Woodville Republican., 1867-05-18

then corrupt, and sank. burying the hopes
4 millions in their ruins.
The reason Of this is no mystery, though
IL has been strangely lost sight Of. His
tories generally ara unfaithfnl to their trust
rhev should relate causes as exactly as
hey do effects. They shoul be Ike aith
lul mirrors, presenting everything in is
true shape and position sos eur contempla-
lion, but they are like kaleidescopes in
which every turn shows some new and
brilliant, but unnatural and distorted com,
bination Of forms. They parade on the
stage. kings and queens, couftiers assd
counseIlors, 10 their gandy robes, bril-
liant battles add ri ampi nlarches. They
enact many q tragedy before *. but We sci
dom or never hear Of the people-the peo
pie to whom God gave knowledge and do
minion over the earth who bear up and
toss about these great folks as the ocean
does the foam upon its surface.
Kings. courtiero aud courtesans, tops
and fashionables, have for ages constitu-
ted what is technically called society-a
sort OF lucus non lliccndo affair, fol
among them one is said to be in society
when he associates with none ofhis feiipsS
but chosen few. For ages courts and
their imitators have been igaus fats,i
showing pre-eminently that there are in
the world moral malalies which combine
in them to make burning and shining ligAts
10 dazzle and lead astray the simple,
But they we're not, and are not the peo'
pie, nor has wisdom and power died with
them as they have been overthrown.--
Their power was held by the sufferance ol
the humble tillers Of the soil, the indus
trious artisans, the poor, the destitute, aud
the ignorant, who compose the mass ol
the human race for whose benefit, and not
for the aggrandizementsof those who oc'
cupied them, thrones and councils were
set up.
1t was the race, and not few indivIdu'
ais only Of the race, who we're made in the
image Of God; and to the whole race, and
not exclusively to u few individuals of the
rac., did God give dominion over the
earth, aud command that they should
subdue it and discover its material and
moral laws for their benefit; and in the
whole race was implanted by the fall that
principle Of intense selfshness which, as
we shall see hereafter. is the grand NOV
ing power both Of tyranny and rcvoiu
tion.
] grant that the people have seemed
stupid and british that they have borne
the heaviest burdens, and have suffered
and groaned, and Suffered still (; that they
have been and are imposed upon by as
sumptions Of superiority that they have
been diverted from just revolution and
asfsaseRsaHs hi sa.hi
war, by the allurements OF meney-masine
and the fear of Financial crashes that they
have suffered themselves TO be the instru
ments of cruel ambition in princes and
demagogues; but there is spirit il
man--thc inspiration of the Almighty
giveth him understanding"
Look back on the past and see if The
people from whom we have sprung have
not been steadily advancing their condi
tlon. They have slumbered on the way
the, have been cajoled into by-paths
they have often mistaken the way ant
wandered back and around; but Their
aim has been progress. 1t cannot be said
that they understood the dignity of hu
maa nature and the true objects Of life
and liberty, as we do; but their human
nature, their pride, sense Of Justice and
seldshness revolted at their physical anc
moral condition. and they had, too fain
conception, an iastinct of better things
Onward has been the prompting Of thu
divinity within them aud in their solemn
ana irresistible march they have taker
the faithless powers that were put into
their giant grasp, and shaken them il
pieces, and have trampled over them, ant
have set up others to prove fathless anc
be destroyed in turn. And as they have
done in the past, so they will do in thu
future.
1t has been the civil dissensions of the
people, or their disafection to vicious gov
ernmeEt, which has torn governments il
pieces, or suffered them to be overthrown
1t was the callous disaffection of the peo
pile which caused the Roman Empire tc
crumble in pieces before the barbarians -
1t was the carelessness of the Grcciani
and not merely the power Of Romans
which snbjugatcd Greoce. A government
firmly fixed in the hearts OF a people cal
be permanently overthrown only by thei
determination as a people. But eth,
house divided against itself shall surel,
fall"
1t makes little difference to the mass O
mankind to what noble heights the hu
man mind can soaran poesy, or with wha
subtlety it can investigate abstract truth
or how near art can initiate nature-al
this matters little to them when they hay,
TO groan and swelter under the sufOcatinl
burdens Of tyranny. 1t matters little Il
them how far science may discover ant
apply TO useful purposes the objects ant
laws of nature, how fertile and heautifu
may be their land, or how valuable anf
easily acquired may be its products, i
they are so governed as not TO enjoy The
full benefits Of these discoveries and IN
ventions, Of this paradise and its treas
ures.
There has been great deal OF talk
about manifest destiny and "llberty
old-fogyism," (" Young America. " pro
gress,' and snch cant terms, all Of which
contain an idea Of going ahead" but arc
without more definite Specification.
Truly, we are going ahead but where are
We coming FROM and where are we going
TO?
Youth looks eagerly into the future for
greatness and may chance to delude it.
self. Bnt, we say, this young and stirring
age has done 30 much already, and with
its labors Is growing 50 powerful that It
may well hope and look for glorious
things.
But whst glorious things? Certainly
we cannot boast Of a glorious progress in
for, eighteen huudsed years
ago Tactics wrote many Of The particulars