The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-10
For the VIRGINIAN.
Who are the Americans and Why are
they Progressive People?


Who are the Americans and Why are
they Progressive Peoples
In late number Of the Baltimore Gazette
appeared lengthy article on the race from
which sprung the American people. With
much in that article do not agree. and with
your leave and liberty would like to say a
little on that subject.
The character OF the American, just like
any other product, whether in external ma
tnre or In man, is result Of chain OF pre-
cedent events. In his case the links Of
this chain can be traced back to dates and
events long anterior to the date of history,
or even to the twilight OF tradition, but
which, thanks to modern scientists, are not
altogether irrecoverable. Philology reveals to
lis that race of mankind to which the Amer
lean belongs, seated at very remote date,
somewhere in central Asia.
As there is no ground for supposing that
it came from the South, which was occupied
by another and very different branch of the
human family, or from the West or the
North, for reasons with which the philolo-
gst and ethnologist will be familiar, we must
conclude that if it had not sprung from the
soil, it must have come from a more distant
East. If then the Aryans of Central Asia
had been the product Of migration, OF
course only those had come who had the en-
tcTprise and the hardihood to go in quest OF
new home. This then was the spirit
which presided over the race at its birth, an d
launched it upon its long career. Again and
of history had not yet begun, the same pro-
cess must have been repeated. OF this
hardy and enterprising race, the most hardy
and enterprising again renewed their west
ward movement. Ali the while the charac'
teristics Of the Advancing race were being
confirmed and strengthened, the infirm and
feeble in body and purpose were ever being
left behind, and the primeval and now hered-
itary impulse to move on at all risks was be-
coming in those who, from time to time, sought
new homes, AN ever stronger instinct. At
last, and this is when ordinary history first
takes cognizance of them, we find them
settled on the:southern and northern shores
of tue Baltic.
After awhile the day arrived for another
movement, for another winnowing and slit
ing, far moreIs searching than any of the
previous ones. Greater hardihood and en-.
terprise were needed than were ever called
| for in any OF their past movements. The
sea had now to be crossed-a new form OF
lar, +, FRO, toll ,I,n
| tured in their open and half-open boats on
\ this great enterprise to establish new home
1 for themselves on the other side of the storm
swept waste of waters, must be men who
| know no fear, and in whom the instinct Of
moving forward is ilrepressible. The result
of this supreme effort is the great English
| nation-the product of all that is best in
| Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Danes and North
| men. Such was the long process by which
| the men were found who fought at Agin-
court, Trafalgar, and at Waterloo, on the
Ganges, the Nile and the st. Lawrence; who
produced Bacon, a Shakespeare, and a
| Newton who first tried men by their peers
and first governed themselves by their rep
resentativcs; who broke the Papal yoke and
established freedom Vi religion, of speech
of the press, and of commerce. In their little
| island they proved themselves the graades
| race the world had seen.
JTut the great drama was not yet complete
The original impulse had been gainin.
strength and now appeared to eliminate
But it was not 60. One more effort had t,
be made. In grandeur and hardihood i
transcribed all that had yet been achieved
Not narrow sea, but the broad Atlanti
had to be crossed not small island, but
new world had to be occupied. The Eng
lish race must itself be sifted, and none bu
those who have nerve as firm as that of tn
Pilgrim Fathers, and this most active ii
stinct of progression, can take part in tn
mighty enterprise.
Aud so it comes to pass that America
peopled with that which is most enterpris
j ing and progressive in that race in whie
these qualities had been most highly deve
oped. In these respects she receives Il
cream of the cream, the purest selection
!, that which was most select.
e The long series is now comp leted. III
circuit of the world has bern made. II
hardy, the inventive, the go-ahead Americs
= looks out on the Pacific, and towards tn
side of the old Continent from which b
first ancestors started on the long caree
n which in his person is now consummatcd.
The like of this has not been done by al
le other race of men, or in any other part
the world. In human history it is somethil
}. quite unique. 1t is the main stream in the h
!. tory Of man. All other series of events
as, for stance, that which resulted in t
r culture Of mind in Greece, and that viii
resulted in the empire of Rome-only a
Z pear to have purpose and value when view
in connection with it,or rather as subsidia
to it. Their true place In history is that
affluents to the main stream. And ev
e. Christianity itself, which SO loudly proclai
g it's indifference to all national or ethnolos
cal distinctions, and its equal regard
every branch Of the human family, while
: has been rejected by the race to which
was first revealed, has become to the mt
advanced parts of the Teutonic race, in
greater degree than to any other peop
their educator and their strength,
III. s