Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-12-07

Iv apprehended than by our New
England ancestors. They fully ap-
preeiated its vast importance as a
means Of perpetuating civil and re-
Iigious liberty as a means also OF so
eiaI happiness; and a means Of doing
GOOD to Others. Hence their unequal
"a svstem Of education for the bene-
III OF an. A moderate degree OF edu-
cation possessed BY all the people, has
q much greater moral influence, and
is therefore a much more efiieaeious
means OF doing good, than a few in
dividual Instances Of towering talents
amid general ignorance, as is too
much the case in Europe. That our
Colleges, Seminaries, Schools, News
papers, Debating Clubs, Lecturers,
Political COmpaigns and Puipits,
furnish the people OF America with
an education more than Is common
among other nations will hardly be
Questioned. The degree Of informa-
ton thus possessed is sufficient to give
the people a lust apprehension Of all
the valuable interests connected with
government, with social life, with
moral Influences. Sucn being the
fact. can any one doubt that It is our
duty to employ this influence TOR the
welfare OF the world We cannot
evade the responsibility. II Is upon
US, and we must meet it, or render
ourselves eulpable. For the individ-
ual, born, reared, educated fashioned,
under such influences - eminste
from our governmental, social and
educational institutions, is az once the
centre and the source Of a vast, far
reaching influence. He thinks, he
plans, he works, he achieves as by
law Of necessity. The native forests
yield tn the power Of his arm while
states and governments, and all free
and humane institutions spring into
being in obedience the power Of his
thought, and the enlightened eharac-
ter Of his heart. Here lies the secret
OF our own national expansion and
Development. Here, too, isone sOurse
Of that influence which has already
stretched to the ends Of the earth,
making It q prOuder thing to be an
American than TO be King. Should
not 8 people blessed with such gifts
and Opportunities rise to the hight Of
world benefactOrs With what be-
nevOlent earnestness; with what SELF
denial, should American Citizens use
this educational power, by working
through the Bible; through the Tract
through the School Book through
the Missionary and through all other
channels now open for reproducing,
even in a higher and fuller form,
among other nations the rich bless
ings, which we possess and which
they need. Freely we have received :
let US freely give.
V. The commercial enterprise, and
the inventive practical spirit Of our
people, furnish another valuable
means of promoting the welfare Of
the whole human family. Our com
merce was recently, perhaps the most
extended Of all the nations and
doubtless it will soon again acquire
that position, when it can be said.
there is not an ocean, a sea, gulf, a
bav. and hardly a nayigable river
uDon the globe where our flag is not
seen, So persistantly does this spirit
OF enterprise push itself in every di-
reetion, that no policy Of exclusion
can withstand it. Even Japan has
| succumbed to its power. What a
I glorious opportunity Is thus opened to
| Us for carrying to every nation and
[ tribe Of men, not rum and vice. not
useless trinkets; but the means OF
producing an enlightened civilization,
q pure morality, Christly religion.
Having received this talent, 50 wisely
adapted to secure such q noble object
shall we dare bury it beneath the
rubbish Of commercial selhshness, or
( OF corruption, BY giving it all over
] into the hands Of those whose sole de-
sires are gain and self indulgence
4 Shall we not, rather, increase our ef-
forts to send to all parts Of the world
such representative as viii produce
I lust impression of the enlightened
/ and yirtuous character Of both our
! government and people.
] Now if TO this commercial enter
( prise there be added, as a handmade, |,
or help-meet; the inventive and prae-
tical spirit OF our people, which Is SO
( constantly yoking the forces OF nature
into some eontrivanee for relieving
I the toll and increasing the comfort OF
man, we shall find our means OF in
I fluencing men wherever our ships go,
! vastly increased. Anaxe, a hOe, a ham,
mer. a plow, q harrow, q mower, a reap
er, sewing machine, atelegraPh, alail-
road, steam ship, have each and al
I o eivilizing and moral, as well as a
physical power. Why then should
! not these preachers Of social eleva-
ton, and these producers Of human
comfort be carried by our shipping
| whenever there are men to be benefit
| ed by them. The nations need these
I implements, and we should send them
along with our ideas Of free govern
ment. popular education, human
Z brotherhood, and Christianity. So
I intensely occupied is the American
mind becoming in this direction Of
I Invention, that the time cannot be far
/ distant, when few hours Of pleasant
labor Will yield a much larger amount
I of creature comfort, than weeks oi
painful toll did a few generations
back. Already the number and va
friety Of our useful inventions exceed
those Of all other nations combined.
While therefore we are blessed with
this means of benefiting the world
like faithful servants, we should bC
diligent in its use Our shipping
should 90 forth upon the wings Of the
wind, bearing to the ignorant, hal
civilized. barbarous, and savage races
these material agencies OF progress
and civilization; while the Otiieeri
and crews Of such shipping should g
with heads and with hearts frelghteC
with ideas, with principles, with Writ
ues, worthy to be every where reeeiY
ed as the offspring Of government
OF a social life, Of a religion, the ire
est, the highest, the purest, ever con
ferred on any people. God has glveI
4 us much In this direction, and HI
will require much in return. On
duties are bounded only by our mean
and opportunities.
\ VI. Our religious Characteristic
I place in our hands another means o
exerting upon the world moral and
religious influence unequalled an'
50 impose an unequalled obligation
/ All our ereeds and forms OF worship
are alike free from governmental pat
ronage and eOntOl. This leaves tn
denominations and seets freedom ant
II seope to act in all those methods re
luuired by their own necessities; aat
to develop, to the fullest extent, what
ever capabilities they may possess
This self-reliant position is wisely
adapted to beget and perpetuate
self sustaining and diffusive energy
The whole machinery Of each demon
ination being entirely under It's Owl
control, and looking to its own vol
unteer friends for patronage and EN-
cheney, there Is Of necessity the larg
est possible measure Of individual re
snonsfbility felt By its members. Thl