sign of nations growing years
as it is to an individual the age of a IA
tion is it's glory and pride it is what
gives it character, life aud weight.
new nation, like new word, is formless
nondescript thing; it is hardly a nation at
all till it is in some sense an old nation,
till it has past, vista of events to look
4 back upon, a history to recall. But the
houors of growing antiquity bring heir
responsibilities, encumbraDces, perplexi-
ties and grievances with them, jars and
collisions in the State, difficulties of f.
nance, popular distress, wars, taxation
The crown of empire, like the crown OF
reason, brings its cares with it, and sits
heavily upon the brow. cit is not for q
statesman" says Homer, "to rest all the
night-he must be wide awake while 9th
ers are sleeping" Our transatlantic kius
men are in their private business quite Ut
to this duty, and they will now in theil
national capacity have more and more tc
exercise it.
, A DAYS Work AT SLAUGHTER HOUSE
} On Thursday, the Cincinnati Gazett'
saws. there was killed at the Cincinnati