Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1863-06-10
WASHINGTON, ARKANSAS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10. 1861

THE FUrURE.-It is an interesting study, the
future of our country. Even through the pre-.
sent gloom we can catch some glimpses of the
splendors beyond. We Ike to peer through
the murky atmosphere and see the grand pano.
rama that is presented. A goodly sight, in
deed. 1t is no trick Of the imagination-nC
lively fancy begot by ''the wish that is father
to the thought but there is fairy scene be
yond, very bright and enchanting indeed
The staid and matter-of-fact observer thinks
only Of our material prosperity. He looks for
ward to the day Of our independence as the
commencement Of a new epoch in the history
of our material wealth and prosperity. He re-
collects our former vassalage, the time when
we were in many respects mere slaves, thralls.
the 'shewers Of wood and drawers of water /"
for others. He sees this state of things over
turned, the old system, which was enthroned in
our minds more firmly than were the Gods OF
Olympus in Pagan hearts, shattered and the
''false Gods sent shivering from their seats. y
He reverts TO those ancient States of Greece,
which were self.poised and self-sustaininy.
where all industrial pursuits did prosper, where
each confederacy was in itself Ground and per-
feet as a star" Those States where agricul-
ture, commerce and manufactures, were not
rival aspirants, but walked hand in hand TO-
gether, until from the steaming fields and
smoking furnaces, and sooty FORCES, a hazy,
cloudy splendor settled DER the land.
But we look towards rhe future That future
so full Of rich hopes and g,lden promises. We
look towards it with a wstfGl, longing glance.
1t is our .'New World" that Is looming up there
In all its virgin freshness and beauty. Towards
| II We are slowly. but surely. very surely nayi-
eating. Ii is as fair the sight which greeted
the rowing world-renowned ..Genoese" as he
| scudded over the light waters aud entered the
blue offing in the .'Ha ytien seas
Ii il not the eye Of the material philosopher
that turn towards that future. We like K
think Of il in another light. Indeed, in how
many lights can we not regard it with delight
and very rapture. To the storm and tn,
breath of the hurricane there succeeds a swee
seductive calm. SO it mast be with US. II
the fiery, scorchiug breath of war there viii
succeed calmness and repose--a time or stud,
"a time for thought.
time Of hustle or strife, or heated mind:
and excited nerves, i unfavorable 10 intellec
tual progress. No great conceptions, no preg
nant thoughts, no beautiful imaginings ever
adorned such time with their starry bIazonry.
time of fighting and flibustering is gene
rally barren Of all important results in litera-
ture. Who ever heard of any science being
reduced to that class called exact" of any
history or play being written, of any poem
being produced during such a timer If, per.
chance, any lay was ever enrolled or any
snatch OF poetic music triled il was soon lost
sight Of, or went unnoticed amidst the stormy
tumult
Those eras which are most happily distin.
guished for their learning and religion. have
been those which followed close upon the heels
of wars and civil fouls and connections. These
are the "Augustan Ages of the world-tb,
times that fix themselves in mems hearts. AM
make US proud of our race and lineage. The,
spring up every now and then along the weary
dusty road Of ages to gladden. and freshen tnt
traveller. They have planted their mile. stones
too. along the way. white, cleaning milestone.
that comfort and cheer Us on our onward AM
upward path. These mile-stones there they
stand and still speak to us. and bid us be q,
good cheer and press on. Far back along that
dusty highway stand the Pyramids-a Post
wa. made, and there through the hoary centu-
ries has stood the Mile Post that marks that
station gained, the earliest emerging from the
thick. close darkness Of ages. Further along
the Pantheon, and the Acropolis, rear their
beautiful proportions. Another stage vet Il
made. and the Coliseum renders the ne xt age
classic through Al! time. Ose after another
they dot the rugged step up which we are
clmbing-far along up the dusty track they
exteud-each concentrating some distance
gained, some progress made. some bright and
shining period in the Worlds History. Our
s.Augu.tau Age" is not far of
After such times rs the present, religion.
laws, science, and the arts flourish best In
these aftcv-fimes live the philosophers, poets
AMI artists Of the world. These are the ..brirht
~ NJ, ~,
not the hidcous scars marring the fair face OF
creation These are the times that present to
us scenes more than dreams Of Acadia. They
give birth to the Shakspeares, the Millions. the
Bacons. the Newtons. the Chaucers, the Dry
dens. the Popes. the Goldsmiths. the Gibbons.
and the Pitts, &c. What brave good times
thew are. How anxiously we await their re-
turn. Then what glowing chronicles and his
tories will we have, rivaling ..Livy's pictured
page" or the rounded periods and glittering
antitheses Of Macauly.-what researches in
philosophy.-what accessions to science-what
olramas--comedy to enliven with its refined
and innocent newfoundland tragedy TO en-
chain and ennoble with its sad pictures and
solemn heart-truths-snd lastly, what poetry
..far splendoring the sleepy realms of mght.''
For the latter what themes will the present
times present. IGQm our present life the muse
of pQsirV ne Srannest Images or the
nature that ever stirred or
soothed the human breast.
Our revolution, told in song, not in tender
ballads aud thrilling lyrics only, but in highest
and loftiest song, what grand epic it will be.
One theme only does surpass it, the theme that
lit with poetic fire the utterances of jeremiah.
that infused its tender pathos through the
pages of Isaiah, that makes the songs of Solo
mon and the sweet psalms of David to glow
with tender truth and love and gentle charity.
and inspired Milton in his lofty outburst ~
sustained GRANDEUR theme not human bu,
divine.
Our "Augustan Age" is near at hand-an-
other stage is almost made-another milestone
will rise along the well-traveled, dusty way
that way which stretches back, back through
the mists and gloom of centuries, back by the
massy Pyramids, the airy Pantheon. the Col
loseum, the Obelisk. and Domes and Monu-
ments, back TO the time when the small, mis-
shapen mound and the rude cairn of loose
stones, marked the first weary stages gained
in the long-drawn-out pilgrimage Of ages
State Gazette.