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to better their fortunes。 Gradually the United States and Canada
became populated from east to west and from north to south。 The
surplus population of Europe poured itself into the wilds of
America。 Generally the emigrants were farmers。 With the growth of
agricultural industry were developed commerce and manufactures。
Thus； materially； the world was immensely benefited。 A new
continent was opened for industry。 No matter what the form of
government may be；I might almost say no matter what the morals
and religion of the people may be；so long as there is land to
occupy； and to be sold cheap； the continent will fill up； and will
be as densely populated as Europe or Asia； because the natural
advantages are good。 The rivers and the lakes will be navigated；
the products of the country will be exchanged for European and
Asiatic products； wealth will certainly increase； and increase
indefinitely。 There is no calculating the future resources and
wealth of the New World； especially in the United States。 There
are no conceivable bounds to their future commerce； manufactures；
and agricultural products。 We can predict with certainty the rise
of new cities； villas； palaces； material splendor； limited only to
the increasing resources and population of the country。 Who can
tell the number of miles of new railroads yet to be made； the new
inventions to abridge human labor； what great empires are destined
to rise； what unknown forms of luxury will be found out； what new
and magnificent trophies of art and science will gradually be seen；
what mechanism； what material glories； are sure to come？ This is
not speculation。 Nothing can retard the growth of America in
material wealth and glory。 The splendid external will call forth
more panegyrics than the old Roman world which fancied itself
eternal。 The tower of the new Babel will rise to the clouds； and
be seen in all its glory throughout the earth and sea。 No Fourth
of July orator ever exaggerated the future destinies of America in
a material point of view。 No 〃spread…eagle〃 politician even
conceived what will be sure to come。
And what then？ Grant the most indefinite expansion；the growth of
empires whose splendor and wealth and power shall utterly eclipse
the glories of the Old World。 All this is probable。 But when we
have dwelt on the future material expansion； when we have given
wings to imagination； and feel that even imagination cannot reach
the probable realities in a material aspect；then our predictions
and calculations stop。 Beyond material glories we cannot count
with certainty。 The world has witnessed many powerful empires
which have passed away； and left 〃not a rack behind。〃 What remains
of the antediluvian world？not even a spike of Noah's ark； larger
and stronger than any modern ship。 What remains of Nineveh； of
Babylon； of Thebes； of Tyre； of Carthage；those great centres of
wealth and power？ What remains of Roman greatness even； except in
laws and literature and renovated statues？ Remember there is an
undeviating uniformity in the past history of nations。 What is the
simple story of all the ages？industry； wealth； corruption； decay；
and ruin。 What conservative power has been strong enough to arrest
the ruin of the nations of antiquity？ Have not material forces and
glories been developed and exhibited； whatever the religion and
morals of the fallen nations？ Cannot a country grow materially to
a certain point； under the most adverse influences； in a religious
and moral point of view？ Yet for lack of religion and morals the
nations perished； and their Babel…towers were buried in the dust。
They perished for lack of true conservative forces； at least that
is the judgment of historians。 Nobody doubts the splendor of the
material glories of the ancient nations。 The ruins of Baalbec； of
Palmyra； of Athens； prove this； to say nothing of history。 The
material glories of the ancient nations may be surpassed by our
modern wonders； but yet all the material glories of the ancient
nations passed away。
Now if this is to be the destiny of America；an unbounded material
growth； followed by corruption and ruin；then Columbus has simply
extended the realm for men to try material experiments。 Make New
York a second Carthage； and Boston a second Athens； and
Philadelphia a second Antioch； and Washington a second Rome； and we
simply repeat the old experiments。 Did not the Romans have nearly
all we have； materially； except our modern scientific inventions？
But has America no higher destiny than to repeat the old
experiments； and improve upon them； and become rich and powerful？
Has she no higher and nobler mission？ Can she lay hold of forces
that the Old World never had； such as will prevent the uniform doom
of nations？ I maintain that there is no reason that can be urged；
based on history and experience； why she should escape the fate of
the nations of antiquity； unless new forces arise on this continent
different from what the world has known； and which have a
conservative influence。 If America has a great mission to declare
and to fulfil； she must put forth altogether new forces； and these
not material。 And these alone will save her and save the world。
It is mournful to contemplate even the future magnificent material
glories of America if these are not to be preserved； if these are
to share the fate of ancient wonders。 It is obvious that the real
glory of America is to be something entirely different from that of
which the ancients boasted。 And this is to be moral and
spiritual；that which the ancients lacked。
This leads me to speak of the moral consequences of the discovery
of America；infinitely grander than any material wonders； of which
the world has been full； of which every form of paganism has
boasted； which nearly everywhere has perished； and which must
necessarily perish everywhere； without new forces to preserve them。
In a moral point of view scarcely anything good immediately
resulted； at least to Europe； by the discovery of America。 It
excited the wildest spirit of adventure； the most unscrupulous
cupidity； the most demoralizing speculation。 It created jealousies
and wars。 The cruelties and injustices inflicted on the Indians
were revolting。 Nothing in the annals of the world exceeds the
wickedness of the Spaniards in the conquest of Peru and Mexico。
That conquest is the most dismal and least glorious in human
history。 We see in it no poetry； or heroism； or necessity； we read
of nothing but its crimes。 The Jesuits； in their missionary zeal；
partly redeemed the cruelties； but they soon imposed a despotic
yoke； and confirmed their sway。 Monopolies scandalously increased；
and the New World was regarded only as spoil。 The tone of moral
feeling was lowered everywhere； for the nations were crazed with
the hope of sudden accumulations。 Spain became enervated and
demoralized。
On America itself the demoralization was even more marked。 There
never was such a state of moral degradation in any Christian
country as in South America。 Three centuries have passed； and the
low state of morals continues。 Contrast Mexico and Peru with the
United States； morally and intellectually。 What seeds of vice did
not the Spaniards plant！ How the old natives melted away！
And then； to add to the moral evils attending colonization； was the
introduction of African slaves； especially in the West Indies and
the Southern States of North America。 Christendom seems to have
lost the sense of morality。 Slavery more than counterbalances all
other advantages together。 It was the stain of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries。 Not merely slaves； but the slave…trade；
increase the horrors of the frightful picture。 America became
associated； in the minds of Europeans； with gold…hunting； slavery；
and cruelty to Indians。 Better that the country had remained
undiscovered than that such vices and miseries should be introduced
into the most fertile parts of the New World。
I cannot see that civilization gained anything； morally； by the
discovery of America； until the new settlers were animated by other
motives than a desire for sudden wealth。 When the country became
colonized by men who sought liberty to worship God；men of lofty
purposes； willing to undergo sufferings and danger in order to
plant the seeds of a higher civilization；then there arose new
forms of social and political life。 Such men were those who
colonized New England。 And； say what you will； in spite of all the
disagreeable sides of the Puritan character； it was the Puritans
who gave a new impulse to civilization in the New World。 They
founded schools and colleges and churches。 They introduced a new
form of political life by their town…meetings； in which liberty was
nurtured； and all local improvements were regulated。 It was the
autonomy of towns on which the political structure of new Engla