The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-07-23

gone up to 100000. Our cities, in mum.
Der, size, and splendor rival the proudest
capitols Of the old world. We possess with
in ourselves the clements of great people.
Our territory is continuous and compact,
bounded by the two great Oceans Of the globe
on the east ard the west, and extending from
tho great northern lakes TO the Gulf Of Mex.
60 on the south, passing through so many de-
grces Of latitude that we produce within our
selves all the ordinary staples of human life
20 be found in temperate and tOrid zones.
Our vast net work Of rivers and canals
forming uninterrupted lines OF water commu
nicarion, diverging from our great cities on tho
sea coast to the very frontiers are unequael
upon the four quarters Of the glo5e. The
longest river in the world situated midway be.
tween the two great oceans, breaks from the
mountains of the north, and rolls on its we Oh.
| ty food Of waters across a continent, carrying
upon her bosom an immense internal com
merce. II is estimated that our rivers afford
us 10000 miles of navigation, and our north
ern lakes $500. Six thousand miles of ar
tihcial navigation completes this net work Of
internal communication. Already we ave
finished, between twenty and twenty five
thousand miles of railway, to which will b,
added 10000 more now in process Of comple-
ton, as soon as the present civil war in which
we are most unhappily engaged shall have
terminated and the country shall have had time
to assume its accustomed energy; still further
to be increased by immence donations Of pub
lie lands made by a late congress, all tending
ultimately to unite the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by continuous lines Of railway. At tho
revolution we had no manufactures. There are
now invested in that business the enormous
sum of $500, 100000 producing annually in
value moro than sIOOOOO,OOO. While the
business Of manufacturing is affording vast
outlet forthe surplus capital of the country,and
is decidedly remunerating and affords employ
ment for great number Of our fellow citizens;
agriculture lifts her lofty head, and fills the
grana'ies Of the world with her products -
Wherever we turn our eyes to-day in this fair
land this land where labor and learning have
joined together in bonds of holy matrmonv,
fields of waving wheat in the glorious sun.
light; the cattle upon thousand hills, an the
immense crops Of corn and grasses that are ma.
turing for their sustenance, attest the great.
ness Of American agriculture.
The vast mineral resources Of the country are
beyond all computation. II is estimated that
the gold Of California, for the last five wears
which has been regularly shipped for our At
antic cities, has averaged fifty millions of dol,
lars annually, twenty five millions in the
hands Of passengers, increased BY the i'm
mense sums retained in tho State, for home
business, and home improvements would IN
doubiedly reach the sum of nearly 100000,
600, millions Of dollars. To this amount Of
wealth, dug from the very bowels Of the
earth, add the immense products Of the coal
and iron mines of Pennsylvania, aud New
jersey, the copper miues Of Michigan, the
lead mines Of Iowa & Illinois, the silver mines
of New Mexico, and Angonia, and you have
an amount Of wealth, which can not be com
pute1, by any human arithmetic.
If from the land, | iurn upon American
waters, l find that our commercial marine,
registers 100000 of tons, and is the largest
Of the ocean. This is fact which perhaps is
little appreciated, but, nevertheless it is true,
that We have large number of water crafts,
and of greater capacity, engaged in the mer
chant service than any other nation. Our
fees traverse every ocean, and our shipping
may be seen in the ports Of all nations, from
the cold regions Of the north pole 10 the
southern ocean The shipping which carries
American commerce into the Pacific also
carries American justice and American can.
non as preachers of 1t. The emperor Of ia.
pan until recently supposed that by divine
right he could close his country forever against
his kind, that when vessels in distress, were
driven into bis ports, he might seize their
crews as slaves, or kill them at his pleasure.
An armed squadron, with the star spanglod
banner flying, found its way into Japan wa
ters, and his serene majesty was inrtructel,
that in natures statue book, there ia no right
conferred on any man, to act unrighteously
because it is bis pleasure. AS a military
power we rank among the first.
Our arms have be- victorious upon the
land aud upon the sea, aud in the war of the
revolution, aud in two successful wars with
foreign nations, sine, the revolution, we have
acquired military fame; equal to that Of
ancient Greece, where Alexander crossed into
Asia, and upon the plains Of lIIium, offered
sacrifices to the GODDESS Minerva, and crowned
the tomb Of Acreillcs.
From these great elements Of national
greatness, let us for moment turn to Ame.
Our fathers in the organization OF this gov
ernment, constructed society upon new and
different basis, from any ,ha. had ever before
existed, upon the basis Of equality. They |
placed the acquisition of wealth, honor and pow
er, equally before all men. U Uperhaps should
say before all white men) Such is the pow.
or and extent Of this principle, that its infu
ence is diffnsed throughout every department
of the body polite. Under this influence So
cioty took rapid advance, and has made
such rapid strides in all the ordinary develop.
ments Of civilization that We are completely .
lost amid the great whirl Of human events
The tendency Of our government, and Of the
general features Of American society, is to dif.
fuse into the mind Of the masses, hope, ioy,
and prospect.
The poor boy who eats roast potatoes and
salt for breakfast in a log cabin, looks for.
wand with bright anticipaticns, to the time
when he shall be the owner Of line Of ocean
between New York and Liverpool, /
or shall live in a palace, ard be merchant
prince. The professions are open to him. As
mechanic, he may become 10 the present age,
what Newco,rbe Watt ar1 Fulton, were to
the age in which they lived. Schools and .
collepes all oyer he land ara oman for his re.