Spirit of the age., 1861-05-15
Criminal 4apus.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF TIVE AGE.
Patriotism Inspired by the Study of
Nature.

Patriotism Inspired by the Study of
Nature.
Mn. EDIToR:-We do not profess TO he an
adept in the science of government orr taste
mas led us in a very different direction The
quiet pursuits Of agriculture have sufficiently
gratllied or humble ambition We have
mingled but little in the hot avenue Of public
iiei indeed We have looked upon politics as
an augean stable, full Of selfishncss and cor
ruption, and requiring for its puriGcation
1he laoors Of more than one potent son Of
Alcmenus. But in fearful and perilous times
IKE the present when the proud beacon Of
Liberty raised by the genius and moral cour-
Age OF our ancestors. ara which has illutnfued
ne remotcst corners OF the earth exciting
everywhere hope in the bosom of the op0
pressed, seems about to be extinguishcG by
civil strife, It is natural for the pensiye and
contcmplatiye mind to recur to the past. and
10 inquire into the circumstances. favorable
TO the development Of genuine patriotism.
The awful lessons read TO us in the mourn.
fui histories Of ancient republics, teach us.
that intelligence and virtue constitute the
surest foundations Of political freedom. Wise
men have emphatically declared this to be
the only rock upon which the temple of free
institutions can be permanently erected
Human happiness says an elegant writer,
has no perfect security but freedom; freedom
none but virtue; virtue none but knowledge.
and neither freedom, nor virtue, nor knowl.
edge has any vigor Of immortal hope, except
m the principles Of the christian faith. and in
the sanctions of the christian religion Mere
theories upon paper are no more than pa.
per wall opposed TO the cannons mouth
Written constitutions cOuched i'm language
she most explicit and ineligible, are liable
70 iailncy OF construction by the political tao.
ucian. Consequently, no form OF social or
ganlzatlon can possibly possess elEsustain
ing power and political confederacies will al
ways be adjusted to suit the intellectual and
moral condition OF the people. In democra
cies, where the people are ignorant and wick.
ed, AMI where every man has an equal chance
Of being promoted to Office and power. the
aspiring and designing demagogue, by as.
suming thousand disguises, may win bis
way into popular favor and in the end work
the ruin Of his country. In the latter stages
Of the Roman Empire, Caesar relied for pop.
ularity on an armed force; Pompey on popu
lar laws and Crassus on his immense wealth
Historians say that he expended ten millions
ofdoliars upon the poor in about nine months
Character, integrity, conscience all that is
dear and noble in human nature, have been
sacrificed upon the altar Of unchastened am
biton.
The durability Of sG14f9s SnS liqsae y f66se GOV
cfued, and also upon the wisdom and good
ness Of those who are called on to dScharg
the important Offices Of the national ant
state governments. The inexperienced an
b0yish Phmton was unable to guide safei
the chariot Of the sun. He searched tn
heavens and the earth in his cratic course
and as just punishment; for his folly and il
discretion was hurled hcadlong by Jupite
into the river Po.
But we are DEPRESSING The object Of thi
article is to adduce few facts, which seeI
60 prove that love Of country is essential
strengthened 10y observing and rejecting uE
on the things around us in the externa
world. In reading the mythology Of the al
cient Greeks and Romans, the mind is forci
bly, impressed with the general correctnes
Of their opinions. The character assigned
each Of the gods they worshipped, afford
clear exhibit Of their ideas upon many su
iccts, and especially upon topics appertair
ing 60 human nature. Their notions OF 10
of the influence of music the results
perseverance,, and the various passions a
4 desires Oh our IdCt, ulu1 DC Sl'HtICu W
N considerable accuracy from the traits Of tn
distinguished petsonages. For instance, {
pid tue god of Love, is represented as a lit
boy with wings, armed with bow and qu
CT full of arrows, sporting around Parnass
and amusing himself with childish diversion
All this denotes that immodcrate love is
iault Of youth of the foolish and lnconsi
ratc-of those who delight more in fun
frolic, than in the exercise of the mental p
ers upon grave and important subjects. /
chus, the God of Wine, is represented a:
weak, eiicminate young man, to denote
joys ana eXceSSes that commonly preval
teusts and sometimes as an old man, to
note the effects of wine upon the syste
that IL destroys our health and renders uS
quaclouS and childish. Over Silence
Light the same deity presides, as Truth,
light of tho soul, is elected by silent cont
plation.
We might refer to many more cXamp
but let this suffice, which appear to hay
bearing upon the subject before us. In Ly
there lived a celebrated giant called Anita
H. 's said that this Anteus received rene
sTength every time he touched his mot
the earth; so that Hercules in his stru
wlh MIN was obliged TO lift him up IN
air, before he could conquer him. The
intended to be conveyed here, no doubt
latcs to the happy influence which arises
bestowing proper attention upon the W
of Nature. Every thing in creation -
the merest pebble on the sea shore, to
lofty mountain-from the bitterest plant
springs out Of the earth, to the proud
with rains and dews her head impearliI
from the creeping ivy on the wall, to tn
famed Cedars of Lebanon-irom the coney
burrows in the earth, to the Leviathan G
mighty deep-all proclaim the power
wisdom OF the great Creator. Every
throughout the vast regions of space, dee
the glory Of God The earth is full o
GOODNESS of the Lord There are seimC
the brooks and stones, good IN everyt
But TO appreciate the beauties of Natu
is necessary to court companionship
her. to paCse and gaze upon the wild
that GEMS ncr verdant robe-to listen
melody Of her voice in the sweet warbl
the grove--in the rustling leaves il
muruuriug streams and wafer falls. Nc
conceive that no one can be devoted ;
rer ofhe beautiful and grand displays
ture, Without becoming, not only
fnan, but better patriot.
The history Of the inhabitants Of mot
regions, PRESENTS questions Of grave il
tance Tor the consideration of the patrit
statesman. The mountaneer has re
his mountain home from time immeu
having bid defiance to the adverse S
which have 50 often swept off the inhat
Of fertile plains. TO what must this
trlbutedf What has rendered the no