Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-06-06

recurring reallIallon, NJ All tunes ana
in all vicissltud OF the fulfillment of
the promise that "while the earth
seed-time and harvest, and
summer and winter, and cold and
heat, and day and night, shall not
cease"
Farmer life Freedom from the
noise and turmoil and dust and smoke
Of the crowded city; freedom from
the daily struggle and daily anxiety
for bre d; dom from competition
with the crowds which throng every
avenue Of commercial and mechanical
industry; freedom from the close and
daily contact with vice and crime
which the temptations, and opportu-
mites, and sufierings Of Il city life de-
velop; freedom from the small rooms,
he crowded tenement houses, the
tainted atmosphere, the contagious
diseases, the unnatural hours, the un-
due excitement, the cxhausting pleas
ures, the glttering splendor, the alb
ect squalor, the artificial life of the
in their sc d the pure air,
the abundant food, the deep sleep, the
refreshing dews, the cool br ezes,
peaceful order, the ample hon es, the
health al habits. the cleanliness, the
contentment of the country, and that
{ uiet exaltation ofspirit which sprin. S
ON the contemplation Of the beau
ties OF nature, and the process of its
. tive benehcence-the absence Of the
shrewd cunning and the acute SENSE
which the competition of trade engen-
ders, and the presence of that large
hearted greatness with which our
mother Earth rewards those who call
on her munifcence for the returns OF
their labor.
'1n ancient times the sacred plough employed
The Kngs and awful fathers OF mankind.
nd some, compared with whom your insect tribes
Are but beings Of a summer day,
Have held the scale Of empire, ruled the storm
or mig ity warj then, with unwearod hand,
Disdaining little delioacies, seized
The plough and greatly independent lived
And all these qualities OF individual
life find their representative and coun-
terpart in national character.
Go, scan with curious eye the struc-
ture and history of the Italian Repub-
lics-of Venice, of Florence, of Genoa
when, as free cities, they sought the
control of the commerce Of the world,
and so far succeeded that their me 3
chant rulers competed with-nay, far
eclipsed-the wealth and splendor OF
the monarchs of other lands Read,
again, the history of the Netherlands
when Client, and Bruges, and Ant.
werp exhibited imperial power, and
held within their grasp the treasures
of the land and Of the islands Of the
sea. They were rich and powerful,
and, for time, prosperous but the
noisy turbulence Of their Democracy,
the wild passions OF their tickle popu-
lations, the uncertain energy of their
public will, as il rose and fell with the
changes of the bourse, or with the
emotions which were communicated
as the citizens crowded TO council al
.he tones of the great bell--lacked
that element of calm repose and un-
disturbed deliberations which is essen
tial to the duration ofrepublics. They
could in an hour call their citizens to-
gether, and, by appealing to their pa
triotism, or cupidity, or hatred, so stil
the blood as to evoke an opulenco oI
resources and an energy of will which
could conquer the world--but they
could not quell the passions which
they had aroused, and private rights
we're sacrificed, and public interests
were botrayed-and anarchy cnsued
and Democracy took refuge under tbs
shelter of a stronger aristocracy anC
this, rent in twain by like causes
sought the stronger arm of the mon
archs, and the Republic became The
splendid footstool of a throne, or dwin
died away in poverty, obscurity, anC
homeless weakness. They were The
commercial republics of the world.
Compare them with Switzerland
whose mountain Businesses have pro
duced a race of shepherds, and hunt
ers, and graziers.
Compare them with San Marino
Its population is eight thousand it
area is not five miles square; its littl,
Capital, perched upon arugged height
can look down with guardian car
over every foot of the country. i
was founded in the last flashes Of th,
declining glorics of Imperial Rome
Ii has outlived the darkness of tn
succeeding ages, the temptations o
the commercial success of the twelfth
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
the convulsions and wars of those still
nearer to our day, and her peasant
boast. with entire truth, that the,
are to-day the free citizens of the old
est and smallest republic of the world
Compare them with our own re
public. The history Of our race, iron
/ the landing OF jamestown, and NoV
York, and Plymouth Rock, till tn
doom which / have cited was pre-
nounced, may well excite an homes
pride. 1t has its dark spots, its page
of folly, of weakness, of crime, but, o
the whole, it has a record of grea
virtues and of great succcss-of indu;
try, frugality, simplicity, intelligence
aptitude for government, and love 70
freedom. Nature had done much 70
our country. Circumstances hav
done much for the development q
virtue and the depression Of vice, bu
to our couutrymen is due this measur
of commentator that they wisel.
profited by these advantages, an
steadily maintained their position i
the advancing ranks of tho progres
of the ages.