New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-03

Fulton had few sympathizers in his expert
ments with steam, and the first steamboat
was regarded by many - the short-hved
triumph of . lunatic. Morse and his tele-
graph were secuted by even the wise ana
thoughtful; and when Cyrus Field proposed
connecting England and America with .
thread of electricity, people thought he was
lunstic. Now the magnificent ocean
steamers which pass 80 rapidly across the
vast vstery expanse. and tho magnetic
cords which connect continents, have
proved to the faithlesss the possibilities
existing in the human mind. Gigantic
strides were these, yet they opened the
way for hundreds, yea, thousands Of
others-minor inventions, which have great
" facilitated labor of all kinds.
Agriculture and manufacture, though in
many respects widely different, yet have
many interests in common, particularly
since the introduction of so much ma
chinery upon our farms. When we contrast
the conveniences of the present with the
inconvenience of the past as regards
tilling of the coil alone, we wonder how
our fathers and ancestors could have had
the courage to brave go many hardships
and endure 60 many privations. Sometimes
1 think that if the ''grand old gardener"
whose weakess drove him from Eden, and
whose additional punishment was that he
should earn his bread by the sweat of his
brow, could look down upon us and behold
the numerous and wonderful array of labor
saving Implements which have almost re-
duced farming to . genteel occupation, he
would think how he commenced first
farmer-and would feel that his keen witted
posterity had outeeneraled the curse.
1t is said that the developments of our
age are 80 rapid that they engender q
state of feverish esgerness and IN
healthy excitement which is q detri-
ment rather than benefit. This. however,
is Q weak argument. What will be the
greatest good to the greatest number is
the motto of philsnthropists the world
over. and because there are incautious
minds Who insist upon extremes there is no
need that those with true balance should
be deprived of the advantages which follow
the adoption of new theories, provided they
have been sufficiently tested.
Each age has its distinguishing charsc
teristics; able historians have dived deep
in the lore of the past and resurrected
from their hiding places these treasures.
We of the present have these invaluable
guides, the experience of ages; by their
light we have been able to advance. 1t is
we'll to consider this fact, for success is too
apt to be followed by q spirit of self-com-
placency and egotism which breeds . con-
tempt for the slow movements of the past;
we are but too apt to contrast the now with
the then, and attribute our advancement
to our individual and national superiority.
This last idea must. however, have been
greatly modified in the mind of the observ.
ing visitor at our late international expo.
sition. There, where the products of
every cline and the genius of every
nation were to be found, where there
was 60 much that was superla.
lively excellent, was NO room for personal
exaltation. One felt their own insight.
canoe there if ever. Not that we would go
TO the other extreme and depreoiste our
there is q justifisble pride
which is admirable, and it would be an
sffectation to deny that We feel it. Nearly
Ill vices are the rebound of extreme vir.
;ues; thus over-liberality becomes prodigal
ty, and the reverse, too strict economy, de-
generates into degrading avarice; go with
his pride of progression, upon a certain
,oint it is not only pardonsble but praise
worthy.
In conclusion, may we not draw q lesson
# contentment from the midst of this rapid
in science and manufactures
something like THE: The capabilities of
'ur nation have been developed with
igor and purpose which are the alternate
and admiration Of the world.
Dur young republic is ranked an equal with
he ancient monsrchies which point back
With naughty pride to Caesar, q Charlie |
nsgne, Plsntagenet.
In educational advantages our own |
Harvard and Yale rank the equals with
Id Oxford and Cambridge, while our pub |
ic school system exceeds in completeness
hat of any nation except, perhaps, Ger
many. Let Switzerland boast of her peer |
ess mountain scenery. Have we not mighty |
Niagara, and the grand old Catskills which
ooks down upon the clear waters of the |
Iudsonl Ireland sings joyously of the |
axes of Killarney, beautiful indeed, but |
ot more SO than the pellucid depths of |
eneca or Lake George. Egypt boasts of !
or pyramids and the Nile, but upon our |
Western frontiers monuments of antiquity, |
erhaps as ancient if not so colossal, GER |
ainly as curious, are to be seen, while the |
olling Mississippi approximates to the his
Oric Nile. England points with mingled |
ride and reverence to Westminster Abbey |
7here lie the ashes of not only royalty |
ut of many illustrious lords in the field of |
Milton, Maaculay, |
nd scores of others whose names are |
ousehold words in every clime-all slum-
er quietly there. All England, England,
hat is indeed holy ground, q precious
rust which you do well to guard sacred
y. But come with us for a time. We |
AVE no grand mausoleum to show you
My single grave. Mount Vernon contains |
he ashes of one of Gods nohlemen. A |
rue, sweet nature, at once brave and gen. |
le, melting out justice with firm and I'M |
N rfia1 hand VET uithhold;pu mt ,oorov
The name and memory Of Washington will |
70 loved and revered while there remains |
n American and q patriot on the soil