Year: 1868

tnls country, particuiarly since the commence
ment of our great civil war, and which are
not yet ended, have not unnaturally led some
persons to doubt the stability and permanency
Of our institutions. Such views are not uncom-
mon in monarchical Europe. The outbreak of
the civil war was to be our ruin. When the
civil war had been suppressed and the North
stood forth triumphant the false prophets were
silenced. The troubles which have since
supervened in connection with reconstruction
have revived the cry, and from many quartz RS
the echo reaches us, "The Great Republic Of
the West is to share the fate of all the republics
which have gone before it," This cry, as we
have said, is not unnatural, and we have our
selves to thank If the events which are daily
transpiring lend it ample justification. Such
sentiments, however, are the result of an en-
tire misapprehension of the power which is
vested in the American people, and of the
ready and effective method by which that
power can be exercised. Our institutions are
safe because the people are masters of the
ballot box and because they know how to
use it.


OF all certain things nothing is more certain
than that in spite of laundering politicians the
nation will emerge from all these difficulties
mightier and more powerful than ever. These
Washington squabbles are certainly tenn
porary inconvenience but while they can do
us no permanent injury they are certain to
result in one lasting blessing. The people, if
they have learned nothing else, will at least
have learned to place higher value on the
powers secured to them by the constitution,
and to be more judicious henceforward in the
selection of their representatives. The trouble
will soon be ended; the States of the South
will resume their ancient privileges; industry
in all parts of the Union win revert to its
wonted channels; the soil of the South, long
neglected, will respond to the labors Of the
husbandman and the kindly earth will yield
her increase more plentifully than ever; trade
will be revived in every department and the
blessings of prosperity will be showered over
the land. Then will begin the second great
era of American history.


1t is impossible for the Thoughtful mind to
dwell on that future without being irresistibly
driven to the conclusion that it is to mark new
era, not in the United States alone, but, through
the influence of the United States, a new era
in the history of the world. It is clear as
MONDAY to any one who will take pains to
reflect that with increasing prosperity we shall
gradually and without force widen the area
of our dominion. To be Roman citizen was
once deemed the highest privilege which man
could enjoy. If we can at all read the signs of
the times the day is not far distant when to be
an American citizen will be an object of ambition
or Of envy wherever in any part of the world
humanity finds resting place. Then we shall
neither have rival dominions on the one border
nor rival republics on the other; for from the
Gulf to the Northern Sea and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific we shall be one united people.
AS a nation we shall not only be the greatest
on the face Of the earth by extent of territory,
by population and by actual wealth, but we
shall occupy the central and most favored por-
tion of the globe. The star of empire, having
moved westward for many centuries, shall
at last halt and shed its benignant rays over
this great republic Through our Western
ports the enterprise and skill Of our people will
rush to develop the resources of Japan, China
and India, and by the same channels the wealth
of Asia will return to be poured into our lap.
In like manner through our Eastern ports we
shall deal with the industry and resources of
other side of the Atlantic will find trade with
the East facilitated by our Intervention and
aid. The Atlantic and the Pacific seas will,
through the agency Of steam and electricity,
become grand American lakes. This state Of
things implies the tremendous growth and
prosperity of two American cities. New York
will wax mighter and mightier and mightier.
Men now living may see its population quad
rupled, and all that New York will be on the
Atlantic coast San Francisco will be on the
Island, on the Jersey coast, real estate will, as
o natural consequence, attain value unpre-
cedented in the history Of the world. We
have unquestionably bright and prosperous
times before us.


Nor is II possible to contemplate this mag
nificent future without considering its effect on
the civilization and Christianization of man
kind. 1t was the Roman road which, by
facilitating intercourse between people and
people, made the progress Of the Gospel CON-
paratively easy and its victories secure. But
the Roman highway was feeble aid when
compared with steam or electricity Much, too,


was due at that time to the general diffusion oi


knowledge OF the Greek tongue; but potent


as was that agent, 1t is not to be mentioned in
comparison with the more universally diffused


language Of Shakespeare and Of Milton. The


Asiatic Continent, intersected by networks Of


railway and covered by networks of electric


wire, will have no choice, but succumb to the


superior strength Of Western civilization, and


Western civilization is an embodiment o
Christian ideas. Is it too much to expect tc
| use the language Of that good old book, that