anarchy, rapine, and plunder, may mark the incursions of barbarian hordes, who issue from their mountain fastnesses and overrun and lay waste the fairest cities and stateliest monuments which kingly pride and oppression may have reared; but these are only the bursting of the deadly portions of the elements which are collected in a brief tornado, visiting ruin upon a single spot, while the whole atmosphere. is rendered more pure and healthful, and true blessings are more generally and permanently diffused thereby. It was an angel of mercy that troubled the waters and gave them their healing properties. Look at it when and where you will, in the history of the past or in the nature and fitness of things, and you will find that the loosings of the power of tyranny, and the extension to the people of their just rights, have directly tended to their exaltation and improvement in knowledge, virtue, and happiness. Temporary confusion will necessarily follow revolution; but from the mass the heterogeneous materials will become gradually fused and amalgamated into new and improved systems, which will more completely develope the latent resources of man's true great

ness.

Ignorance is the most efficient weapon in the hands of monarchs, by which to hold their subjects in bondage. Knowledge, distributed among the people, is the only successful implement by which to repel the invasion of their rights, to assert their liberties and maintain them. It is the battle-axe of Omnipotence by which to slay sin, death, and hell, and gain universal freedom to the world. And he who wields it now in a good cause is sure of a glorious issue.

But another power, more secret and more humble in pretensions, but equally sure in its operations, insinuated itself into the systems of government and sapped the foundation of popular liberty and equal rights. I mean the corruption of wealth. What authority based on blood and brute force could not accomplish, being obliged to act openly, became the easy work of wealth, operating under fair pretences, or on private promises for the benevolent administration of

DANGERS INCIDENT TO A REPUBLIC. 105

government, or the advancement of personal interest. No sooner was this power permitted to corrupt the minds than the distinction of patrician and plebian was created, and favors and chains were apportioned to each. At first the favors were dealt out with a chary hand; and the fetters were forged carefully, so as to set easy upon the limbs, and cause no sudden or loud complaint. But the force of habit is strong, almost supreme, especially if its growth is gradual. Soon as the mind became inured to the distinctions, the breach widened, and the restraints grew less, till the great body of the people found themselves corrupted and enslaved by those revelling in luxury, but more corrupt and depraved than themselves. Tyrant power saw the occasion, seized the opportunity, built its throne on the lives and liberties of the slain; for the living had none; and again performed its deeds of darkness and guilt for a season.

The free spirit was then shorn of its strength; the wings of its heavenward flight were clipped; and, through the long night of moral and intellectual darkness, wandered forlorn, an outcast from the courts of kings, the castles of feudal lords, and the bosoms of the poor; till at length it found a home in the lodges of Germany and Scandinavia, among the glaziers of the Alps, along the banks of the Rhine, among the Vaudois of France, and in many large souls in the British Isles. Being of spontaneous growth, it only needed a natural soil and an opportunity to carry it to a rapid maturity. Taking religion to its aid, it appealed to higher than human courts for the right; to the God of all right, and justice, and truth; and attired itself for a new and determined conquest; resolved on victory or extinction. The tocsin of war sounded from the Vatican, then mistress of tyrants, and spread the alarm through all the borders of oppressors. But to the utter astonishment of all, the sparks of freedom seemed wide scattered over all Europe, and, when fanned by oppression, burst into flames and radiated more terrifically because of surrounding darkness. Then ecclesiastics and civilians, rich men and poor, old men and

young, in whose bosoms burned the sacred love of liberty, uprose in the greatness of their strength, arrayed themselves for the contest, and marched boldly forth to mingle in the holy strife for equal rights. Wealth, royalty, and absolution were spurned, and principles of eternal truth and freedom. of the soul, guarded by free investigation, were selected as the firm ground and towering bulwarks where to plant themselves for defence. They kindled their watch-fires on every tall height, a beacon-light to the oppressed, a terror to the oppressors. The assault was made; the conflict most severe. But He who rules in right gave the battle to the weak, defeat to the strong. In their weakness, the weak grew strong; in their strength the strong were made weak. Truth, long crushed, rose in triumph over error. Oppression, long successful, gave place to the right; and the justice of God's ways were distinctly revealed to man.

THE DEATH OF AN INFANT.

BY REV. WILLIAM B. O. PEABODY.

AND this is death! how cold and still,
And yet how lovely it appears!
Too cold to let the gazer smile,

But far too beautiful for tears.

The sparkling eye no more is bright,
The cheek hath lost its rose-like red;
And yet it is with strange delight
I stand and gaze upon the dead.

But when I see the fair wide brow,
Half shaded by the silken hair,
That never looked so fair as now,
When life and health were laughing there,
I wonder not that grief should swell
So wildly upward in the breast,

And that strong passion once rebel
That need not, cannot be suppressed.

I wonder not that parents' eyes
In gazing thus grow cold and dim,
That burning tears and aching sighs
Are blended with the funeral hymn;
The spirit hath an earthly part,

That weeps when earthly pleasure flies,
And heaven would scorn the frozen heart

That melts not when the infant dies.

And yet why mourn? that deep repose
Shall never more be broke by pain;
Those lips no more in sighs unclose,
Those eyes shall never weep again.
For think not that the blushing flower
Shall wither in the church-yard sod:
'T was made to gild an angel's bower
Within the paradise of God.

Once more I gaze- and swift and far
The clouds of death in sorrow fly:
I see thee like a new-born star
Move up thy pathway in the sky;

Farewell! I shall not soon forget! Although thy heart hath ceased to beat, My memory warmly treasures yet Thy features calm and mildly sweet; But no, that look is not the last; We yet may meet where seraphs dwell, Where love no more deplores the past, Nor breathes that withering word-Farewell!