New-York tribune., 1878-12-31
Alexander or the period OF Egbtrt Charles hartel
with the period Of Henry Wiz or Charles V,

But besides the light which this view OF American
history throws the past and the present. here Is also
the further question Of the Gnt which 1t throws upon
the future It does not follow that because natlo
like ours has ourshed for centuries it is near It's END
Far from us be any such des Ondng fatasn. Yet stl
IL cannot be denied that the longer the retrospect b
there Ia produced OF safety or OF compeeness
which, to a certain degree contracts the VISION OF inc
future II Is the OF this feeling that Is produeeu
by what I have called the near, and, as u
can can States they inSenslbly look forward
W. we do in t6e older nations Aud this expectation is
no new thing. Amidst all the evil fOreo0dingr ana az eo
fanfes of American existence, It has always Deen
present Whether from the remarkable circumstancc
Of its first beginnings. certain " ls Una. even " rUy @
early times a Of vast and mysterious destiny u-
folding in distant future had taken possession OF t'
minds both Of Americans and or EnslsnWCn .h
first da Wn OF the earliest settlement in virginia. ana YET
he Tas able able to to e & IN f S OF the Of o and
which bore he of King James, there should De-
"Hs honor the greatness Of bis hamo
nTotitnot he crieyous TO YOU" was the consolation
offered from H. gland the Pilgrim Fathers that you
have been instruments to break the ice for others. The
honor sbal he your to the worlds end for the memory
OF the adventures TO this plantation sha never oc'
BislOp berkeley who by strange fate was diverted
frnn his nroicci9 for Bermuda 10 settle the pleasant
si,nrcs of Rhode Island, and there within the humble
HInIio" noir rock When ay f be visited composed
one of the finest Of his philosophical trc2es was IN
sudden enthusiasm. and uttered those famous w9rds
which have only within the last year b'ch nstilpch n
the portals OF the university ON tue shores ol the
Paclic-
westward the course Of empire nOIdsrts way
Burke in his magnificent speech ON ne american
colonies whilst describing them rs "a fierce people
who still II were, bu IN the EIl'i hld nor y't
hardened into thr bone OF manhood cnald NOT IaoH Il"
their growth without marvel, Ind Wn'n ne sp0hc "t
them constrained 10 say, icy III n,pGale AZ our
Srsu cOrdd" We may freely grant that thcsc nrcdr-
tiuns, impressive as thcy are 60 NOT 5C,G,lo, Tl re-
There have been predictions even OF more
sacred character with regard 10 tue fortunes
hitherto failed of their fun accomplishment because the
VauOn Of which they were spoken knew not thy h' "l
and hardened heart. But the pccuiaitics Of Am"ri'an
history Will have dwClt give at least ~ me sub
stance to these lofty dreams. When We see how young
how new how primitive the form OF American hisi'Ty
and American society, n reveals to us me p"sslhS
nay the Prorabiity-hat there j. sl long course TO
he run that the foundation or these states l NJ Ptun
said OF P.nusvlvan!a, noble experiment when IL dg-
pends upon thcms Ives under God TO accomplish
or to ruin. IRE very defects and shuricom-
ngs OF the present are. II not p!cdE'i an
incentive to what may yet be IN OF these defects
I do not sneak. They are suicCutl, set forth Ia lie
tccmiug columns Of the American Journals. Many Of
IA m brlong to wna have vcnturcd 10 call tEe me,
digva the lniauune state OF American no-somc "i
them have already adct away before the t0Hch or s-
pc.ior clyzl on from their ow' Ea'icrh al.,s'!nc
brIOro the criticism Of fore gucrS.Omc OF them are
1IZrInt sin. But whether recently extinct OF yet uH-
ward which the civilized world is advancing, hut from
which has escaped or escaping century ~ century
SMILE FROM NIAGARA.
