The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-31

The day is a very unproptious-looking one
in which to look forward to the glad New
Year But we are sure the months that are
in store for us are strewed with blessings as
general and bene6cent as any we have yet
enjoyed. The progress Of the American Union
is like the advance of an immense multitude
over an unbounded, fertile and gently ascend
ing surface. Stagnant pools and black abysses.
and forests laid waste, may mark the years
that are past-darllness and clouds may be
round about them; but in the dsys
through which we are moving now
are to be found rich fields, cXhaustless mines,
incalculable internal resources, and powers of
invention and the spirit Of discovery which
shall make the highest use of them all. In the
future there are lofty and cleaning SUBMITS
which we have to ascend, and an Eden Of
peace which we are to regain. But all the
gates through which we are to re-enter it are
guarded by flaming swords, some of which we
have shivered and dissipated, and all Of which
it will be our practical duty to combat
During the past few months we have done so
much in this way that we have peculiar rea-
sons to look with hope upon the glad New
Year.
The seli-sufIicient pride of the United
States is theme which has often been prated
over by foreign journals, and used as a means
Of taunt to us. 1t is to be acknowledged that
We have fair degree of pride. We could
not have sustained ourselves in this struggle
without it. We could not have hoped to
WELD the weapons Of war Alright, or to cope
against the united interests of foreign powers,
without this confidence in ourselves which
goes abroad by the name of false pride. We
have that conceit Of ourselves, that self
knowledge and belief which are essential
to success. Like people who understand
their business Thoroughly, we are constantly
improving from the very lessons which we are
continually teaching others in the science Of
government. Our Government Is unlike any
other with which history is acquainted. We
are evideneng to the world its principles 1t
was conceived in a time of danger and distress.
and it has survived many shock. Its last
and greatest conflict has been the struggle of
the last four years. All its strongholds were
invaded and outraged. But they are not
crushed or subverted. They have been in
suited, but with the serenity of all that is truly
great, they are potent still.
Through the coming year we have to com
plete the work which we have begun. We
have to satisfactorily prove that we are in the
right and that those who framed the Consti-
tuition conceived one of the grandest ideas Of
human government that has ever been acted
upon. The mighty principle upon which our
government is erected is that its career is to
be coevd with that of the world. Through
all time II is to be a monument Of all that is
best in all the forms Of government that have
existed. 1t is TO be recognized as the perfect
pattern Of human government from which all
modes Of administration are to be modelled
The New Year should bring us another
reflection besides the one that we are to end
the war and yindicate ourselves. We have
work TO perform in the world of literature and
art and the word american" is to become
synonymous with names which yet unborn
generations shall cherish as dearly as the
present one does the long-lived regulations
consecrat ed by the past. 1t Is a grand idea;
and one that cannot be too deYouty cher