Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-07-12

the advantages we cnjoy1 Rector Wccms in his
life of Washington thus speaks of Qua natural ed-
vantages:
"Amcrca--that greatest Continent, which, ris-
ing IRON beneath the frozen pole stretches lar ana
wide TO the sou h, running almost "the "hole
length of this vast terrence" aud sustaining on her
ample sides the roaring shock of half the watery
GLOBE Aud cuual 10 It's size is the furniture OF
this vast continent, where the Almighty has rear.
ed his cloud. capt mountains, and spre al his sea.
like lakes, and poured his mighty rivers, aud hur.
ed down his laundering cataricts IN style OF the
sublime, SO lar superior to anything Of the kind in
the other continents, that we may fairly conclude
that great meu and great deeds were designed for
America"
But surely this is not the only reason for our
patrotsm; who boasts because Of our mountains
lakes and rivers, seeing that other countries have
them too2 We learn the greatness of the priv
icges we enjoy by contrasting resent prosperity
with past adversity we learn their yalue 10y ref.
crence to the sacrifice made to obtain them. Moth
ing is more often heard from the lips of the ian
cient with whom is wisdom" than that n youth
who finds himself in possession of u fortune which
was the fruition ofa parents labor, can not APP
preciate the value of it-and why2 Because, il
is answered, he knows not the struggles and con.
fcts with misfortune, it cost to obtain it. Do ne
not all possess singuarly glorious fortune to-day
The citizens of republic to which the world does
honor-whcre eUeiy man may feel the swell of
honest pride that he is one of the rulers ola ma.
tion, and though he bear not the pompOus title OF
Earl or Baron, he may command by his integrity
and energy the respect OF mankind. DO we, iel-
low citizens appreciate our advantagcsl And do
you wonder at such an inquiry and call it strange,
far fetched and inapproprate2 know that the
sentiment enforced in such an interrogatory will
be received with Indifference. Strange indeed if
it would not be accounted an unwelcome query by
.,l.... l.
hearsals of patriotism. / am not PERSONAL nor do
coniine the application of this remark to the au.
dience before me, but speak of fact which ev
cry mans observation furnishes, which all history
atests, that, Individually and nationally, privileges
long enjoyed often cease to be fully appreciated.
How else shall we account for that strange pro-
pensty in human nature, to exchange the greatest
honors that have become stale, for present triing
qualification? How can we expect judiciOus
watchiulncss when the treasure has lost its value
Thank God He has guarded aga inst this very ten.
dency in man, by the wide extent of the field he
has appropriated to him: for whatever is good,
whatever is useful, has thousand adaptations ,as
our increasing knowledge and our increasing wants
demand new applications for the lessons Of cxper-
ience. The more will this consideration appear
appropriate, II we look at the felt want OF human
nature for something to suggest the memory of
noble deeds or important events. From time i'm
Z
tribute to departed merit and fallen greatness. A
stake or slab chastises our forgctiuness of for
mer friendship, the portrait survives the treachery
ofmemory, the silent monument, as we near the
majesty OF its presence testfes of mortal strife,
and festivals and anniversaries call up holy memor
les that would otherwise lie in the grave Of obliv-
ion. What is all this but the proclamation of ma
ture against human torgetiuness, and why all
this, ii we need not to be reminded?
Patriotism | know never grows gray. buI Of
ten find the school boy who knows more of an
ceut history than the history ofour own country,
better acquainted with the Arabian nights and
Don Quixotc's adventures than the early troubles
OF New England or the causes of the revolution
talking of the staleness of our legends and the
rudeness OF our foreiathers. But will not deal
in generalities long-it is fact that our youth
and the majority of those who have read the his.
tories of the past, have done so with q motive
that is barren of fruitful results rs it is prolific
of haughtiness. The student is directed to
the pcrusal of early American history and the
interesting account of our revolution. lie follows
with anxiety the puritan pilgrims through Their
unsuccessful search after peace in England and
Holland He watches them as they leave the
hallowed shores, whence their eyes had often sent
an inquring glance to learn Of that cline where
nature wore her evening robes. lie follows then
ill-iitted vessel as it pougis the billow and con
fronts the gale; he sees The first voluntary tonicd
cracy OF men, hears the diving cadence of the frs
song; sad hearts grow hopeful in devotion, anc
cheerful tcmpers and religious zeal, defying lone
illness, extract the sweet from solitude, and faint
ing souls are nourished into Greatness by the invi
ting wildness of a land upon which Heaven rains
its choicest smile The story calls forth his
curses upon despOtsm and arouscs his pride OF
ancestry. The graphic pen of the historian brings
him into communion with the "dark days" when
patriots were traitors, and independence was
blasphemy, and loyalty to nature, rebellion against
kings. Oppression rouses into life the spirit thai
slept, and the terror of the blackening wave that
bore Brittania's message, only fed the anger OF
the storm that rushed to meet it. He sees the
father with shouldered musket say farewell, the
widow bless her son and the maiden cheer her low
er Long island forbids us pause, and Brandy
wine suggests defeat but he reads of glory at
Guiford, Saratoga, and Yorktown. A history
like ours tracing the development ota nation from
inconsideable beginning to the glory of her pres
ent rank, may not be underestlmated; but what
are the conclusions he drawsl Why, the record
ofharI contested fields proves bravery, and the
fearful odds of disc pline and numbers through a
seven years war; prove the invincible character OF
an army in righteous cause. His descent from
such band, eeyatcs hi 5 pride, as it should; but
seldom does he conclude anything as to his obi
gations his OWN DUTIES in view of all this; but he
glorics in the storm of battle more than in honor
able conf cts Of trade, he admres military hero
ism more than moral courage, and curses the
British more than he thanks his God. But if it be
true that "IIstory is Philosophy teaching by ex
ample" what lesson has she to teach us! While
with sombre robes and stole air she asserts that
the glory of one age will not answer for the pco
pie of another, she tells us we must study to learn
the preciousness of what we enjoy. We have nc
self consciousness to oppose to her declaration
in vain do we plead our patriotism; for gray beard
ed antiquity at her bidding testfes of nations be-
fore us, the very pride of whose greatness became
the occasion of their downfall She refers not, il
proof of our solemn obligations and sacrcdness o
our rust, to the contrast we bear to antiquity
no, she needs classic authority, she requires NJ
pagan examples, but points us ut once to these stir
ring facts of our own history.
1t is not for our pride that she instances earl,
difficulties, but to teach us the VALUE of what We
enjoy. Who that knows the narrative of the pill
grims, will say they had in view their own person
al advancement and interest? Many are the in
stances, we know, in which men live and act as il
this life were perpetual and had no end. But the
! Pilgrims were Christians, and what thought OF
earthly gain actuated those old men who had
grown gray in the service of their God? Could
trey, in the evening of their days, cherish the
hope of tranquility when the path to quetude lay
through all the horrors of exploration? Could they
seek for earthly peace when the herads OF theiI
spiritual birth were scattering upon their heads the
dews of lie's decline? No, they braved the
oceans anger, the hardships of winter the dangers
ofa wilderness and the still tread of disease, not
for their sakes but that they might bless their chill
dren and their children's children not for trans
mission of gory but the trust Of sacred principle
SO testify the tombstones Of those who inundated
themselvas nnon the altar of liberty in the reyOlu