Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-29
Centennial Thoughts.

Inc interval OF hundred years III tne
lifetime of a nation is very small period.
The Jews were distinct people, with ma
tional domain, capital temple and history,
for more than fourteen centuries Nor are
they yet amalgamated with the other ma
tions with whom they dwell, Rome was the
metropolis Of civil power that ruled the
world, and was ten centuries in reaching her
best estate, and the name and vestiges of her
authority still remain. The history of Egyp
tian civilization can be traced back beyond
the Ptolemies, and IL was great before the
Jews were nation at ALL The royal line of
Germany goes back to Louis the German,
more than ten hundred years, and from him
traces its course to Clovis of France, four
hundred years earlier. The royal family of
France traces an unbroken pedigree to a
hundred years before Hugh Capet and ter
inmates its reign in the consulate of Napo-
leon; but France continues its proud history
through all the changes of empire and rule.
England points to Egbert, of more than
thousand years ago, as the lineal kingly an
cestor of her present Queen, and il hardly
seems within the range Of probability that
Macauleys lIottentot will stand on London
bridge and survey the ruins Of the Anglo
Saxon civilization even at the close of the
next decade of centuries. A century 10
nations history hardly gets it out of its
swaddling clothes.
But the United States began with the best
material of the older nations. The founders
of our government were scarce removed a
single generation from the best blood of the
best nationsof the Old World. The Puritan
and IIuguenot ideas which were dominant
in the formation of our government were
good foundations upon which TO build a
solid and permanent structure of civil and
religious liberty. There is but little ques-
tion that those ideas will continue to mould
our political and civil life. The drawbacks
Of political corruption incident to the life Of
every active and advancing nation, and the pc
culiar drawbacks of an imported religion and
its active priesthood, at variance with our sys-
TEN, and of large immigration of the most
ignorant classes of Europe, and the introduce
ton into the body Of our electors of the mil
lions Of former slaves at the South, consti-
tute difficulties and bcget perils that the
original and powerful principles of civil and
religious freedom, upon which our govern
ment was founded, are to overcome and will
probably triumphantly determine. But, at
any rate, the history of the United States has
but just begun. There arc centuries before
US, whatever changes or notifications may
occur. Roman history began in an empire,
passed through a republic, and ended in an
imperial decay. France began with king,
and now lives under a republic. Spain has
passed through all possible governmental
changes. Germany and Russia alone of the
European nations have never changed their
form of government. And England might
say the same were it not for the six years OF
the Cromwelian Protectorate.
There are few things that are to be re-
membered by people who would have a
prosperous history. No man loves TO think
that his children or his grandchildren will
ever go through with political disturbances
and religious prosecutions such as have
marked the history OF all the old nations
II is sort of instinct Of patriotism and of
domestic love which leads men to desire to
build thu foundations Of government deer
and immovable So much social and do
lnestic peace and happiness, so much per
sonal welfare, depend on the stability and
purity of our civil institutions, that men OF
any thought and sagacity always want To
provide for the security of the state.
Nearly all the commissions in the history Of
states have occurred from the ambitions Of
rival aud hostile families, or from the action
of religious intolerance. In this oountr,
there is no probability of such conflicts as
those Of the Guelphs aud Ghibbelines, or of
York and Lancaster We have no rival
houses that can plunge us into internecine
war Those personal factions arise mainly
in small states and republics. Our differ
ences are more likely TO be from interest
than from any personal causes. II is con
ceiyable that the various sections of so large
country should have diverse and contrary
interests. In that case, we may anticipate !
heavy strain upon our republican polity
The country is too large as it is 1t woulc
be well for our people 10 remember that an,
further additions Of territory or OF races
viii be likely to result in conflict, and en-,
either in disruption or in a centralized an,
imperial government. II people temp
Providence by territorial aggrandizemeni
they are very apt to pay for their folly by
change Of rulers. King Log will have to Civ
way to king Stork.
But our greatest danger lies in the resu,
rection Of the old religious questions whic
have deluged Europe, once and again, il
blood. Tolerance of opposite religious opir
ions Is central principle of the America