New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-09

The art itself is nature
From the air, water and the unsightly slime and
mud of pond, nature elaborates those elements
which 60 to constitute water lily, the most beau-
tiful Of flowers. These are but single instances,
where thousands might be cited, in which things
the most useful and beautiful are formed by the
union Of simple and diverse elements.
Ascending now to man, the masterpiece of Gods
workmanship we may reasonably look for fur-
ther development Of the same law, since uniformity
il a principle pervading all nature, nor do we look
in vain. If we follow the history of our race
through every stage Of its progress, we see in men
Of ali ages and countries unity of nature as uni.
yersal as the resemblance of physical structure
which identifies each with all others, and yet a
diversity of character as varied as the lineaments
of countenance which distinguish one from another
Each temperament, indeed, has its own eXcellen-
cies hut he is nearest q model man in whom they |
are all blended, just as the primitive colors are
each beautiful, but when painted together upon the
sky they form the rainbow. This model man per-
haps never existed in perfection but the best and
greatest of the earth have approached tour own
Washington nearest of all. His was the tempered
temperament, and in him all the exceencleS OF
character seemed to unite.
Now as the blending of temperaments gives
beauty and symmetry to character, so also does
the minglng Of races. Among the examples OF
this fact are some of the most ilustrlous names
that history has preserved The French and Eng
lish races were united sidney smlIn tRe
Thomas Beckett, the illrlstrious churchman Arch
bishop Of Canterbury the Saxon and Norman, in
Henry II, one of the abest of the English kings
the African and Roman in ST. Augustin, the learned
and eloquent theologian; the Scythian and Athe-
man, in Demosthenes, the prince of Grecian ora
tors; the Thracian and Athenian, in Thurcyddes,
the most profound and philosophical of ancient
historians. The vital current in these men, though
mingled, was not a turbd or sluggish stream. but
clear and impctuous; and on its bosom has borne
down to us the wealth of former generations.
Having now seen that the commingling of races
has produced noble iadipidual characters, we are
prepared to suppose that it exerts similar infiu
| ence on the character of nations. That this may
be apparent we need only compare the origin and
4 history Of few nations. The European nations
are vastly superior to those of Asia yet, while the
| latter boast a lineage pure, and uncontaminated
/ by foreign elements, the former are OF diversified
/ origin. The Japanese and Chinese are proud OF
their antiquity and for centuries have assduously
guarded every avenue to foreign influences; but
4 they are striking examples of national imbecility
| when compared with the Scotch and English, or
1 other European nations. In Aslatic, and even IN
4 Grecian and Roman civilization, striking unity
/ prevailed; and its unity was its destruction. Some
4 one idea has always prevailed to the exclusion of
| all contending opinions, and society soon became
stagnant the very principles of its existence seem
times rapid, but always epheme'dt.
4 Perhaps no nation ever ran more brilliant
career than did ancient Greece, but its decline was
= as precipitous and humilatng as its growth had
been rapid and glorious Meteor-like it flashed
upon the world, and then expired, only leaving the
darkness more intense. On the other hand, the
civilization Of modern Europe has been complex
and diversified; all principles of government and
& all races of men striving with each other and thus
setting at work modifying influence. Under this
state of things, the march OF civilization has been
4 steady and progressive for fifteen centuries. The
literature Of this period though perhaps not SO
polished as that of the ancients, is extensive
and practical, since mind was sharpened by antag-
onism, and was employed on greater variety OF
4 subjects. In its grand march towards the setting
4 sun, civilization was growing more complete and
i real. From. the stormy elements which conficted
in Europe, there resulted a state Of society vastly
superior to that Of the Oriental nations But it was
reserved for this continent to be the theater of its
greatest trumphs. The best elements of European
civilization were interviewer in America, and no
where else had the germs Of power and prosperity
been so auspiciously planted.
n ssGod sfted three nations, that the first sowing
4 of this might be of the finest wheat" and evel
since that first sowing new exotics have been year
4 " transplanted into our soil. Not unlike us il
/ genealogy were the Suevi who, being composed
from SO many different tribes, assumed the name o
/ Alemanni, or All-men; to denote at once thei
various lineage and their common bravery'-th'
4 latter of which they made evident by overcomin!
the Romans in many contest OF arms Our popu
I lation has likewise been gathered from all races
and the representatives Of each have brough
hther their peculiar characteristcs-the lrishman
his sparkling witness and glowing enthusiasm
the Scotchman his fierce firmness and true-hearte
"A devotion to principle; the Frenchman, his gay vi
vacity and sympathetic sociability; the English
man, his grave thoughtfulness and imperial bear
n ana SO OF all tile nauOUallCleS represented
this new and anomalous nation The excellencie
of each race gave tone and value to the nationa
character, SO that while every other nation ma.
have its own portrait, America is a spacious CALLER
in which these portraits are all hung up together.
Though the elements of our population be vari
GUS, they are not discordant, for they have enoug
in common Of patriotism and devotion to republ
can institutions to cement them indissolubly to
gether. Rome could conquer the world, but coul
not consolidate it into one government. Ther
was, among those who were her allies and tn
subjects of her conquests, such spirit of persona
liberty, that one would not yield to another $
much as was necessary in order to form commo
union; and seRome fell because none would belon
to the empire But, in the peopling of America
all brought their personal interests, and laid thei
a pure sacrifice on the altar Of liberty. Th
country belonged not to one nationality, or on
family of royal lineage, but to all who wished
come and share its benefits and privileges. TIL
1 English subdued the wids of New England, til
! Dutch founded New Amsterdam, afterwards calle
\ New York;; the Swedes established themselves
Delaware the Spanish and French, seeking
mlder climate, settled Florida and Louisiana an
among them all was scattered the noble race {
Huguenots.
Among the ifty-sx signers of the Declaration {
Independence were the representatives of six di
J ferent nations. But united in common struggi
for liberty, both civil and religious, they laid asd
their nationalites and rallied together under tn
new standard of stars and stripes differing now
longer, since they had expatriated themselves |
order to establish Government better than the
own had been. How donbly appropriate the mott
they chose! sc Pluribus Unum" Not only on
Government from many States, but also one peopl
from many nations.
From such fountain the stream of America
civilization has flowed on like our noble river, 18th
T father of waters" sweeping through vast an
beautiful valley, calling to the streams from ever
side to swell its current, and ever growing wider
i and deeper and more resstless in its progress.
l"'i'af ct l'os'"F in 'n's '''a''s MEpSIsKos.
4 Dutchman, whose business led him to spend
n few weeks in Chester concluded one night that
!; would attend revivalt' then going on in one
a the churches. He accordingly walked into Il
e church, just before preaching commenced, AM
Q taking a seat very near the altar, listened mo
4: attentiyely to the sermon. As is customary aft
III the sermon, the ministers began to eXhort the si
se ners to +" fee from the wrath to come.s After
er lengthy and warm eXhortaton, he addressed hin
nlife ehIaan