USA > Maryland > Frederick County > Emmitsburg > Address delivered before the Philomathian Society, at the annual commencement of Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Frederick County, Md., June 30th, 1852 > Part 2
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But what is England's present position, and where now is the "breakwater," which was to resist the rushing tide of European despotism ? Prompted by her sordid interests, and not by her inclinations, in her advocacy of the cause of liberty, she was prepared to accommodate herself to any change which might take place in the affairs of the continent. Hence we find her now bending and cringing to those, whom, but a short while ago, it was her policy to abuse and des- pise. As an evidence of the sincerity of her repentance, she yields in humble compliance to the remonstrances of France and Austria, and narrows the circle of the liberties which she had conceded to European exiles, and among the first
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acts of the new ministry, was one withdrawing the bill which extended the electoral franchises of British subjects. So stands England after the political storms, which, with her assistance, were raised in the different states of the conti- nent ; and so ends the chapter of English sympathy in favor of constitutional liberty.
While England, by her concessions and apologies, has pur- chased her peace, and with it, the contempt of the nations from whom she obtained it, America, unable, and as unwill- ing as unable, to recede from her position, is looked upon with intense hatred, by all the powers of Europe. Where before the American traveller was received with open arms, he is now met by coldness and distrust. "Self preser-
vation," say the monarchists of Europe, "which required the expulsion of rebels and revolutionists from our midst, de- mands that we should be cautious in our reception of those who not only offer our enemies a home, but encourage them on to renew the attempt at our destruction." Hence it is, that an American on the continent, is now regarded either as an open enemy or a secret spy. But this is not all ; our country is now infested by crowds of European revolution- ists-these weeds torn up from the gardens of monarchy, and thrown with dangerous profusion upon our shores. Ar- riving in our midst, they but exchange the field of their labors, for what their philosophy calls, "the social and po- litical regeneration of man." That philosophy, founded on irreligion and infidelity, regards no more the legality of our institutions, than it did those of the monarchies of Europe. Already it has been announced by some of these champions of reform, that our government is founded on wrong princi- ciples-that it does not secure to man "liberty and equality" -and that, therefore, it should either be remodled or de- stroyed altogether. Such doctrines have already deluged Eu- rope in blood ; let America beware, lest their advocates here, by taking the lead in this so-called work of reform, should
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produce the same disastrous results in this asylum to which they have been invited.
Other doctrines, as dangerous in their effects as those al- ready alluded to, have been proposed by the advocates of modern progress, for " the advancement of the science of government." We fear the tendency of them all. The science of government is an experimental one, and we look in vain, during the lapse of the last half century, for evidence of any true, real progress, which would lay the basis for re- form in our government. Have the morals of our people, become more pure and refined ? Is obedience to law, more cheerful and universal, and, above all, is that ark of our safety-the Constitution-more reverenced now, than it was by the men of the past ? Has the administration of our gov- ernment fallen into the bands of a superior race of beings, and are the " corruptions in high places," which sometimes occur, only admonitions sent from Heaven to remind them of their frailty and mortality ? Is party spirit less rancorous, and do the spoils of office attract less of the attention of politicians now, than formerly ? Are our legislators an enlarged and improved edition of the noble set of American representatives, who once assembled in Philadelphia, or is there more of disinterested patriotism, more of wisdom, more of gentility of manners, in the present Houses of Con- gress, than could be found amongst our political fathers, who held their deliberations in the days when "constructive mile- age" was unknown, and pugilistic feats had not yet been introduced upon the floors of Congress ? We wait an affir- mative reply to these questions, before yielding our assent to any material changes in our form of government. It is the theory of Montesquieu, that "republics are founded on vir- tue," and if we have improved the material upon which the architects of our revolutionary period have erected this fa- bric of government, then may we commence to tear down their work and prepare for the erection of other institu-
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tions, more in accordance with the spirit of the age, and more in keeping with the quality of the foundation, upon which they are to be erected. But until then, we would say to these votaries of progress, "Procul esti profani"- touch not a single stone in that noble edifice, erected by men, the purity of whose patriotism, and the depth of whose wisdom, attracted the admiration of the world. It was reared for themselves and their posterity. Woe be to us, if faithless to our trust, we listen to the syren voice of Eu- ropean radicalism, and in our attempts to reform and remodel our institutions, "should filch from posterity the treasure placed in our hands, to be transmitted to other generations !"
Time, and a just regard to your patience, will not permit even a passing allusion to the various plans developed by the progress of the age, for (w. at is termed) " the amelioration of man's social condition." Society appears to be in a fer- ment, and everywhere we find a feverish desire to change the present condition of things for something that is better, or that is supposed to be better. "The people's rights, the laborer's rights, woman's rights, and everybody's rights and everybody's wrongs,"-the manner of curing society of all the evils that flesh is heir to, and how to secure the greatest happiness, not to the greatest number, but to "all the world and the rest of mankind ;" these are the subjects which are now agitating to a most dangerous extent, the minds of the people of this country! No man can mistake the paternity of these visionary theories of universal happiness. They are European born, and aim at nothing less than the total de- struction of our present social organization.
Enough, we are sure, has been said to convince every thinking mind, that our country has much to fear from these wild and destructive theories of social and political reform, which, of late, have become so popular and fashionable. Horace in his ode, " ad Rempublicam," exclaims in the lan- guage of the poet, and with the affection of a patriot :
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"O Navis referent in mare te novi Fluctus !"
