The Ohio Democrat

THE PAST ELECTION-FUTURE PROSPECTS.-There is, surely every thing in the aspect of affairs just now, to induce men to conduct worthy of American citizenship. We are indeed a highly favored people. Whilst the wail of millions of oppressed men is ever coming to our ears across the Atlantic— whilst the arrival of every vessel from the shores of the ancient world brings us tidings of the physical destitution of our fellow men -whilst every newspaper from those lands repeats to us the sad story of the regal magnificence of successful tyranny, and the hunger, thirst and nakedness of the millions-we can look abroad on our vast inheritance, and behold on every hand the soul-gladdening evidence of unexampled national and individual prosperity. The teeming earth offers us its fruits with boundless profusion. Unshackled industry every where reaps its due reward, On all hands human enterprise is invited into new and profitable channels. The whole land seems to shout a loud hosanna to peace and liberty. Such is the present: Who can paint the great future that awaits us? Never has it entered into the mind of the warmest lover of free institutions to conceive adequately the power, prosperity and glory that are in store for free America, if she be faithful to her trust. And there is this solemn consideration which should press ever upon the mind of the good citizen. Alas! it is the consideration which is least of all remembered.

Here is the source of the evil which most we have to dread. With nations as with individuals. to whom great prosperity is given, a narrow selfishness-a cold withering, blasting selfishness, is apt to creep in and fasten itself upon them, destroying every holy aspiration, every generous emotion, every pure and exalted principle of duty. Already this spirit dwells amongst us. Like the very air we breathe, that from its universality; ceases to be recognized as a blessing, the liberty which we possess is regarded with a cold, heartless, and callous indifference. Mean and petty objects of a day —the election of some official the triumph of a clique —the getting up of a procession-the inscription on a painted flag-a thousand mean and inconsiderable subjects divert the thoughts of men from the great work of manhood and freedom which lies before us. Was it only that we should be fed and clothed; and made rich in our generation, that this heritage of liberty has been given unto us? It is a sad matter that many in our midst will fail to enter an indignant 'no.' But there is thank Heaven, a goodly number who have not so learned the duties of American citizenship, who know and feel that they have been set here for the defence and extension of liberty-that their sympathies are to go out and embrace all men, irrespective of creed and name and lineage—that the glorious institutions of this land are to be sustained with firmness but moderation--with zeal, but with sobriety-with jealousy, but with a generous devotion. Let all good citizens then improve the years of repose allotted to them now, and employ all their energies in promoting the interests of the country -its commerce, its science, its literature, its arts-all that can embellish and ornament it animated at the same time by the genuine, liberal, and open hearted spirit of freemen worthy of that name.- N. Y. Herald.