586 
knowledging our errors, for examining 
what progress we have made in the in- 
fallible course, and for deriying from 
the contemplation of the past, new hopes 
and new motives for the future. 
A year of jubilee was accordingly pro- 
claimed. With what little zeal or appa- 
rent enthusiasm its introduction was 
attended—what abatement of pomp— 
what paucity of pilgrimage to the shrine 
of St. Peter, is sufficiently notorious; 
and with what grudging contribution to 
the holy treasury, may be as readily in- 
ferred. Those, however, who desire the 
improvement and melioration of man— 
his‘progress in virtue, talent and liberty, 
and the exercise of those faculties that 
raise him above the brute, would do 
well to celebrate this Jubilee, at least in 
their ‘meditations, The political philan- 
thropist (as well.as the religious de- 
votee) may find .some advantage in 
looking backward and examining the 
course already run, repenting of the 
errors committed, confirming his faith 
in the truths that are known, and draw- 
ing fresh encouragement from the les- 
sons of experience. 
The first twenty-five years ofthe Nine- 
teenth century have had a character en- 
tirely their own. One sole interest has 
engrossed them ;—the struggle between 
two systems of political doctrine which 
divide the human race, and upon which 
depend the disposal of power and the 
future destinies ofthe earth. One tends 
to the advancement of our species; the 
other arrests its progress, and would 
eompel it to retrograde. 
In different countries these systems 
have been alternately victorious ; and 
violent revolutions and national over- 
throws have, in this quarter of a cen- 
tury, alternately signalized the triumph 
of either party. They are still at issue; 
the event as yet uncertain; and though 
‘we are far from pretending to be neutral, 
‘we believe we can, without bitterness or 
‘partiality, describe their eta po- 
‘sitions. And first, we will observe, 
‘though in the midst of many distressing 
‘and discouraging events, there is some 
‘comfort for the friends of humanity, in 
‘at length perceiving the real object of 
‘these divisions, and the character of the 
two parties clearly defined. In the 
course of the twenty-five years under 
review, it has not been always thus. As 
each party has, in turn, become tyran- 
-nical, and, in the flush of power, braved 
‘the lights of reason, the inspirations of 
morality, or the proud feelings of liberty, 
—we have-seen'yirtuous men, actuated 
/ 
Retrospect of the last. Twenty-five Years. 
by conscience, ranging themselves under 
the opposite standards; equally actuated, 
perhaps, by the desire of preserving 
whatever is ennobling to man; of ex- 
pelling despotism, whatever shape it 
might assume, and averting anarchy and 
vandalism ; of upholding civilization and 
virtue, and restoring liberty: all which ap- 
peared to have been alternately trampled 
under foot, by the excesses of revolu- 
_ tionary precipitancy, and by the strides 
of insatiable ambition. 
Of the value of these precious gifts 
there is and can be but one opinion. 
We differ only as to the means of attain- 
ing them: the characteristics by which 
they may be known, and the modifica- 
tions and balances of authority by which 
they may be best maintained. No man 
ever voluntarily shuts himself from the 
light of knowledge, of virtue, and of 
freedom ; or offers his blood as the price 
of oppression and chains. 
“ We fight for liberty !”? said a repub- 
lican soldier'to an Imperialist. “And do 
you think,” replied the Austrian, “ that 
we fight to become slaves ?”—For ‘a 
long time one source of error was the in- 
coherent apprehension of motives—the 
irrational diyision of objects inherently 
identified, or, at least, of necessity co- 
operative ; not hostile or incompatible : 
as if the interests of man depended se- 
parately, either upon liberty, knowledge, 
or virtue. They are, im fact, indivisible. 
Man must be enlightened in order to 
distinguish good from evil; he must/be 
virtuous, thathe may cling to the former; 
and he must be free, thatihis choice may 
be.effective. The same knowledge which 
directs his moral choice, will lead him to 
every other good, and point out the 
mean whereby he may attain it. Every 
advance of intellect will produce a.cor- 
responding progress in yirtue, and in 
liberty. 
The conviction of the intimate alli- 
ance between these grand objects and 
characteristics of our nature, which igno- 
rance and sophistry have so frequently 
presented as opposed, removes one of 
the greatest obstructions and .embar- 
rassments from the .progress of the 
friends of humanity. 
But the retrograde party, perhaps, 
mightjsay—their actions seem to say so— 
“ We believe knowledge, virtue, liberty, 
andthe increase of riches, population and 
power, which result from them, to be 
good things; but we desire them only 
for ourselves.” To this the progressive 
party have aright to'reply: “ Because 
these ‘things are good, we wish:them a 
all: 
Oe Se TsO 