In the same spirit should we cry out against these " new waves" of doctrines, which threaten the safety of our noble vessel of state. Its preservation is entrusted to each and every one of us. It was the proud boast of Cicero, that, to him, had been confided the high office of " taking care that the Republic should receive no detriment"-"ne quid res- publica detrimenti caperet." The genius of our institutions, bestows upon each one of her citizens the same high com mission, while the object of our care is as far above that which exercised the sleepless vigilance of Cicero, as Christi- anity is to Paganism, or civilization to semi-barbarism. Never has there been consigned to a nation more holy and important trusts, than those which belong to the American people. Cast your eyes back over the history of the past, and trace the onward course of civilization, as it advances from the far distant East, ever onward and westward, until it spread its genial light over our own continent In the Iliad, Homer speaks of Greece, as the West, beyond which was the great terra incognita. Soon Italy beams upon the eye of the exiled Trojan, and thither he repairs to find an asylum from the wars of the Eastern world. Spain and Gaul next figure as the terra occidentales of the Romans, and so they continued until Great Britain and Ireland rose up from their obscurity, and stood between them and the ocean. Here, for a while, the flight of civilization seems to have halted in its westward course, as if to gain strength for the rapid spread which it afterwards made over the western world In the Arneid, the West is described as ever reced- ing before the eyes of the wearied 'followers of Arneas :
Oras Hesperia semper fugientis.
With how much propriety may the expression be applied to the settlement of our own happy country ! Some who now hear me, remember when a portion of New York was the
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West, and so it was called until Ohio, Illinois, and other states rose up beyond her, and gained the title to the appel- lation. Farther on, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota are seen to emerge from the forests, and now " the star of Em- pire" rests upon the borders of the sandy deserts of Texas and New Mexico. But the decree has gone forth, that westward still it must " take its flight," and soon we find it bursting over these barren plains, and setting in more than pristine beauty and magnificence upon the distant shores of the Western Ocean. The Hesperia of the Arneid now rest over the golden sands of California. But will it stop there ? Already it seems to beckon us on to that great and mystical land, whose trade has enriched every nation that has enjoyed its harvest. We are prepared to follow, and ere long China and India will feel the advancing tide of civilization, and be re-vivified by its power. How intensely interesting is the thought, which the imagination pictures to our mind, when raising the curtain of the future, we contemplate China civi- lized and Christianized through the agency of American en- terprize ! Napoleon declared it to be "the true battle- ground upon which the struggle for European supremacy was to be fought, and had his ambitious plans been accomplished, he would have made it such during his life time. Under him, however, the struggle would have been one of blood, of strife and of conquest ; while with us, it will be the struggle of Christian civilization, against ignorance, barbarism and superstition. There, where began the original dispersion of the human race, and where commenced the long chequered history of the misery and happiness, the degradation and civilization of man, the closing scene of the grand drama will be consummated.
Other scenes of equal grandeur display themselves to our view, in the contemplation of the future. In the fervid and eloquent language of the elder Adams, " a prospect into fu- turity in America is like contemplating the Heavens through
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the telescope of Herschel, objects -- stupendous in their magni- tude and motions, strike us from all quarters, and fill us with amazement.
If such, gentlemen, be the destiny in reserve for our country, how important is it, that we should be fully im- pressed with a sense of the heavy obligations resting upon each one of us individually ? Upon the great theatre of life, all, however various their capacities, have their parts as- signed them in the great task of human improvement. For you, the time will shortly arrive, when the thousand endear- ments of this scholastic existence will be changed for the pursuits of worldly business. Animated with the spirit, and imbuded with the learning of your Alma Mater, you will go forth bearing from her portals the signet of her honors. Forget not your accountability to her for the manner in which you employ the many advantages you have received from her hands. My humble effort has been to point to you, in advance, some of the dangers which seems to threaten the safety of our republic. Yours, then, be the task to see that it "receives no detriment." From the history of the past, as well as from the classic pages of the ancient authors, you may learn lessons of wisdom worthy of your most serious study and contemplation. Athens from the midst of her ruins speaks to us in the words of one of the most illustrious of her citizens: "Accustom your mind," says Phocion, "to discern in the fate of nations, that recompen.se which the great Author of Nature has annexed to the practice of vir- tue. No state has ever ceased to be prosperous, but in con- sequence of her having departed from those institutions to which she owed her prosperity." Rome, in the eloquent language of her Pliny, cries out to us from the depths of the past : "Reverere conditores, Deos, numina Deorum. Reve- rere gloriam veterem, et hanc ipsam senectutem quae in nomine venerabilis, in urbibus sacra est."
Be mindful of these solemn warnings and ever reverence
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the glory which haloes the past of your own country. Heed not the glimmering lights which will ever and anon rise up before you in your path through life. They are but the ex- halations from the morass of error, which, when followed, lead the incautious traveller to his destruction.
There is a legend told of a certain band of Persian Magi, who were once passing over a dreary desert. Their leader, on one occasion, offered a handsome prize to the man who should discover the first rays of the next morning's sun. At dawn of the next day they all arose, and soon the struggle for the reward commenced. All eyes, save one, were in- tently fixed upon the Eastern sky. He alone, turned to- wards the West, and while his companions were laughing at, what they deemed, his folly, he was suddenly heard to ex- claim, "I see it!" "I see it !" All turned in surprise. Pointing to the West, he directed their eyes to the first rays of the rising sun, as they gilded the tops of the distant moun- tains, and to him was awarded the proffered prize.
So will it be with you, my friends, in your journey through life. You will find the majority of your fellow-men turn- ing with contempt from the Past, and looking, with eager gaze, to the Future, for the rising of that sun of "Progress," in which is centred all their hopes for their country's future growth and prosperity. Heed not their sneers ; but turn ye, with reverential eye, to the Past. There, on the tops of those distant mountains, beneath which lie buried the wis- dom and experience of ages, behold reflected the first and pure rays of that sun of political Truth, which will preserve undisturbed, the harmonious movements of this bright con- stellation of States, until the designs of the Great Being, who created them, shall have been accomplished.
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