Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-03-18
COMMERCE..

1t is wonderful to observe the great
difference in the state of commerce of
the primeval ages and that of to day.
The improvements and facilities of to-
day, give us striking idea of the
boundless spirit of human enterprise,
and the bold adventures of man to re-
veal the unreUedLed of other chimes
besides his own. Actuated, in many
cases. by his lofty ambition to look in
to the mysteries that were beyond his
native shore, the ancient navigator
dared to unfurl his sails to the breeze
and hazard his fortune, his life, his
all 'amid the wilds ofunknOwn seas. ~
He saw much in the final consumma-
ton of this grand enterprise to arouse
his energies and awaken unbounded
admiration. The various countries
with peculiar climate and soil were
spread out before him, rich in their
countless articles of traffic. The alu-
vial plains of Asia furnised unnum-
bered temptations. The attention of
the European was attracted to them,
and, for while, the navigator seemed
to have "heart for any fate" This
array of wealth and beauty, could but
have awakened enthusiasm and en-
kindled the spirit of industry. 1t was
aroused, and the mind of man rocked
to devise means to safely navigate the
seas, and open up communication be-
tween all countries.
What has been its astonishing prog
ress Look at its history by land and
by sea. In period when the twilight
of civilization had hardly dawned up
on the east, across the arid deserts,
long lines of unspirited and slothful
drOmedaries conveyed the traffic of the
world. Everywhere by land, the
means OF transportation were unsui
ted to the life and activity requisite to
progress. BY sea it was still worse
The European stood upon the banks
of his sea-girt home, and looked visit
fully toward the wealth and splendor
of the east, while barks of frail make,
were seen to turn their PROV from
their native shore and venture where
the eye of man bad never seen. A
few ventured while many went down
beneath the oceans wave. The I'M
firing labOrs of the Spanish, Italian,
and Portuguese, navigatOrs are well
worthy of endless concentrations
Though the oceans were painless and
the spirit was checked by the opprcss-
ions of the dark ages,n their efforts
were undated. 1t was indeed, peri
cd of commercial darkness. Still the
spirit survived, and commerce with
the discovery of the compass, received
fresh impulse. Now, navigators have
explored Almost the utmost limits OF
the seas and fairly measured the area.
foot by foot, of the eXpanseiess waters.
UninhabiteG lands and islands far out
in the desOlate seas, have been reach
ed, populated and titled, and wheeled
into the grand sycle of commercial in
tercourse. Now every land beneath
the sun, enjoys the products of the in
dustry of ali others. Now almost ey-
cry land has its navy and its line of
commercial ships that
'walk the waters like thing of life,''
and lighthouses glimmer along every
coast. But these are not the only in
dications of a commercial advance
ment' Not content with the natural
channel of waters, man, by his liberal
and unbounded spirit of enterprise,
has thrown up his dikes and checked
the land with canals, along which to
propagate the line of commerce.
the admiration of the scientific, by the
augustnese of their contemplated
work. Men of acknowledged engin-
eering skill have, at intervals, been
employed to survey the route across
Istmus of Suez, and thus open up di-
rect communication between the man
ufactories of Europe, and the bound
less commodities of Asia and Africa.
Not less project is across the Istmus
of Panama, between North and South
America. uniting the Atlantic with
the Pacific and thus shol tening the
voyage between the two by thousands
of miles. Thus wherever land
and water will permit, schemes are in
contemplation for the onward speed of
commercial facilities. But the bene-
fits of commerce are even more inter-
esting than all this. Its uses are as
boundIess as the demands of the age.
1t is the carrier dove of the worlds
news. 1t is the vehicle upon which
is carried from one land TO another,
habits, customs, languages, learning,
and religion. The Brilliant and i'm
perial splenGor of the Persian dynas-
ties re- appeared in the magnifiicence
and courtly display of the sovereigns
of Europe. The Grecian making his
voyages to the pyramids and oblisks of
Euope with their mysterious engrav-
ings, saw much in these relics of hu-
man greatness to inspire his enthusi-
asm and start his mind afresh on now
ell and inspiring themes. From the
sacred Parnassus and HelicOn of
Greece, the surrounding countries,
through mutual intercoure, took much
of their poetic temperament, and even
now, the poet lives to dedicate his eff
illusions to the Grecian muses.. In
word, il is the medium through which
has been transmitted the accumulated
learning of the past. But commerce
is being used for grander work than
even this. In locked arms with chris
tiaDity, it has already mounted the
car of progress, and is speeding its way
to the consumation of its subIimest
triumph. The midnight of former
barbaric darkness, has already been
reached, and the long standing gloom
is being rapily dispeled by
the genial sulight of religion. Thus
the two, hand in hand, ride upon the
waves of the deepest waters, to reach
the unbleSsed portions of earth, and
teach idolitrous man. the attributes of
the one God--Enloyy Hammer.