Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-31

! yeNrS. DulIJ III LIC luiuSL VI IllC dCoOtb,
SO far from the material requisite for its
construction and from any natural means
for the transportation of these materials,
what wealth and exertion must it have
cost! And for what was it built? To BE
REcEPTAcLE FOR THE ASHES OF A KING,
Now, though the world has not lost its
love Of me beautiful OF It's reverence for
the good and great, it has ceased to waste
its wealth and power on mere idle forms.
In the present age men work chiefly for
utility and improvement. In Europe, in
| America, in Africa, and in Asia, we now
see the labor of millions ard the wealth of
governments leveling the hills, tunneling
the mountains, filing up the valleys, cut
ting through solid rock, and making miry
places firm. And for what? That they
may build railroads to bring distant
places near together, and to convey. with
ease, to every corner of the earth, the pro-
ducts of human industry. Lines of mag
netic telegraph, too, are built in every
country and by land and sea. Cities,
Islands, Continents, are now united, and
Engla and America now communicate
with each other in single hour.
Look, too. at the manufactures of every
kind throughout the world. Listen to the
hum and clatter of machinery as it re-
sounds in every land. Think of the real
utility of all these manufactories-so nu-
merous in kind that they cannot be named,
and each productive of some useful thing.
Count, then, the millions who spend their
lives in these, and the other millions who
are more or less connected with them, and
tell us if this is not eminenty practical
age.
The history of the ancient nations, par
tialas it is, afford us another means of
comparingthe past and present character
of the world For what is that history
but continual tale of war and bloodshed.
every mans hand against his brother,
nation against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom peace was scarcely known.
The temple of Janus was only once closed
during more than thousand years. Kings
reigned only to enlarge their dominions,
the people were educated only for the
army, nations desired nothing but success
in war. Agriculture was indeed partially
engaged in, and in some States the sci
ences and even the fine arts were encour-
aged. But the army had the procedure
over all occupations. The sword was the
controlling power of the world.
Armies still exist. The nations have
not yet beaten their swords into plough
shares and theirspears into pruning hooks,
and the time may be yet distant when they
shall learn war no more. But the
greatest armies of the world are not, rs
they once were, soldiers marching to the
place Of slaughter at the command Of
Kings. They are farmers and mechanics,
who are administering to the wants and
comforts of the world, and adding endur-
ing treasures to its wealth. This is the
army which mow controls the world,
guided by neither Emperors or Kings
And if this army do but speak a Govern
menL will change and pass away; and to
this army, all people of whatever cline,
look for Sustenance and comfort, and sup
port.
War is now in great measure superse-
ded by the cultivation of the useful arts.
We now annually witness the sublime
spectacle of Worlds Exhibition of in
dustry and art. Here, in friendly rivalry,
are gathered from all nations, the work
mans tools, the machinist's handiwork,
the creatures of the painters brain, the
embodiments of beauty and of passion in
the sculptor's images-all that can refine
the taste and minister to the happiness OF
man. These are the achievements, these
are the trophies of the armies of the pres
ent day
The progress can likewise be seen in
the present systems of education and in
the directions of modern thoughts Men
do not study as they once did. They are
no longer satisfied with mere theories.
Men want practical, practicable facts
truths fitted for earnest, active, useful
life. Gradually education and thought
are being moulded to suit the character ol
the time. And as we study to fit our
selves for what we aim to be and 10 do,
and as we think for the purpose of learn
ing how we can best be and do what we
desire, from this can be discerned our ends
of action. And in this we see, as in all
things else, that use is now the end.
Thus it may be seen that the ends oI
human action have changed-that while
former ages worked for show and power
the 1resenf are has a use for the object oI