And In thuS comparing lhe bsOWlhs history ol INC
present with the possible history OF the future may
be allowed to use % figure which l employed in of
my farewell speeches to my kind American hOstsl In
that memorable hour-mcmorable in the life OF every
one as the moment when he first the Pyramids ~
Egypt or the Alps Of STANDARDIZATION hr.t stood
before the Cataracs Of Niagara IL seemed to me thai
the scene which witnessed was napt likeness
OF the fortunes OF America II midnight; the
moon was full, and / saw the vast bridge which
spans shc river the Ccasclcss cCntOrlon, confusion,
whirI and chaos which burst forth in clouds Of foam
from that central ch1sm which divides the American
from the Brush dominion aud a. uOhcd on that ever
changing movement and listened 20 that everlasting
roar seemed an emblem OF the 'eImcntins prPrXd
bCWlldyr'g ACTIVITY, the CcascCs., restless, beating
whirlpool OF existence IN the United statcs But INTO
the moonlight SKY there cIoud Of spray
high me Fans tIcInsclycs-sIlCut. majestic immON
seemed an image OF he fntrc Of American hi-toryoi
the upward. heAven,aspirmg ae2tiuy which sGouid
explain in few words wherein that pillar of light has
an historical substance u fact. wLIcn may lead
hope tuat 1t will not vanish away with the morning
light but may continue to guido the coming tnes of tho
And for tnis purpose select points. drawn from
the history OF the past which rohduce 10 confidence.
which n not without trembling" sun "fcJoices "
always, and on which venture 20 insist becanso they
bear practically on an educational institution IKE this
First, there the marked PECULIARLY apparent unCst
from the first singular 6uoyaucy and elasticity both
Of the national aud individual character. IL may be tne
product Of their brlant' e1hilarating' n'go.a ahnc
climate: tmay be the accompaniment at the vast hur-
partly the youth of the Naiun. which nave nuch
enlarged IN this address; but It's existence Is uu.
tlutNlioUdDt II dt ltH bL'lN ~ aiH'Hh VI
li.yity In tho rra iincss with which msfOTtuuC1 arc
thrown of and life begun over again II ~ times ia"
OF difficulties which they have 10 encounter; yet
the whole, thIs spring OF yitay,h turned 10 good
world where the Imagination 10 PLAYS large part
anu "ngrG mere 80 % uin "a - y s. n prr,nce IGs
United States have TOO much or H. we
dcnce Of Americans in their own political, ccclcsas
teal and social system, h warning to Us 10 sc above
those doleful lameutnons with which in thcc DAYS We
ucn hear ciHZeus and Cuurcnmeu, aud Christians OF
England despair OF country, our Church. aud oar
religion. Secondly, there are thc elements OF that
character winch thcy possess in mmOn with tao
English race, with which their past history snOws II 10
b" In 80 many respects Identical In spite ot some dark
and sinister features both countries there is
whole the same keen appreciation OF Oh" delights OF
pure domestic ic In spite oi the ltW!c'sncss when ~
perhaps the inevitable OutbuIs OF the cyaucscoucc Ui
communities not yet fuly organized, there II on the
whole IN the mass Of the people something Oi tue same
scCuutTOl and common s.usc aud love OF HcCdUm ana
obedience to Law which pide ouTsciye' aud when
points between the Mother Country and the
Daughter States not are themselves encouraging
hut they derive adhtoh9 luIct IRON Whlc
they give uat the union between the two, though seven
by the revolution OF the last century, Il Ia the, sscua
eirments OF character ana sOciHl sympathy Pct
unbrOkcn. We no doupt may have much To lcarn from
America; but II tins ClOscncss ~ sympathy aud homo
geneOusncSs OF race Is st maintained ey wIli always
have something To learn rom us, and viii, We trust DC
which recOll, elton of American history mprosss
upon us, that were tueir fathers, So IN
children responsible tHcy sprauS from u,
yet more rcsponsblc because good evil ions
minds. COmmciiciai dishonesty, blind political par
tlsauship dcmagOgiC strltagcms, frivolous luxury
IN English society, are str ng incentive To any
Ike vices when appear III the Kindred siOcK;
aud the other hand, every attempt on our
part to MAINTAIN refinement OF manners truthful Goal
ing, pUy that does n0t tend 10 popular daaDu, On
pcty and sccOntru In social HE, act aud have acted
with immense force in promoting the Ike virtues
yOud the Atlantic l. spirit Oi The British COa
s., ,tuun," says Burke, wnIcI, infused through the
mighty OF the English settlements, pcFyudcr, leeds
uuItrs, inyigOracs every pdrf, even If Che mi
nuest" Our kinsmrn beyond the sea may be lattorcd
Ia d
strurgrr and greater than But they have too
sense they know Joint history too WELL IcpudatG
or dsparagc Their English pareuago ana their ancient
nome.
TILE INFLUENCE or MTERATURE.