03
ExrrknNOE.
the same appreciation of noble qualities; J
and this cannot be unless they arc ac
quainted. Nothing nourishes prejudice like l)oing
ahvay in the same place, or narrows the
mind like always bounding the view by
the same horizon.
It is also charged that there is not that
harmony between the different parts of
the country that there should be. This
granted. IJutwcdeny that there is less
harmony between the different parts of
the country than formerly. Perfect unan
imity of sontimcul is not to be expected,
now or ever, for it is a thing altogether
unknown and foreign to all lorms of gov
ernment. Again, the cry of political corruption is
never abated nor abating; and that there
is a great deal wo do not propose to deny.
There have ceitainly been ominous exam
ples of degeneration and perversion of
exalted powers, but the waters of oblivion
have already closed over some, and are
fast sweeping away others.
Amid all the changes in public and pri.
vate affairs, through the calm of peace
aud the storm of war, we find we ha"c
been making progress. In developing
our resources and increasing our wealth,
we have done more than any othor nation
of modern times. Our territory is vastly
more than sufficient for the subsistence of
those who now inhahitit, but is still
deemed by many quite too small to meet
our future growth. Then it is most grati
fying to look back over the past and
notice our progress. The past and pies
cut arc so very peouliniy related. The
present without the past is unintel
ligible; the present so cheerless and
dreary that earnest hearts would sink un
der the burden, and man, reduced to the
selfish bounds of his own individuality,
would be absolved from all tnose endear
ing and ennobling ties which connect
him with the past by gratitude, and with
tho future 13' hoe; prepare him with
each successive generation for the higher
aims, more expansive usefulness and pu
rer enjoyment. M. E.
EMINENCE.
A man to bo great in this ago must have
money or ofllcc. A frail creature, perched
upon some high eminence of state, is
looked up to as an awful and invincible
being. His errors and short coinings are
humored like those of a pet child. AYeiv
many of his sayings, that arc cherished
as literary gems, produced by those in
tho common walks of life, thev would bo
thought foolish and ridiculous. Instead
of receiving truth from whatever source
it comes, we blight our intellects with
the idea that it is not what is said, but irJio
says it. In this way we often allow the
eminent man to iiMirp our reason. Says
Do Tocqueville, "If we read aright the
history of the world we shall find that
great ami rapid changes in human opin
ions have been produced far less by the
force of reasoning than by the authority
or a man." "Why should we thus allow
ourselves to be led blindly by "the au
thority of a man?"
It is said that the way to eminence is
long and laborious. This is true, general
ly, but there are many exceptions. Through
tho immorality existing in society, bold
ness, hypocrisy and fluency of speech arc
often the rcquisiics to eminence. But as a
general rule a person is shackled until he
arrives at eminence, when he is set free,
and becomes "monarch of all he sur
veys." If his right wo dispute, we are
thought to be dangerous contentionists.
If he commits any misdemeanor or crim
inal act he becomes a public curiosity,
and thousands Hook like a pack of hun
gry wolves to hear his star lecturing.
Though lie should say things so absurd as
to make a donkey laugh, they would be
treasured up as invaluable bits of litera
ture. Eminent mup often advocate what they
do not believe. A proof of ibis is that
their actions speak louder than their
words. "When a famous man contradicts
himself he easily reconciles it through
the doctrino of an eminent writer " to be
1 great is to be misunderstood." Indeed,
(l
