The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-01
FHE PHILOSOPHY OF OUR PROGRESS.

ssWhat are we ufIblDB 10, OehohhA ~
Nreater unity and glory. have no fears for
&c future" In these few pithy and epigram-
matte words General Dix gave expression to
fbe true philosophy of the progress of the
American Union and to the sentiment that
nnimates the heart of the American people.
whoever contemplates with broad view the
nvents that are passing around us cannot fail
40 see the growth of the twin principles of
<iunitv and glory" in our national develop
naent, and TO perceive that our people are
animated with an abiding confidence in our
Future And it is not imperialism that we are
approaching in our advance to greater unity, as
gsome short-sighted thinkers and would-be phi
Nosophers suppose. Nor is it an olgarchy,
Hucl as a few vain politicians imagine they
cean construct, and clothe themselves with
perpetual rule within, through the base con-
Krivances of ward politicians and the selfish
eeekings of ofiice-holding plunderers. There
IS an atmosphere of constitutionalism which
pervades and surrounds the national life, and
NO public man or political party that goes be-
yond its pale can long live IN the esteem of
the American people.
1t is within this atmosphere, animated by
Ehe high principles of unity and glory, and
crowned with an abiding confidence in their
own future, that the American people are ad-
Vancing on the path of the true development
of constitutional liberty. Whoever believes
khat the appliances of social government which
were equal to the requirements of a scattered
and poor population of four millions of
people are equally adequate to meet the ext
agencies of wealthy and dense society of
forty millions, incurs gross and palpable
mistake; but greater error Is accepted by
him who fears that the theories of constitu-
3ional government cannot meet all the de-
nands of the present day, and even of that
wonderfully prosperous and powerful COM
bnunity of one hundred millions, which the
United States will present as an example to
cfhe world within the life period of the present
generation of men, 1t is the high mission of
the American people of to-day and not of
Bone remote future, to demonstrate that con-
sBtitutional government is adequate to all de-
,mands upon it, and they have no fears of the
future. .
s. The practicabiity of greater unity in con-
Btitutional government which we have exhi-
Ebited in the recent past, during our civil war,
mas shown how feasible it is in our political
theories. The heresy of secession would have
Bapped at once the foundations of our politi-
zeal system and of public and private pros
tperity. 1t had to be resisted, and that re-
assistance was one of the greatest triumphs
which constitutional government ever OBJ
ifained Three millions of men were placed
in arms, and treasure of resources was de-
veloped and expended in four years which
surpassed in extent the widest dreams that
ever dawned upon the hopes of monarchy
In the development of this vast power the
advocates of European systems claimed to
BEE the end of our political experiment; but
0fhe end only proved its immense strength
In ninety days these millions of armed COM
batants returned to their homes and to the
Ryocations of peace and we are now enter
ing upon period of rapid paying off of a
public debt which is confessedly beyond the
ability of any monarchical organization in Eu-
rope to liquidate.
Not few thinking men claim to find in the
neAnia1 ,fc of fba 10 &c
movements which must inevitably destroy the
principles of constitutional government.
These dangers are supposed to exist in the
great increase of wealth and luxury among us
Rnd in the class organizations which we find
On every side-labor unions among our work
1ng classes, railroad and banking combinations
among our spectators and capitalists, politi-
cal clubs among our ambitious and aspiring
Headers, and even an organized scoundrelism
among our thieves and vagabonds. The be-
Iiever in European ideas claims to find in
these class Developments of social power dan
gers for society and for government which
pan be met only by the strong hand of king
Of an emperor. But this is the mistake of a
Eurcpean thinker, who cannot comprehend the
Nff6e grasp of our American system. These
organizations aim at an increase of the pro-
fiuctive elements, not at a usurpation of the
political power. They are permeated with the
idea of constitutional government, and SO
6trOnS IL JnlS principle W1tnln them that II any
attempt were made within any organization
to create governing class, it would result in
an immediate dissolution of the bond and the
Teyersion of the elements to their original
condition In the great ocean of the American
people.
1t is the greater unity and glory of constitu-
Gonal government towards which we are drift
ing, and which we are destined to display to
the astonished gaze of the world. 1t will be
Sound adequate to meet and control all the
dangerous elements of society, as we'll as to
foster private enterprise and the increase of
public wealth and morality. Our power for
Helf-preservation has already been exhibited
and has placed the national existence beyond
the possibility of doubt But thus far we
2ave only passed through the earlier phases
Df our growth, those in which the feelings and
tendencies of youth run riot, and we have yet
DO exhibit the true qualities of our national
manhood. These will come in due time, and
be have no fears that they will be found want
ing in any of the essentials of justice, morality,
and power for good, which constitute the
true strength of national life single glance
at the past will suffice to show that whenever
any political organization has become corrupt,
under an extended possession of the public
administration, it has inevitably encountered
rejection at the hands of the people. AS we
advance, these periods of return to public
honesty will be found to recur at shorter in
Eervals, until the true tone of our national
morality shall be reached. There is yet much
Eough work to be done, wilderness to be re-
nlaimed States to be founded homes to be
provided for the poor and oppressed of Other
hands, and gardens and vineyards to be planted
N.,hara fha Forest or fhe nrairie now offers but