Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

step from the monarchy of Louis XVI. and the religion of Rome to the republicanism of St. Just and the atheism of D'Holbach in the last ten years of the eighteenth century, more easily than we as a nation could adopt to-morrow the socialism of Charles Fourier, the dietetics of Sylvester Graham and the religion of Joe Smith.

To attempt the production of a great effect in a short time and by small means is quackery, and quackery cannot succeed. "A lie can't live," says Carlyle, and truly. Robert Hall thought the shadow moved back at Waterloo, on the dial-face which marks the advancing ages. The termination of the republic in the military despotism of Napoleon; the attempt of that most wonderful of men to establish a new dynasty instead of carrying to its ultimate the universal political reform, whose only hope came to rest in him--an attempt which Channing has justly remarked upon as exhibiting the great, almost the only weakness of his truly heroic character; his intellectual subjection to the social ideas of former less enlightened ages; the overthrow of a throne which had grown up by the people's permission, because it was reared and filled by their idol; and the Bourbon restoration by the combined arms of old friendly monarchies-all this did look like counter-marching. But the tide-waves break and flow back for a moment, while the general movement is still onward, and each thundering billow dashes farther upon the barren sand. So the Napoleonic wave recoiled from Waterloo, but the grand European democratic tide was even then rushing forward, undiscouraged by the batteries of Wellington; and since 1815, many heavy surges have angrily plowed into the sand banks of feudalism. The republic has come back without its reign of terror, and its presiding Bona

parte exhibits no ability, had he the inclination, to follow up the steps of an imperial throne.

The Eternal City has vomited forth a wearer of the triple crown, certainly much more congenial with the spirit of this age than any successor of the braggart who, “afar off," followed the brave prophet of the people. Hungary too is clamorous for a recognition of her rights, and Kossuth may after some future Austerlitz, assert them at the trembling gates of Vienna. The northern autocrat scowls at the deluge of popular light, generating popular power, that comes bounding up against the walls of his great national prison-house, already, with so loud a voice that serfs can almost hear, and is making strong his arm to resist its progress. How successfully, Borodino with no after Moscow conflagrations, yet will tell. All these things are clearly indicative of advancement with occasional retrogressions. We are not to hope, with the juvenile independence orator, that all the world is but just behind, following close in our tracks; but we may, indeed we can but expect some improvement in the great science of government as well as in all others, and in our own country too, as well as elsewhere, as mankind grows older and more experienced. And in these mighty revolutions, my brother, you have something to do. There are only just so many levers and the world is to be turned over, and “ every thing seems to cry loudly to every man-Do something! do it! do it!" Marching humanity requires from you assistance: conscience commands its rendition. You are called upon by every feeling of benevolence to commisserate the sad condition of your fellow-men, and to exert yourself for their relief. You are called upon, by the highest principle of honor, to strive to remove the foul stains which

have so long disgraced our common nature. You are called upon, by a sense of justice, to discharge a debt that you owe the race. Loudly does every noble sentiment of our manhood call to you, "Arise and let your light shine before men." Our fathers, from their hallowed graves, by their examples beg us hear old laboring Franklin speaks aloud: Obey that call! Rouse all the latent energies of the mind you possess rather that you are! Shake off the rust of indolence and stand erect in the image of your eternal Sire! Looking with brave glance into the involving night of intellectual and moral gloom, you too may say, "Let there be light!" and there will be light.

THE WORLD CHAMPION.

To Christian philanthropists, and especially to American Christians, no subject can be more interesting than that of the concluding reflections in the last article. Desirous of expatiating somewhat more largely thereupon, I have chosen another heroic name as the nucleus of my remarks, and congratulate myself on the honor assumed of writing a few eulogistic words on WASHIngton.

I need not say that the surrounding halo of that name can not be brightened by any breath of ours, and that the admiration with which all men look upon the character of him who wore and honored it, may not be increased by the added tribute of our humble gratitude. He stands too high in the esteem of mankind, to be elevated in the least degree by our feeble efforts. His statue occupies too lofty a niche in the temple of fame, to be adorned or approached by the incense of our offered praises: they may not reach, in their proudest aspiratioas, and even kiss in grateful humility, its exrlted pedestal—much less encircle with a new glory his wreathed brow. Yet, though Washington cannot now be honored by us, he is an honor to us. If that natural feeling of pride, which we also experience in common with all men of all nations and ages, when contemplating: he reagnainmity of our most distinguished countrymen and

« AnteriorContinuar »