The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-07-10
Written for the standard.
The Basis of National Greatness.
BY W. R. EVANS.

When contemplating the geographical
position, the vast resources, the free in
stitutions, the science, art and letters
the fertility of the soil, and the variety
of the salubrious climate of my country,
] rejoice that I am an American, born
and raised under the American sun. Our
geographical position gives US peculiar
advantages. We are separated by an ex-
panse of a wide ocean from every princi-
pal nation on the face of the earth. We
may live at peace with all the world. The
old world may be conyulsed. Europe
and Asia may be delpged in blood, yet
not clarion of war be heard west of the
Atlantic. Such are our local advantages
such our facilities, that the path to
greatness is opened to US, if we only tread
it Alright. For the last four centuries
America has listened to the voice of that
mighty sovereign, Progress, and obeyed
its mandates, until it has mounted high
the summit Of eminenoe among the great
nations of earth Four centuries ago
America was bowling wilderness. The
red man trod the hills of New England
with all the dignity and freedom of a mon
arch, and wild beasts had their haunts
where temples now rear their proud and
stately steeples. In 1899 the first white
man landed on that coast, and ever since
our progress has been onward and up
ward" Now the American flag with its
thirty four stars, waves in triumph from
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the
Gulf of Mexico to the Canadas, and from
the icebergs that line the coast of British
America to the tropical region of Yuca.
tan. Burke's 'two millions in America"
is already forty, and swelling continually
at every rising of the sun. Our popula-
ton is found to double every % years, or
for safety sake, say 25 years Then we
have to look forward only 100 years, and
our present ratio gives us 288,000, 900.
Portray in your mind a nation of 1885,
100000, imbued with a principle of "Puri-
tan integrity" enterprise, intelligence,
and religion as free as mountain air. But
we must not indulge too much in the
"delusion of hope" or fanciful anticipa-
tions. True, our growth and progress in
the past have been steady and uniform,
but this growth depends upon certain
principles. The condition necessary for
the growth of nation, and its exaltation
to the pinnacle of greatness are as fol-
lows:
l. The land must be good either for
farming, trading, or defense against
enemy.
2 The people who live there must have
the same language, and must be united
in feeling, so that they can make one ma
ton.
: g. A nation that would prosper must
be intelligent.
Il Imust haze good character.
Now, if a nation have these conditions,
it will grow strong and mighty. If it is
good country, if the people are united,
if they are intelligent, and have
good character, it will grow, and become
q great nation. On the other hand, just
as a nation fails in these conditions of its
life, it will decay and die away.
These conditions are fulfilled to great
extent in the United States. Our coun-
try is the granary of the world, our COM
merce whitens every sea. We have one
Language and one feeling, Git is true
we have representatives of many nation
alities, which are fast mingling together,
forming one nation, the product of which
is vastly superior to any of its component
parts.
In intelligence we are equal, if not SUI
perior to any nation excepting Germany.
But oar fault and our danger lies an Char
acter. We are not ruled enough, in our
social and political life, by religious prin-
ciples. We do not feel deeply enough
that righteousness exalteth a nation but
sin is a disgrace to any nation" Gods s
laws sway the universe. The progress
and destiny of nations are just as much
dependent on fixed and inexorable law
as the revolution of planets. To the
casual reader the history of the world
may appear q perfect chaos, without a
thread, system or line of connection.
One course of events is seen here, anoth-
er there. ~
I Kingdoms riso on the stage one after
another, and then pass away, and are for
gotten; yet all is not q chaos. Fixed
laws can be traced in the rise and fall of
nations as surely as in the revolution Of
planets, only they must be of another
kind Principles, motives, affections, and
impulses take the place of attraction and
affinities. If we read history in the light
of its laws, we behold shining out like
the rising sun, the sublime truth that
j Righteousness exalteth a nation. 1t is
true that politicians and economists do
not often recognize this great central
doctrine of true politics. But what il
corrupt politicians and office-seekers ig.
more this great truth2 Shall their in,
consideration make the truth of God
! without effect2 God forbid; yea, let
God be true, but every man a liar"
Solomon was knowing and wise
man, and he recognized the fact above
stated.
Some may claim that he was an ole