Page:The History of Liberty.djvu/7

 God-like attributes; redeemed, regenerated and disenthralled.

It is an interesting task to trace the progress of Liberty in our world—to mark its struggles and slow and tedious advancement—, how its advancement—like that of all truth has the same obstacles to encounter—and the same difficulties to overcome—; and how in the end it is omnipotent and must therefore prevail; and then with blessings large and varied, which have acquired their maturity and perfection during these ages of slow progression, she enriches all who embrace her.

The progress of Liberty in our world may be compared to some of the greatest rivers of our globe—the fountain head of which it is difficult, if not impracticable to discover; which have hitherto baffled the utmost daring—enterprise and intrepedity of the explorer. We can discover here and there a rippling streamlet—half seen—halt concealed, sparkling and murmuring in its infantile pride and gladness, in the green grass and the fragrant flowers; now vanishing, now appearing—and by turns quickening and repressing the desires, hopes and fears of the ardent traveller—; like the gay coquette who amuses herself alternately with the hopes and fears, she excites in the bosom of him whom she designs at last to enchain.

Like such rivers is the progress of Liberty. We see, in the far off, distant and misty, political landscape of our world, as we ascend the now broad and tranquil stream of Liberty—here and there a few bright and sunny spots, green and redolescent, sparkling in their isolated beauty, in the moral darkness and waste around them, and showing to the eye of the beholder that here the waters of life are silently flowing. And when at last the continuous current appears, and following its sinuous windings—how like in character to the same rivers, referred to; when it meets an insuperable barrier, how silently and gently does it turn away to water, vivify and enrich other climes and other lands: until at last with all its accumulated treasures, and accelerated force, it sweeps away every opposing obstacle, and rolls on in grand and tranquil magnificence and majesty, omnipotent alike to bless and destroy.

But before we examine the progress of liberty in detail, we must ascertain its origin—and its character; whence it came, for what came, and what it is. This isa deep and grave question, or questions—; and constitutes the burden of our task—, as it constitutes the most important part of our subject.

But our limits will only allow us to do no more to this