The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-21
M. L. A LECTURES.
Bishop Simpson on "The Future of Our
Country"

itate the public mind to-day, it yet revealed in
its illusions and in many eloquent passages
deep and vital interest in the great principles
which these questions involve.
The lecturer began by saying that some ma
tons, like some individuals, seem set apart by
God for glorious destiny. He thought it
plain that ours was one of these. One reason
for so thinking was to be found in the uniyer-
sal conviction of the people that such is the
fact. God drops great thoughts into the hearts
of nations to be the impulse to great achieve
ments. The American has more than ordi-
nary attachment to and pride in his country
This is a feeling which imbues the heart
OF every man, no matter where his birth
place; but the American seems to have it more
largely developed than any, and there is some
thing in it which indicates the features of the
nation.
Our attachment for cur country is not found
ed upon the past; we have no relics or history
OF the past like the nations of the old world
We love or country for what it will be rath-
er than for what it has been. There are indi-
cations in the signs of the times to assure us
OF what our country may be. With us coming
events cast their shadows before. If nation
does its duty, God will lead it to fame and per
petuity; iii fails, in his just Providence, its
prosperity will be blighted.
These are the three points to be considered
with regard to our country; its location, mag
nitude, and resources.
For the first, our territory is situated in the
great belt of power from which a mighty en-
pire should arise. There is no great nation
south Of the Equator-none south of twenty
five degrees north oft. All powerful nations
have been situated between the parallels of lati-
tude twenty-five and fifty; this is true ofRome,
Greece, Germany, England and France. The
United States lies between the twenty-fifth and
forty-ninth degrees north of the Equator.
In magnitude, it is of the first class. Egypt
was no larger than one of our middle-slzed
States; Phonicia was about as big as one of
our counties; Greece would have made a fair
State: England would be no more; while
France is not as big as Texas. Our country is
one and half times as large as all Europe,
with the single exception of Russia.
/. Our resources are many and varied. Every
variety of grain, every species of fruit springs
from our soil. Last year, though war had call
ed the husbandmen from the plough to the
sword, our products of grain, hay, and tobacco
amounted to fifteen hundred millions of dol
lars-a greater value of crop than in any pre-
viOus year. The amount of tobacco alone
which was raised was a hundred and fifty mr.
lion pounds-more than six pounds for every
man, woman and child in the country. Our
mineral resources are exhaustless-ofc coal, iron,
copper, lead, quicksilver, silver and gold. Our
national debt is three thousand million dol
lars; but there is enough silver in the mines
OF the Western States and territories to pay it
all off, and give everybody in the land fortune
in the land. There are rivers of oil in the
country-so much that in more senses than
one, America may be the light of the world.
Then, too, we have none of the political rub
Dish of dead past to impede us. We have free
field in which to found permanent and noble
institutions.
America has settled forever the connection
of Church with State. Give man motive
to worship contrary to his convictions, and
you make of him hypocrite. Take away the
connection between Church and State, and
a man stands erect in the dignity of his ma
ture. ..
Our system of education, which provides for
the extension of education to the masses, is the
glory of the land. Another powerful source of
elevation is found in the aspirations which
our youth feel for Office and position. The
pathway to eminence is open to all; and this
stimulates the boys patriotism. Webster was
born in log cabin; Gen. Sheridan was the
son of poor parents; Jackson the child of late
ly landed emigrants; and humble rail-split-
ter became President of the United States
We are to be the greatest commercial nation
of the world. There is no other so favorably
situated. When our railroads shall reach
across the continent, the commerce Of India,
China and Japan will come to our Western
Coast And that day is not far distant. The
locomotive is even now toiling up the Sierra
Nevada mountains, as though ambitious to
bear away the treasures of that Cline
France is engaged upon canal across the
the Mediterranean, when she will claim all
the trade of the East that flows westward
The day is not far distant when England will
be left outside the line of commerce. The
handwriting is already visible upon the wall.
And though he would not rejoice at her down
fall, yet it would be the just retribution of an
avenging fate.
The speaker said that an extensive COM
merce is the best argument in the favor of
neutrality and that it was most likely to prove
efficacious in teaching England her duties in
this respect
Again, the future promises for our nation not
only commercial greatness, but expansion OF
territory. tits notis far from Montreal to Mex
leo as from Maine to California. The day
may not be so very far distant when represent
tatives from Mexico and Panama, from Mon
treal and Quebec, shall be welcomed to seats
in our Congress.
The great need of our country is greater
degree of unity in its different sections. Now
that slavery is at an end, this is likely to be
attained.
Tn abiding to the efforts of Southern dele
cations to force an entrance into Congress, the
speaker said that, with the representation
from the North two to their one, and with
such statesmen as ale in the ranks of North
ern Congressman and filling other offices of
power, he would have no fears were they to be
let In at once, still he thought for the present
they had better stay where they are.
He defined himself to be radical democrat,
and believed that every man on whom God
has placed the seal of manhood should take
part in the management of the government.
He had faith to believe that in time this would
be brought about.
We should cultivate internal improvements;
and should invite foreign population to come