Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-08
- From tl.e ~ u Herald s----=s<
The worlds Progress I'm 1S5S-what


We have given in our columns these past
few DAYS a copions index to the events of the
world transpired during the past year, and
now that we are entering upon new one. a
curosory review of the great points achieved
in the worlds progress is worthy of our atten-
ton.
We do not hesitate TO place among the
most importantly 1T is not in fact The most
Importantly the achievements Of the year.
the gathering at Liverpool of the philosophers
and statesmen of England, and their solemn
adoption asd PRONUNCIATION of the great idea
which lies at the very foundation OF all
things physical or metaphysical, in this
country-that political science is secondary
10 social progress and elevation. We claim
this as the true American theory of human
deveiGpemeDt: and its adoption and teaching
in the first of European nations will eventually
rock TO their foundations nearly all OF the
time honored traditions of Europe, for IT wars
with all of them. Besides this, the year 1858
has been one of great social deyelopemenf.-
Among the prominent eyentswe may notice
among ourselves the establishment of the
Overland mails. the opening of the Tehuante-
pee route. and the metaliferouss deveiope-
mpnts In Fraser river and Arizona, which
will give a new impetus to our. Pacific empire
In Europe the most prominent events In
social progress have occurred in Russia.
where the emancipation of the serfs, The
opening of the Amoor territory, and the Vast
public works that have been constructed
have embraced a. territorial extent only
-equalled by our own.
In politics the field has not been less ac-
lively worked than in social science. The
aeknow Iedrment by England that the laws
of nations does not admit her claim to exer-
else police of the ocean, is great point
gained in behaif of the whole world The
opening of Japan and China to commerce and
political intercourse is an event full of i'm
port for the future. In India, England's rule
has been r, Established. and the East India
Company, whose destruction had been pro-
blem 10 statesmen for halt century, has
been abolished. Our own land has witnessed
the cessation of the Kansas feuds and the re-
preston of the Mormon rebellion, both of
which events have demonstrated the stability
of our Union and the elasticity of our politi-
cal institutions A not less rema' kable ey ent
is the Initiation of the Paraguay expedition,
which NAV be SAID to he the germ of the de-
velopment of a truly American policy in our
political relations.
Tho mechabic arts have their triumphs. too,
to record in the year 1858. First and great
est among them we recognise the laying of
the Atlantic cable. In this event, and the
impulse which it has given to ocean tele-
graphs everywhere. a revolution has been
initiated in commerce and politics which will
he fit TO the end of time. Another event
worthy of mention here is the completion Of
the great iron steamship Leviathan. IN
wieldy monster and crude experiment as she
may now seem. if we measure the progress of
the future by the development of the past we
shall see that the day is not far distant when
the necessities IF INSTRUMENTATION between
the continents will demand thousands of
such ships. Not the least in this field is the
adaptation of steam power to canal naviga-
tiOn.
Science has. perhaps. not been so prolific
in its novelties during the last year as in some
others bnt its range has been marked with
steady industry nf Development in every
field. Its resources have been taxed severely
by the achievements in mechanics and several
new and important laws have been deduced
from the phenomena of electric currents
which are intimately connected with the
transmission of thought In scientific art
important discoveries have been made in the
transfer of sun impressions to copper plates
which are full of promise $50
We shall glance at hut one other point in
the immense field Of world progress before MS.
The religious world has heen the scene If
some of the most antagonistic movements
that could have been witnessed. Among our
selves religious awakening almost unparal
leltu mas WIllfP at same time III
Mexico and Southern America the most strenn-
Gus exertions have been and are still being
made to overthrow the ecclesiastical influence
as social element. In Catholic Europe
like autagonism is witnessed. Rome. in the
case of the NOrtara boy, exhibits a return to
the worst theories Of ecclesiastical despOtism;
while in France more liberal spirit has been
awakened and we find many of the clergy
protesting against the Mortara case, and
Montalemhert n champion of church supre-
macy. contending with political despOtism-
The influence of these events upon the religi-
Ous opinions of men will not be lost for long
time to come.
1t will he seen. from the cursory review we
have taken of the events of 1858, that il Will
stand alongside of almost any one of the
wears of the century in world development
The immense appliances in mechanics and
science which each year brings to the aid of
human progress give great scope to periods of
time. Steam and electricity, as motive
powers Of matter and thought. are daily in
creasing the wants Of men and their ability
to consume. Every increase in the facilities
of distribution, every decrease in the cost to
the consumer, acts upon production and trade
even in greater than geometrical ratio. and
thus causes that commercial development
which SO rapidly Outstrips the increase of
population Herein lies the true theory of
human progress. for sOciol progress must
PR cede the development of moral and politi-
cal science.