Year: 1869

u ulscusSloI Oi tuo question. ATe
we, as nation, advancing, or retro.
grading ~ has led to these inquiries
What constitutes a nations great.
ness? Will not every one answer, 8
good and right form of government;
wholesome laws that are not op.
pressive, and that give to the gov
erned an equal voice in the construc-
ton of the government; useful IN.
ventions and Improvements for the
greatest public good schools, acad-
emies and seminaries of learning p
and by no means least among the in
gradients we must place religion.


Let us look at a few stems under
these general heads. AS for the form
OF government, is it not conceded by
the world that the United States OF
America has the best? True, it was
shaken to the foundation by the late
rebellion which threatened its utter
annihilation but it braved the fierce
ness of the blast, and to-day is in
creasing in Importance and power
True, as the tornado of war was lull.
ing, the administration fell for a time
into the hands of desperados and
knaves, who brought back the dark
portentous clouds of destruction
above our heads, and we trembled
with fear that our doom was at hand
But the sun and breezes of prosperi.
ty have scattered these clouds ol
gloom, and to-day the light shines
brightly and We are increasing in con.
fidence. The very storms and tenn.
pests which threaten the destruction
of the majestic tree of the forest, by
the swaying of its trunk but looser
and mellow the earth beneath, and
all the fibrous roots moistened ano
warmed by succeeding shower and
sun, thrust quickly and deeply down
ward and around, at once increasing
the strength and glory of the tree.


So shall it be, We trust, in the pass
ing history of this nation. These ap.
parent calamities are but the means
and the sign of an unprecedented
growth in grandeur, in stature, il
Importance and glory. Do we MOI
gee and feel the mighty wave of in
creasing interest In national affairs
Look at the thousands of persons as
sembled the other day at Washing
ton to witness the exit of ant
the Inauguration of the Presiden
elect. Let us see if here are signs o
retrograde, as we place ourselves il
the midst of that vast and cage


throng and listen to his address
Hear him read:


1.-The proper treatment of the orig
inal occupants of this country, tn,
Indians, is one deserving of careful
consideration. 1 will favor any cours,
toward them which tends to thei
civ ilization, chlistianizatien, and ul
innate citizenship


"In conclusion, | ask patient forbear
ance one toward another, Throughout


the land, and a determined effort OF
the part of every citizen to do hi.
share toward cementing happy
union, and | ask the prayers of thu
nation to Almighty God in behalf o
this happy consummation."


Give me always such retrograde a:
this. Who will dare attempt to emu
merate the new and really useful in
ventions of the times? But let us
refer to one or two and see if they in
dicate decline. But a short time ago
and communication between this ma.
ton and European countries wa;
slow and tedious, often requiring
weeks for transmission. How is il
now? Two or or more powers at va.
rance In the old country become re-
conciled, and peace is declared al
three P. NJ. of their time. A dispatch
is transmitted by cable and before
noon of this same day by our time,
our Eastern cities are in receipt of the
intelligence. We cannot comprehend
perhaps, nor estimate the value OF
this facility both in governmental
and commercial affairs. But we have
scarcely recovered from the shock OF
eXultant surprise at the achievement
of the Atlantic submarine telegraph,
when we are startled by the astound-
i1g fact that the Atlantic shores with
their densely crowded population,
are welded to the Pacific States and
Territ itories with their interminable
wealth and surprising beauty by the
iron band now almost completed.
Where is the mind that can estimate
or appreciate the magnitude and
grandeur of this work ? Will it not
be glorious ride, think you, by rail, &,
from shore to shore of this mighty
And are we to suppose
that the inventive and progressive
genius of the nation is Just aoac ex-
hausted and declining?


Colleges and universities of learn
ing are established and are still
springing up all over the land, where
all the young land the older, too, J
may thoroughly equip themselves
with education sufficient for every
position and emergency in life. But
after all other considerations are
weighed and applied in all their sig
nificance and Importance, shall we
not assume that the religion of the
Bible, which Is the religion of Jesus
Christ, Is the right, the true, and the
only safe basis upon which any ma
ton may found its hopes of greatness
and glory? We are cited to the an
cient Romans and other nations who
and fell, as evidence that
America must also rack into ruins. -
But what has that nation or people
TO fear of decay that will abhor idol
airy and cleave to the worship of Je-
hovah as the only God


Granted that crime of every mag
nitude and sin of every hue and shade
are stalking abroad in the land, run
ming riot even at noonday-and the
sight is fearful and appalling: but We
must remember that the population
of particular localities and of the
Union is increasing at a vast and
rapid rate, and that though iniquities
abound and increase, the cause of re-