New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-02
[ For the New Orleans Republican.
ONWARD AND UPWARD.

ONWARD AND UPWARD.
The two greatest Catholic publicists o1
our age, Balmes and Donoso Cortas, have
said that there are now but two powerful
countries in the world, Russia and the
United States; and Plus TX: has ever turned
his eyes towards the land of Washington
with hopeful love and deep interest, as il
the glorious future belonged to the Ameri
can republic.
First in war; first in peace, aud first in
the hearts OF his countrymen," Washington
was wise, good. a great man. He was
not SO remarkable for one striking quality
as for the harmonious union and balance OF
all those qualities. which, combined and
blended, conspire to build up sublime and
heroic character. In him strength was
allied to repose, stateliDess to affability
and both qualities mantled his whole per
son with that commanding majesty which
made every one at once recognize and yield
to his awful ascendency. To accomplish
so grand work, filter man, nobler in.
strument could not have been chosen by
divine Providence. Pre-eminent for sincere
piety, ardent patriotism, inspired wisdom,
undaunted energy and cool prudence. he
led to freedom and peace a religious, virtu-
GUS and intelligent people; and he con.
quered for the New World all she rights,
which, as said Napoleon, had long since
been lost by the old degenerate continent.
And before dying he stamped the traits OF
his grand character upon the infant nation,
and breathed within its heart his lofty
spirit of patriotism and disinterestedness.
We are composite nation; a nation, not
of one race, but of many races; we are
many made one, pluri5us unum; all
heterogeneous elements tend to assimilate,
unite and act in concert, omnia ad unum j;
and yet no other nation is more strikingly
idiosyncratic.
Who, then, are the Americans9 Whence
have sprung these free and enterprising
menl 1t seems to me that am beholding
the ceaseless immigration to the shores of
America; it seems to me that l hear the
mingled farewells Of the many nations of
Europe, uplifted as it were, and borne away
like fiocks Of travelling birds toward the
loDged for climes of the far West. Adieu,
sighs the Irishman, isle of the saints, emer-
aid of the sea; hail, land of America
Adieu, sighs the Frenchman, my sweet and
native home; o, fairest kingdom, save that
Of heaven; hail, land Of America! Adieu,
sighs the Spaniard, o most noble and dhiv-
slrous of countries; hail, land of America !!
Adieu, sighs the Italian, o classic cradle of
religion, of genius, and of the fine arts;
hail, land of America! Adieu, sighs the
many, with thy Rhine and its greenish wa
ters; hail, land of America! And all these
nations, gathered on the seashore, in their
many tongues, sigh at once adieu. adieu,
Old World, that we are soon to leave, and
thou, New World, hail forever.
And IN all the sesports where lay the
steamers and winged ships, they flock by
thousands. and, crossing the stormy ocean,
they arrive and greet the American coast,
with exulting hearts landing in their new
home.
And all these nations, all these races of
Latin or Celtic blood, of Anglo-Saxon or
Teutonic origin, all commingle and har-
monize to form the great American people.
And 10, God has blessed that new people,
and in that people rest humanity's most
glowing hopes.
How, then, could We despair of the Amer
leans! How not expect from them the
utmost that has been achieved by heroes of
olden times'
Oh, ye men of feeble faith and feebler
hopee, away from ue! Away, with your
doubts and fears, with your desponding
thoughts and blind pref udices-away from
ue! You are not of our race and national
ity. Your banner is not our banner, and
your country is-not our country.
Hail. blest republic of new born world!
Thy destiny is manifest to all
Trusting in Gods o erIuling love and power,
Onward and upward still thou must aspire,
Upon their rotten thrones, with broken sceptres,
The naughty kings, in dread Of agony,
Dare say that they viii quell America;
That they will check the progress Of its growth
That they will stop the giants coHquering march,
Though he may lear tn exulting eagle cry;
Advance, advance in all thy might, advsnce'
Their, let them stay the wild steeds dashing
course;
The saint, whose glowing soul i, hurried on
The bard inspired. whose sweeping harmony
Awakes the fiery whirlwind's sudden wrath
Then, let them stop upon its blazing wheels
The rapid suns ref gent car on hight
Then, let them quench the lghtninss bolts, and
hush
Tehovah's breath that swells the hurricane
Then. let them chain the mad Mississippi,
Whose waters, speeding to the ocean deep
Jproot on either bank the towering trees,
And heave beneath the roaring steamers bulk!
Then, let the TIM. on the dizzy brink. arrest
rhe headlong rush of dre al Niagara
Whose laundering organ. ever, eve., chants
The awful anthem to the solitude!
they ssy, but tits a vain and foolish threat
While they await their doomful horoscope,
america speeds on, resistless strong;
1es, onward must the child Of Liberty,
While cries above tn exulting eagle bold:
advance; in oil thy might, advance
The holiest love on earth, save that OF God
. lows Of country blent with flisl love.
When Adam rose, ~ from ecstatic sleep,
Ind walked. in stainless beauty, angellike,
lis first and falrest home was Eden blest.
70 ev' ~ child, Of noble heart and mind.
blissful Eden seems his native land,
Iowever stern its cline, the dearest still;
The dea est, fsirest frtt and last belov'd,
Is, mong all women, first and last, but one,
Whose fost ring react enshrined his tender life!
dail then o native land O tairest home
'ince Eden lost, and heaven yet unreach'6
Hail then America, however stern,
ill beautiful, most beautiful Of all!
Is from my mothers heart drew my blood,
from mine, with joy, I'd pour it all for thee
Ind thousands, thrensd to shield thy sacred
breast.
5eneath thy eag'es wings and clust ring stars
6.l.k 70 and IL