The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-07-14
LambertviIIe, NJ j., July II. 1859.
American Influence.


and their occupancy of the new world would
affect their fortunes? No, nor did they APP
prehend that the physical peculiarties of this
continent would SO completely revolutionize the
matter of government and religion and perform
such an important part in the worlds history
Our forefathers labored under the state of mind
that it is better to trust to principles than to
rely on facts and far nober to exercise faith
than to possess knowledge, but they trusted and
were happy, Notwithstanding the mystery which
completely encircled them, both without and with
in. Political and social changes Immediately
followed the strife with throne and parliament,
and soon the EngliShpian was swallowed up in
the American, although they retained all the no
bier attributes of English character and mind
the strong and the sturdy sense Of independence.
Their plan was to repeat the past in an improved
form Providence moulded them for the future
We have now placed ourselves foremost in the
rank, among all the nations of the world, and
ought we not with our great ideas embodied in
wise institutions, prominent position, politi-
cal and social philosophy, with the means of
vast wealth and physical power in our hands, to
exert no small amount of influence on the mind
of the world? Our whole career is a problem
for deep study. Aside from the political as
poets of country, the general interests of the
mass as connected with education, religion, CON-
merce, and industry, are specially adopted to
excite inquiry and attract notice. That our in
situations have difused and strengthened the
sentiment of liberty, is too evident in the present
war in Italy to be doubted From the period
of the French Revolution, the mighty influence
of this country with regard to this matter, has
been felt But we can chronicle as yet, no
signal success which has attended the efforts
made to attain liberty similar to ours This
is in no wise surprising when we remember that
despotism has been enthroned for centuries, Sc
curely and that it has gained for itself the world
ly interest and religious faith of it's subjects to
consolidate its mighty power. Despite of ad-
verse currents and circumstances the leaven of
free principles has been working, and the au-
spicious sign of the day is in the fact that the
people are advancing their physical condition
improving poverty and ignorance decreasing
and the sphere of action of the middle classes
charging. The subject will stand close inspec-
ton, and let US observe more closely our relative
position. We have country Astounding in
vegetation, the climate peculiarly adapted to the
culture OF the soil, with striking benefits we
have immense resources of every species, and at
the same time the practical sagacity to use it to
IN 4ha H..
needs our products the wheat, cotton &C., are
essential to its very prosperity. A system of
inter communication, system of commercial
interchange, which has no parallel Every
month millions of dollars are involved in the
transactions of the two continents, and vet, if
these relations were limited to monetary inter-
ests, they would even then have a conservative
Importance that all enlightened minds would de-
sire to maintain. The real value of this won
derful system of demand and supply is in its
moral and social significance. 1t has been truly
said that there are more things that find safe
passage in our steamers and clippers than ap-
pear in bills of ladng and manifests. There are
more beneficial cargoes than wheat and cotton.
The projecting, enterprising, conquering power
of our commerce. carries with it to every port
our mind, eur heart, and makes them feltthrougb-
out the world The striking fact in the history
of our nation is the growth Of the people, their
grandeur ofenterprse; expansiveness ofthought;
and rapid advance in practical power The
great mind of the country has engaged with
substantial things for directly from out the pri-
nal elements we have had to create our wealth
and power. Our pride has been in work, and
2ur true symbols are the axe the ploughshare,
ana the steam engine. Are we negligent in the
great points of literature and art Nowhere
else has 1t reached the the maximum of IFS utility
ana adorned itself with so much of the beauty.
OF a spiritual sentiment. few years since such
men as Lord Brougham were ignorant of tho
geographical position of our country. scarcely
map being seen, but now American works oro
more popular and have more extensive demand
than the works OF other countries. Are orr
machine shops engaged in fashioning the iron
horse to speed over the steppes of Russia and
the utmost parts of the old world without can
sing a sense of qualification to be aroused with
In us that we excel? We cannot enter into de-
tail, but we feel that if we are faithful to our
position and principles, true to ourselves and
christianity, we SHALL like it, seno forth con-
slant stream of blessing to the Old World.
A LIVE YANKEE BoY-A son of Captain
Abraham Thomson, of New Haven. Conn.