Retrospect of the last Twenty-five Years. 
all: we seek the welfare of the many— 
the greatest good to the greatest number.” 
But language has been so misused by 
the upholders and ministers of power, 
that, however clearly defined the question 
may be which engrosses the attention 
of the world, it is not impossible for de- 
claimers to raise doubts, and to. confuse 
the simple mind by the sophistry of 
words. The facts, however, are now 
open to inspection that may explain 
the principles of both parties, and serve 
as'the bases of future action. 
NORTH AMERICA, 
The United States of America exhibit 
the effects of the progressive system 
upon the human race. Since the esta- 
blishment of their freedom, and, above 
all, during the last quarter of a century, 
their government has never swerved from 
its firm determination of favouring, with 
its whole power, the progress of know- 
ledge, virtue and liberty. The rapid 
growth and prosperity of these states (of 
which-see some demonstrationsinthe M. 
M., No. 411, p. 505) surpasses all that 
has, heretofore, been seen or heard of. 
In order properly to estimate these 
phenomena, we must. not forget the 
point from which these now united and 
flourishing states set out. The foun- 
ders were refugees of religious and polt- 
tical sects, who had been alternately the 
persecutors and the persecuted; and, 
in consequence, possessed the germs of 
animosity, resentment, and every species 
of aggravating fanaticism. For a long 
time they were recruited only by the 
-seum of England—the outcasts of despe- 
ration and crime. Latterly, their coun- 
try has become the refuge of fortune- 
hunters, intriguants and adventurers of 
all nations. The coloniesreceived from 
the governments of Europe the most 
dreadful of all institutions—slavery ; 
and the greater part of the population 
is dispersed in woods and forests, and 
over immense savannahs, remote from 
courts of justice and social protection. 
In such circumstances, the Americans, 
under a European government, would 
have been the most vicious of people: 
they may, on the contrary, rank among 
the most virtuous. Where shall we find 
more upright, just and honourable feel- 
ing? where so few crimes? where such 
reverence for the domestic virtues ? and 
where such freedom of conscience, joined 
to so universal an influence of religion ? 
No doubt the traces of the stain, which 
the Americans owe to their founders, is 
“still perceptible: but, every day, they are 
58% 
rapidly diminishing. In the race‘of in- 
tellect, the Americans, indeed, are but 
beginning. They were obliged’ to beeome 
agriculturists, artizans and merchants, 
before they had leisure to devote them- 
selves to literature, cr philosophy. But, 
already, they have introduced’ all the 
arts and sciences of Europe, and there 
is diffused amongst the mass of the 
people more rationality, positive know- 
ledge, quickness of perception, and 
common sense, than is to be found in 
the mass of European nations. 
The liberty of America is fortified by 
her knowledge and her virtue. They 
have’ no popular discords, no insurrec- 
tions, no civil wars. Their security is 
equivalent to their freedom, And ‘what 
is the result ? At the commencement 
of the era, the population amounted’ to 
four or five millions ; it is now eleven. 
Their towns were small and poor ; they 
now rival im grandeur, population and 
beauty, the capitals of Hurope. They, 
at first, sustained with difficulty the 
burthen of the public debt, contracted 
during the war of independence : their 
finds are now dependant alone upon 
their own resources, and their debt is 
almost nothing. Their commerce, their 
industry, even their agriculture, was sup- 
ported by English capital: their own 
is now sufficient for an extent of en- 
terprize, which spreads their commerce 
over Europe and the Indies, and carries 
the overflow of arts and. civilization 
‘southward, over what was once Spanish 
America. 
This the Americans have done during 
the last twenty-five years. 
Is it strange that we also should feel 
an emulation to profit by their example, 
and extend still further our own mighty 
resources ?—to keep pace with their 
growth, and maintain at equal distance 
our splendid, and hitherto unparalleled 
re-eminence? Would it not be strange 
if the civilized nations of Europe did 
not sympathize in the generous emula- 
tion ? 
Unhappily, however, it is not difficult 
to find instances of the contrary ten- 
dency, : 
MOLDAVIA, WALACHIA, &c. 
In order to give the least possible 
offence to those who do not wish to 
hear the truth, we will take one far from 
us, in a country where the government 
uses no artifice to disguise its intentions. 
The country alluded to is situated be- 
twixt the three Imperial and dominant 
Sovereignties of continental Europe 
4A¥F2 —belonging 
