Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-21
rConclnded rron, rst page. ]

same hand that tounlcu that Key signed
the treaty which acknowledged the long
disputed independence Of his native land.
Like Franklin, Folta's speculation
upon the Magnetic phenomena of the leg
OF dead frog, disclosed TO the world a
new science, and one which, by the mag
nstic telegraph, has brought the old and
the new world into instantaneous com
munication.
Here are the triumphs of genius--a
few of the many evidences that might be
presented that, in the progress of indus
trial action, the head goes before the
hand, the speculation before the result.
TX.
But will now conclude this review.
From the lofty stand point of observa-
ton afforded by this 10Th century, we
have been able to cast only few furtivc
glances upon the world of art that lies
beneath our feet We have seen the
torch of genius which attracted the adj
mirng gaze Of Plato, sprinkling with
radiant sparks the great highway Of civ
ilzation, along which enlightened pa
tons have marched to gain tho lofty
summit wherein we stand and we NAV,
therefore, close our observation of this
great triumph, by last glance at the
Productive Industry of our own land.
" The United States" says a lively
English writer, ''werc colonized cen
fury later than Spanish Americas but
their brilliant and rapid progress shows
in striking light how much more the
prosperity of nations depends on moral
than physical advantages. The North
Americans had no gold mines, and a ter
ritory OF only indifferent fertility, cover
ed with iwpenetrable woods; but they
brought with them intelligence, indus.
try, love Of freedom, habits of order,
and pure severe morality. Armed
with these gifts of the soul, they have
converted the wilderness into a land
teeming with life and smiling with plen-
ty; and they have built up social sys-
tenn, so pre-cminctly calculated to pro-
mote the happiness and moral improve
nent of mankind, that it has truly be-
coulc Jne envy OF nations.
This picture is not over drawn; for
brief as has been the national existence
Of our country, her progress in industry
and wealth has been truly astonishing.
In Agriculture the immense expanse
of her territory, the diligent application
of her people, and the employment of
the very best machinery extant, she is
rapidly assuming the position which once
belonged to Egypt, of the granary of the
world.
ln Manufactures, she has already at
tanned pre.eminence over all rivals in
cotton fabrics, and reputable position
in all others.
In Mechanism, her inventions have
exceeded those Of all the world combined,
and in the application Of machinery to
the useful arts her ingenuity is the Won
der Of all, Hers was the first steamboat
to navigate rivers, and hers was the first
to cross the Atlantic. Hers was the
first railroad, and hers the first magnetic
telegraph. Her reaper won the first of
all the prizes at the Worlds Fair. in
london; and the cotton gin of her Whit
ney has exercised an influence upon the
destinies of man, with the single excep-
tion of printing, second to no other in
vention of human genius
In Mining, she is successfully devel-
oping the resources of her inexhaustible
beds of coal, iron, copper and lead, while |
the discovery of gold in California, is
strengthening that arm of her empire
which is destined to hold dominion over
the broad Pacific.
In Commerce, she is inferior to Eng
land only; but in the construction of her
ships of burden and of war she is now
acknowledged to stand pre.eminent in
marine architecture.
In Internal Improvement, her miles of
railroad exceed those of all Europe; her
canals are numerous and important, and,
IN advance of all others, steam is being
introduced upon their waters.
In the Fine and Ornamental Arts, she
has produced many successful emulators
OF the worthless of tho ageof Pope Leo X.
III AIcultocturc, ucr cUufcucS, ncr /
monuments and her public buildings ex-
hlbit specimens of all orders, not uuwor-
Thy the originals from which they were
deriyed
In Painting the names Of Copley, |
West, Stuart, Newton, Aston and Les
lie, have won place in the temple of
fame.
In Bronze Casting, the equestrian
statue Of Jackson, by Clark Mills, is an
acknowledged MASTERPIECES of art.
While in Sculpture, Powers has en-
riched the world with his Greek Slave,
and Crawfords prophetic inspiration has
unveiled its future destiny in his magniG-
cent emblematic statue Of America.
Such have been the achievements Of
cur own, our native land, already regis
tered 10 her short annals Of Art. Bat
greater glories belong to her future for
Art and Civilization 60 hand in hand,
and the torch of genius MUST follow in
the track Of that star Of empire, which
Wearar9 takes its way.