Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-04-10
STATE TICKET.
PROGRESS OF AMERICAN IDEAS.

PROGRESS OF AMERICAN 1OEAS'
Two events have recently occurred which,
though, in view Of their importance, com
paratively unnoticed by the great body Of
our people, Enthusiastically indicate that
American ideas and American energy are
destined very soon to exercise a controlling
influence in the affairs of the world. The
treaty of Mr.. Bancroft with Prussia, now the
most powerful nation of Europe, virtually,
if not wholly comedies the right of expatria
ton so long contended for by the United
States. The other nations of Europe,
though not acknowledging it in treaties
have in practice gradually conceded the
correctness of our position so that now what
was, on our first assertion Of it, denied by
the whole civilized world, has at last been
recognized, and virtually adopted into the
law of nations The importance Of the con-
cession viii not be at once fully recognized
with us but its influence viii be felt
throughout Europe in the breaking down
Of the, to travellers, annoying system Of
passes and examinations, and consequently
in the greatly increased facilities of inter
course between the citizens of the nations of
the continent American customs and in
fuences have already had an influence in
relaxing the strictness with which these
clogs on enterprise have heretofore been
enforced. and it is not too much to predict,
that this last concession viii hasten their
total abolition. A probably still more i'm
portaht event is the appointment of our
former minister to China, Mr.. Burlingame,
as Chinese Ambassador G General to the Chris
tan world The importance of the appoint
ment of an active, intelligent and enterpris-
ing Yankee to a position of so great res
possibility and trust, can scarcely be over
rated In its influence on the civilized world
In general, and on the vast Empire Of China
in particular. There can be no doubt that
it will RESULT in the opening up of that vast
Empire, with its swarming millions, to the
freedom Of commercial intercourse now ex-
listing between other nations, which Of itself
is an event Of the highest Importance.
Such result viii be almost equivalent to
the doubling of the population of the civil
lied world; for China in her heretofore al
most impenetrable exclusiYeness, has kept
from any but the most restricted intercourse
with the outer world, population almost
equal to that ofall the rest Of the world.
Efforts to this end have been made for years
by the nations of Europe, but it has been
reserved for American genius and enterprise
to carry it to a successful accomplishment.
1t will be due alone 60 our neglect of golden
opportunities if we do not, as a nation, reap
egreatestadyantages from this the most i'm
portant diplomatic achievement Of modern
times. With our Pacific Railroad compile
ted we will be nearer to the East, with her
teeming millions and cheap labor, than any
other civilized or christian nation This
Will bring US great advantages, which we
must improve, but it will also lay upon US
great responsibilities which we dare not
shirk nor evade. What may be the moral
result of bringing nation of four hundred
millions of heather into direct communiea-
ton and commercial intercourse with a ma
ton Of thirty or thirty-fye millions, with
scarcely more than a leaven of christianity,
the wisdom Of man cannot foresee. That
the event viii be fraught with either good
or evil to them or to us none can doubt
What these results shall be viii depend
greatly upon US to say, for it cannot be
doubted that we can in great part mould
their character Even this hasty glimpse at
the probable results of these two events
must convince every mind that they are OF
the highest Importance and likely to exer-
else powerful, and perhaps controlling IN
Huence, in shaping the immediate future.
Nothing in our history as nation has ever
occurred tending so directly to place us in
the lead of the nations of the Earth.
American IDEAS and statemanship are un
doubtediy in the ascendant and seem likely
to continue so. As Americans we have
every reason to be proud Of our present po
sition and to expect even more illustriou,
one in the near future, Henceforth Amer
lea undoubtedly leads the van Of the nation:
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