The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-08-22
The Destiny of tbs Republic.
BY JUDGE STORY.

what is, how is ii possible not TO feel pro-
found sense of the responsibilities of This
republic 10 all future ages! What vast
motives press upon US for lofty efforts !
What solemn warnings at once demand our
vigilance and moderate onr confidence
The old world has already revealed 10 Us
in its unsealed books, the beginning and
end of all its marvellous struggles in the
cause of liberty. Greece lovely Greece
''the land o. scholars and the nurse of
arms" where sister republics, in fair pro-
cessions, chanied the praise of liberty and
the good-where and what is she For
two thousand years the oppressors have
bound her to the earth. Her arts are no
more. Tie last sad relics of Eer temples
are the barr acks OF a ruthless soldiery the
fragments Of her columns and her palaces
are in the dust, ye: beautiful in ruin. She
fell not when the mighty were upon her,
Her sons were united at Thermopyle and
| Marathon and the tide of her triumph roll
ed back upon the Hellespont. She was
conquered by her own factions. She fell
/ by The hands of her own people. The man
of Macedonia did not the work of destruc-
( ton. 1t was already done by her own cor
ruptions, banishments and dissensions.-
Rome! republican Rome whose eagles
glanced in the rising and setting sun
where and what is she 2 The eternal city
! yet remains, proud even in her desolation,
| noble in her decline, venerable IN the maj
esty of religion, and calm as in the compo-
sure of death. The mala1jd has but travel
ed in the parts won by desiroyers. More
than eighteen centuries have mourned over
the loss o. the empire. A mortal disease
was upon her before Cesar had crossed the
Rebicon and Brutus did not restore her
health by the deep probings OF the senate
chamber The Goths, and YsndaIs, and
Huns, and swarms OF the north; completed
only what was begun at home. Romans
betrayed Rome. The legions were bought
and sold, but the people offered the tribute
money.
And where are the republics of modern
times, and Genoa exist but in name. The
Alps, indeed, look down upon the brave
, and peaceful Swiss, in their native fastness-
/ es but guarantee of their freedom is in
f The mountains are not easily crossed, and
: the valleys are not easily retained. When
the invader comes; he moves like an avail
4 anche, carrying destruction in his path
D The peasantry sink before him.-The coun-
= Try, too, is too poor for plunder, and too
= rough for valuable conquest. Nature pre-
sents her eternal barrier on every side, TO
I 49,. Il I'D
2 Switzerland remains, with her simple insti-
II tutions, a military road to climates scarcely
G worth permanent possession, and protect
ed by the jealousy of her neighbors.
We stand the latest, and, if we fall, proba-
u bly, the last experiment OF self-goyernment
by the people. We have begun it under
n circumstances of the most auspices nature.
a We are in the vigor of youth. Our growth
ID has never been checked by the oppression
l. of tyranny. Our constitutions never have
l. been enleebled by the vice or the luxuries
81 of the world. Such as we are, we have
A. been from the beginning, simple, hardy
at intelligent, accustomed TO self government
and self-respect The Atlantic rolls between
US and any formidable foe. Within ourown
OF territory, stretching through many degree:
OF latitude, we have The choice of many
products, and many means of Independence
The government is mild. The press is free
Religion is free-knowIedge reaches or may
reach every home. What fairer prospect.
of success could be presented? Wha
means more adequate 10 accomplish th'
sublime end What more is necessary
than for the people 10 preserve what the.
themselves have created
Already has the age caught the spirit o
our institutions. 1t has already ascende
the Andes, and suffered the breezes of bot
oceans. 1t has infused itself into the life
blood of Europe, and warmed the sum
plains of France and the lowlands of Ho
land. 1t has touched the philosophy of Gel
ST. many and the north, and, moving onwarn
to the south, has opened to Greece the lie:
son of her better days.
ed Can it be, that America, under such Gil
y" cumstances, can betray herself That sh
* is 10 be added 10 the catalogue ofrepublics
lat the inscription upon whose ruin is, "The
Tor were, but they are no:E "a Forbid it, m
counuymen forbid ii, Heaven
Py | call upon you, fathers, by the shades {
l." your ancestors, by the dear ashes which re
pose in this precious soil, by ali you arr
e. and all you hope 10 be, resist every prolet
II of disunion resist every attempt 10 fettt
sn your consciences, or smother your publ
ny schools, or extinguish your system of pul
lie instruction.
| call upon you, mothers, by that whic
never fails in woman, the love of her OF
spring, to teach tnem, as they climb yo'