New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-18

yarses on the Prospect Of Planting Arts and Learn
,,o in America" Of which the first aud last stanzas
were these: 1.f
The Muse, disgrsted a, an age and cline
Barren Of every glorious theme,
In distaut lands now waits a better Tine,
Producing subjects worthy fame.
Westward the course OF empire takes its way;
The first four acts already past,
A 9TH shall close the drama with the day
Times MODEST offspring Is the last.
Mr. Sumner says of these verses that it would DO
difficult TO exaggerate their value though they have
been SO often quoted as to seem almost common
place of literature aud politics. There is nothing
from any oracle, there il very little from any
prophecy which can compare with them. Samuel
Sewall of New-England was also among the early
prophets. From him we pass to the Marquis DAT
genson, French noble, who probably in about 17i5
predicted that the American Colonies would sepa-
rate from England, and would form republican
nation that would in short time render itself mas
ter OF America. Toward the close of his prediction
he cries out, in a burst of enthusiasm
And you will then soe how the earth viii he beautiful
What cultured What new arts and new scienoes What
the peoples TO ward aoh other day will come when
one Will 50 IN apopllous anu regnated GUY VI 0"n'o
MIA a. one goes in the stage-coach OF MeanA
Turgot, the friend of Franklin, was anotler
French prophet. He said that colonies are like
rity and then drop off; and liz applied this sinnle TO
America. His prophetic utterances were numerous
and most striking. Horace Walpole wrote. Feb Il,
IT4:
We have no news public or private; but there Is an
ostrich egg laid III America where the BosOnldn nave
they viii not drink tea with our Parliament
Lord Chatham talked OF conquernS Anealsa o ~ az
many. believe England VIII pe cohquereu so"e u"9
| in New-EngIaDi or Bengal
So far we have dealt only with prophecies which
have already been fulfilled; but why should not
those whose fulfllment il yet to come be equally
worthy of attentions Of all the prophets not one
was more remarkable than John Adams III, fore
saw Colonial Independence and the establishment OF
the great Republic. not only, but ho looked farther
on and saw the emancipation Of slaves, the triumph
Of our language, and finally the establishment oil
our republican institutions all over North America
1t is hopeinspring to read what he wrote to Thomas
Jefferson, Nov. Is. 1872
Many hundred years must roll away before we shall
he corrupted Our pure. virtuOus. puhho-sprted red
republic will last forever, govern the globe ana
introduce tho perfection OF man.
Tho Marquis de MOntealm among the
prophets, and the Duke de ChGseui, aud the Aobe
Rlynal--all illustrious sons of France. Jonathan
Shpley the good English Bishop of ST. Asaph,
uttered many remarkable prophecies ; and among
them one that iii this favored country, time and
extreme inequalities of condition between the rich
and the poor This, surely has noty yet to pass,
but NAV it not like the rest, await its day.
Dean Tncker-a countryman of Shipley's and like
him DESTROYS that the mother country should allow
the peaceable secession of her American colonies
prophesied, ON the other hand, that the Americans
never could be united into any compact empire, I'M
der any government whatever; their fate must be
TO be a disunited people 10 the end of time. But
Dean Tucker must take rank among the false
prophets. John Cartwright saw more clearly, i'll
774 when he said that il useless to try to hold
the Americans subjects, when in the very nature
of things they must in a few years cover that I'M
mense continent like a swarm of bees. David Hart
ley was another noble Engishman whose letters and
speeches were full of prophecies of he great future
of the American Republic. He was also a vehement
Abolitonist.
But the name Of the prophets was legion. They
of various nations aud of various creeds. One
attractive figure among them was the Able Galiani,
Neapoitan of real genius, who was born in 1928,
and died at Naples, 1887 BY the accident of official
residence he became for while domeslcated IN
France, wrote the French language with the wit
and ease of Noltaire, and a result, enjoys
French reputation He maintained the existence OF
God at the fan,ons Thursday dinner of the atheist,
d'Holbach After he returned to Naples he continued
with such bright wits as Madame d'Epinay the
Baron d'Holbach, Diderot, and Grimm. He wrote
solid volume on the Rights of Neutrals," in which
that dificult subject is treated in such mastery
manner that it should not be forgotten IN the History
of International Law. As early l76 he had fore
told the success of our Revolution In letter dated
at Naples 2jth July 1913, he renewed his prophecy
in the following explicit language:
You will at this time have decided the greatest revo-
luton of the globe namely, II II Is America which ID 10
reign Europe II 1t is Europe which is u continue
to reign over America. will wager In favor OF Amer
d U srs ,1 has tIred opposita 10 the diurnal mo-
ton and travaled from the East TO the West
Adam Smith was another of our prophets; and in
l176 DIR. Richard Price wrote of the Americans:
They are now but little short of half To
this number they have grown from small body Of orig
NAL settlers by very rapid increase. The probability
is that they will 20 10 increase, and that in fy or
sixty they Will be double our number and form
mighty empire consisting OF variety OF States, all
equal superior 10 ourselves IN all the arts and accom-
phshments which give dignity and happiness To human
life.
Nothing less than vast continent" occurred to
Dr. Price as the theatcr of this remarkable develop
lneut Gov Pownal foresaw that America was to
change the system of Europe" He said that there
had never been anything in the growth of any
European nation TO compare with the growth of
America: and while this exuberant vitality in itself
made the country liable TO many and dangerous
disorders, yet it was young and strong, and would
struggle by the yigor of tue internal healing prin
ciple of le against these evils, and sumount them.
! have not space to dwell on Pownalls suggestions
for the future polity of the Great American Nation
which he foresaw: but they displayed a wisdom and
far sghtedness that entitle him to leadership
among the prophets. He was not quite satisfied
with the arrangements about the Presidents tenure
of Office. Il have some fears" he said, of mischief
from the orbit OF four years period which you give
IN the rotation of tba of1ica of President IL may