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Show 68 The future of this country is to tal<e its shape, not from the growing of cotton at the South, not. from the struggles of parties or lenders for power or station ; but from the great principles which arc unrolding themselves silently' in men's breasts. There is here, and through the civilized world, a steady current of thought and feeling in one direction. The old notion of the subjection of the many, for the comfort ease pleasure and pride of the few, is fast wearing away.' A r:r higher, ~nd more rational conception of freedom, than entered into the loftiest speculations of ancient times, is spreading itself, and is changing the face of society. c' Equality before the laws," has become the watchword of all civilized states. The absolute worth of a human being is better understood, that is, his worth as an individual, or on his. own account, and not merely as a useful tool to others. Christianity is more and more seen to attach a sacredness and unspeakable dignity to every man, because each man is immortal. Such is the current of human thought. Principles of a higher order are beginning to operate on society, and the dawn of these primal, everlasting lights, is a sure omen of a brighter day. This is the true sign of the coming ages. Politicians, seizing on the narrow, selfish principles of human nature, expect these to rule for ever. They hope, by their own machinery, to determine the movements of the world. But if history teaches any lesson, it is the impotence of statesmen; and, happily, this impotence is increasing every day, with the spread of lights and moral force among the people. Would politicians study history with more care, they might learn, even from the dark times which are past, that interest is not, after all, the mightiest agent in human affairs ; that the course of human events has been more determined, on the whole, by great principles, by great emotions, by feeling, by enthusiasm, than by selfish calculations, or by selfish men. In the great conflict between the Oriental and the Western World, which 69 was decided at Thermopylro and Marathon; in the last great confltct between Polytheism and Theism, begun by Jesus Chnst, and carried on by his followers ; in the Reformation of Luther ; in the American Revolution ; in these g randest epochs of history, what was it which won the victory ? What were the mighty, all-prevailing powers ? Not political management, not self-interest, not the lower principles of human nature ; but the principles of freedom and religion, moral power, moral enthusiasm, the divine aspirations of the human soul. Great thoughts and great emotions have a place in human history, which no historian has hitherto given them, and the future is to be more determined by these, than the past. The anti-slavery spirit is not then to die under the breath of an orator. As easily might that breath blow out the sun. Slavery must fall, because it stands in direct hostility to all the grand movements, principles, and reforms of our age, because it stands in the way of an advancing world. One great idea stands o.ut amidst the discoveries and improvements of modern times. It is, that man is not to exercise arbitrary, irresponsible power, over man. To restrain power, to divide and balance it, to create responsibility for its just use, to secure the individual against its abuse, to substitute law for private will, to shield the weak from the strong, to give to the injured the means of redress, to set a fence round every man's property and rights, in a ~vord, to secur~ liberty,- such, under various expressions, IS the great obJect on which philosophers, patriots, philanthropists, have long fixed their thoughts and hopes. It is remarkable, and one of the happy omens of the times, that even absolute governments have reached, in a measure, this grand Idea. They present themselves as the guardians of hberty. They profess their desire and purpose to sustain equal laws, under which all men, from the highest to the lowest, shall find effectual protection for their rights. The |