46 



senting to every one a clioice of employment ; in extending 

 the comforts and conveniencies of life to the greatest possible 

 number ; in producing a mutual intercourse between man and 

 man ; in rendering all the parts of society reciprocally depen- 

 dant oh each other, thus consolidating the whole by the 

 strongest of earthTy bonds — the bond of interest. 



But notwithstanding the triumphs of industry during this 

 era j notwithstanding the proud trophies it has handed down 

 to us as the fruits of its herculean efforts, it had not yet 

 achieved its complete enfranchisement' from its previously 

 enveloped condition. Its unipn with government was still 

 too clearly perceptible in the adoption of restrictive systems, 

 by most of the European powers ; thus limiting its bcnchcial 

 results, by restraining its freedom of action. Industry can 

 only find its best possible distribution, and its greatest quanti- 

 ty of encouragement, when all the markets of the world arc 

 freely opened to its products. 



Humanity during this, and the previous era, had attained 

 much, but not all. She had .not yet reached her acme. Her 

 highest point of attainment yet laid in another hemisphere. 

 We had seen a successive separation, and gradual develope- 

 ment, of human elements. The arts, and philosophy, and in- 

 dustry, except one remaining point of union, had successive- 

 ly achieved their, enfranchisement, and inscribed, in enduring 

 characters, on the historic page the results of their progres- 

 sive developeraent. We were yet to see industry completely 

 disenthralled. We were yet to see the only remaining sepa- 

 ration — that of religion from government. We had seen a 

 lifeless inertia characterising the first era of our history ; a spirit 

 of national movement pervading the. second ; and individual 

 enterprise and activity, restrained however by governmental 

 interference, enlivening the third. We were yet to se<? car- 

 ried more extensively into practical operation, the important 

 doctrine, that this world was made for individuals, not for 



knowledge the broad truth, that all the possible develope- 



