The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-08-24
AMERICAN INFLUENCE AND IT'S
Basis

For eighty years. f. :. with more than
half of our domain cursed with African
slavery, and with an annual influx OF for
eigners sufficient TO have swamped any
other government in existence, we have
steadily increased in all the grand elements
of material and moral power. The people
have been happy and prosperous; and in
no other country have education and Eeil-
gion succeeded better IN their glorious
work. This success, if it shall bs contin-
ued, must gain in power as in age. 1t needs
only the character of permanence to make 4.
almost the greatest force in the political
sphere. If the problem Of slavery shall be
happily solved, if for another twenty years
We can but maintain our freedom. and a
general progress anything like that of the
asst twenty years, there will then be no ma
ton on earth whose influence will be greater
than ours-and that an influence not factl-
,ious and transitory, not the result OF accl-
dent, of management, or OF energetic ad-
ministralion, but natural. necessary and
permanent. a triumph of character, not OF
fortune. But if we can succeed in filling
this whole North American continent with
its hundreds of millions of freemen. In hold
ing this great domain united under the
bonds of an intelligent self.rule, and main
tanning here that justice and liberty to
which most nations are yet strangers, who
can set bounds TO the influence of SO SUBJ
lime an example, Of the practical demon
straIion. on so broad a scale, of the expedl-
ency of freedom, Of the possibility OF a gen
eral popular education and discipline? We
have but to stand, as we have stood hither.
to, and we must inevitably become the
| teachers and rulers of the world. The
destiny is too sublime TO be contemplated
without awe. too glorious to be sought IN
any spirit Of ambition, too noble for unholy
hands to grasp-almost too vast and good
to be a permitted object of mortal hope
Alas how sorely, how ANONYMOUSLY
have we already learned and proved that Ii
surpasses our deserts. What strange, sur
pIising demons trations has this nation given
recently Of It's awful unftnees to receive the
bright crown which hovers almost within
its reach Can it then be that this Repub
| lie is but to furnish another sad instance o
the dttadfulness of that falsity and wicked
ness of the human heart which has filed al
past annals with its mourniul story? AnC
IS mankind's worst failure and the world'G
gIoomiest disappointment to be recorded OF
the pages of American history?
Que thing is sure there must be mora
basis for destiny like that to which We AS
pire. Our country cannot maintain 1T
pI ogress, nor even its unity, unless thu
heart of its people is deeply impressed will
the sacredness of moral obligations, and il
profoundly imbued with that justice ant
honor which belong TO those only who lool
at the ''ihings that are not seen." In othe
words, unless substantial Christianity cal
bear sway here, falsebood, faithlessness
depravity. every form of conflict, of abuse
and corruption, must prevail.
The times already furnish warnings. an'
omens of fearful import have taken thei
place in our sky. Tie churches must b
faithful, or all is lost-ROme Missionary.