It
too must be adorn'd, credited with its results--then, when it, with
imperial power, through amplest time, has dominated mankind--has been
the source and test of all the moral, esthetic, social, political,
and religious expressions and institutes of the civilized world--has
begotten them in spirit and in form, and has carried them to its
own unprecedented heights--has had, (it is possible,) monastics and
ascetics, more numerous, more devout than the monks and priests of
all previous creeds--has sway'd the ages with a breadth and rectitude
tallying Nature's own--has fashion'd, systematized, and triumphantly
finish'd and carried out, in its own interest, and with unparallel'd
success, a new earth and a new man.
Thus we presume to write, as it were, upon things that exist not, and
travel by maps yet unmade, and a blank. But the throes of birth are
upon us; and we have something of this advantage in seasons of strong
formations, doubts, suspense--for then the afflatus of such themes
haply may fall upon us, more or less; and then, hot from surrounding
war and revolution, our speech, though without polish'd coherence, and
a failure by the standard called criticism, comes forth, real at least
as the lightnings.
And may-be we, these days, have, too, our own reward--(for there are
yet some, in all lands, worthy to be so encouraged.) Though not for
us the joy of entering at the last the conquer'd city--not ours the
chance ever to see with our own eyes the peerless power and splendid
_eclat_ of the democratic principle, arriv'd at meridian, filling the
world with effulgence and majesty far beyond those of past history's
kings, or all dynastic sway--there is yet, to whoever is eligible
among us, the prophetic vision, the joy of being toss'd in the brave
turmoil of these times--the promulgation and the path, obedient, lowly
reverent to the voice, the gesture of the god, or holy ghost, which
others see not, hear not--with the proud consciousness that amid
whatever clouds, seductions, or heart-wearying postponements, we have
never deserted, never despair'd, never abandon'd the faith.
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