Smyrna times., 1858-08-26

were tnroWn upon them, would never nave
made that mother supremely proud of them
when she did not behold the least shadow of a
doubt fit across their child-like but determined
countenances, had she not, like truly ambi-
tous parent, pointed to their minds the glories
of their hereafter. if they would, like sons wor-
thy other and their new faith, die without mu:.
mur of regret.
| Ambition, thou art indeed universal in thy
way. The sea-girt islands of the south well
come thee to their tropical shores; the scorch-
ed inhabitants of Arabia's desert, like true sons
OF the sun, dipped, poetic orient, are the most
fervent worshippers; the Tartarc tribe of Rus
sla, by strict adherence to the progressive prn-
ciples, have risen from the bloody festivals of
barbaric ferocity to the mild enjoyments of re-
fined civilization; the dwarfed inhabitants of
the polar regions, bereft of Heavens warming
rays. of social comforts, and sunk in the depths
of ignorance are now enjoying the substantial
delights accruing from the suherhuman labors
of thy intrepid, oSstacle-despising son, Elisha
Kent Kane. The great oases in the desert of
despotic governments, America, owes its birth,
like Minerva, TO thy unquenchabe, Prometheac
fire. Thou art as necessary to the prosperity
Of man as intellect is to the body.
Brutus with all his detestation of superiority
and overlapping ambition, was more ambitious
than his great victim, and did more to the en-
shaving and downfall of his country than any
other Roman. Crushed vanity and thwart-
ed self struck the mortal blow which extin-
guished forever that great genius who combined
the varied qualities of conqueror, statesman,
orator and author.
Cesar was ambitious It's true but progress
education and civilization, then unknown out
side the limits Of the south, owes the very es-
sence of their success to that ambition for the
wild and savage bands Of the north who were
wallowing in the filth of barbarsm when sub
dued by Cgsar's arm. with the quick perception
characteristic Of their vigorous minds, saw the
great advantage and blessing of enlightenment,
and became, in few years, more civilized thar
the Romans themselves, because the teacher
and expounders of the world.
AS the quick flashes of lightning are neces-
sary for the publication of the contamnating,
poisonous vapor which arises from the arid bo-
of the earth, so, also, was the ambition of
the first Napoleon in alloyng, by the powerful
electricity of his genius, and warning, disas-
trous elements of the vile and degraded pas
sons which ragged in the hearts of the FrencI
people. France, from being torn to pieces b,
her own sharp md gore-dripping claws, had her
wounds bound up with the healing cloth of con-
cord, and her fostering sores cleansed pure by
the sweet balm of social friendship. From re-
trograding into the darkness OF ancient Gaul.
she rose under the mastery guidance Of Napo
leon like radiant Aurora, glowing with the beau
ty of revived youth, and the healthy bloom OF
internal strength.
Then, thou VINO struck the strong Tyre CT
Homer, and filled it with thy immortal strains
thou who filled the soul of Dante with the
fearful sublimity-thou who nerved the arm OF
Angelo with the unerring, tireless strength ne
cessary for the formation OF the unearthy be-
ings, pregnant in his great mind-thou who
chcered and supported famished Shakespeare,
and who comforted the misery of sightless Mil
ton--thou who placed the lightning Of heaven
in the gasp of Franklin-thou who art bless
ing to fearful and timid aspiring souls, thou art
as welcome to our homes and our hearts, as the
first blush of morning, is to merry, joyous ma
tures If thou but sittest enthroned in the in
tellects of our country, there will be no
"FlOwer born to blush unseen.
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."