"There was no spectre to disturb the Royal Imagination, but an existing substance. A gigantic form walked the earth at this moment, who smote crowns with a hundred hands, and opened for the seduction of their subjects a hundred arms-Democracy." GRATTAN'S Letter to the Citizens of Dublin. In looking at the past, amidst the dissonances of life, and the jarring conflicts without aim and without effect, which have been and are gone, we can trace a principle which, like a bright line in an endless confusion of colors, seems to indicate a purpose among the successive generations of mankind. Action was not always a conflict for honor, lust, power, and things that have passed away. The Persian crushed the life out of myriads in order to eat the figs of Attica without purchase, and failed; the Roman trod over a subjected world to die by the hand of his nearest friend; the Corsican set up thrones and made kings to be tortured to death by a jailer; yet mankind, amidst their death charges and retreats, have had a purpose which rests. Exertion has not always been a laughing stock,—is not always to meet with scorn and utter derision from those who look to its cause and effect. Mankind does advance; some of the vanguard of the grand advancing army think that they see the beginning of the end. The conflict which was commenced three thousand years ago, and is still going on, evidences permanence and abiding intent among the momentary purposes about which mankind clash. A contest in which mankind have met with various success-now driven from the field, now advancing, it may be, with the stealthy tread of muffled feet, and now with feet shod with iron, with the clash of steel, the neighing of steeds, and the cry of victory, have rushed over all obstacles. Again, with serried ranks, with the calmness and stillness of power, have slowly moved on over the bodies of their fellows, towards the accomplishment of their purpose," equality in the eye of the law to all who live under the law;" which, when once attained, mankind will have arrived as near perfection as it is possible, while earth and its laws |