Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
Page 58
CHAPTER XIX.
O, glorious prospect, see the smile benign, Of heav'n-born peace, refulgent spread its rays; To peace and concord, may the world incline, And these our later be our happier days.
Some length of time had elapsed since the parents of Alida had taken uptheir residence in the city for the winter, when the news of peacereached New-York. The cries of peace resounded throughout the city atthese joyful tidings,--and the evening of this day was celebrated by asplendid illumination. Transparencies, emblematical of the liberties ofthe country, were exhibited at all the public edifices. The fine andmelodious music in the Park, drew the people together in crowds withinthe inclosure, till scarcely another could enter,--and although the snowhad fallen profusely, and the walking was extremely bad, yet it seemedas if all the inhabitants, generally, were out, parading on foot, towitness the general rejoicing.
In the mean time, a visible change for the better took place almostimmediately, and these happy effects shed their benign influencethroughout all ranks of society, and among all classes of the people.Those who had been in despair on account of the times, had now thecharming prospect before them of returning happiness and prosperity,when the active scenes of life would again impel the multitude to theexercise of laudable industry, whereby they might ultimately realize thesuccess and proceeds attending on an honest perseverance in business.
The country that had been unwillingly drawn into combat had beenvictorious, and its inhabitants left in peaceful possession of thewarrior's field. An honourable peace had been concluded, and happytranquillity was once more the fate of the American nation.
The miseries and unhappy grievances occasioned by war, were again at anend, and happily terminated. The cheering consequences of peace againcommunicated their happy effects among the people, awakening to theirimagination new hopes and prospects, filling their minds withexultation, and anticipations the most sanguine.
The painful, unpleasant effects of discord, animosity, and contention,were now changed to the exercise of those better qualities anddispositions, more pacific and praiseworthy. The scenes of fury, terror,and confusion, were succeeded by those of placid serenity. The hours buta short time before spent in moping melancholy and sadness, inindividual discouragement and wo, were now passed in listening tomusical serenades, in scenes of mirth and festivity. The people whoseindependence had been gloriously won, nearly half a century before, bythe superior prowess of a renowned hero,* who, as a general, marshalledthe peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence ofexperience, and through the vicissitudes of a protracted conflictdisplayed a magnanimity that defied misfortune, and a moderation thatornamented victory.
[_Alida_ page 58 (chapter VIII), quoting _Alonzo and Melissa_ (itself quoting an earlier text):
he wooed the silent and solitary haunts of musing, moping melancholy....]
[* Washington.]
[Phillips: Speech on Washington:
As a General, he marshalled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience;]
[Phillips: Speech on Washington:
through all the vicissitudes of her protracted conflict, displaying a magnanimity that defied misfortune, and a moderation that ornamented victory.]
America, already revered in the annals of fame, now saw her rights againsecured to her by the charter of her liberties. With the view beforeher of witnessing again the subsequent advantages of free trade andcommerce; while her swelling canvass shall be spread over the seas ofdistant nations, and her star-spangled banner shall proclaim to them herliberty--glory and honour shall kindle in the bosom of the patriot atthe name of her Madison. While the wealth of her commerce, the renownof her arms, the fame of her philosophy, the eloquence of her senate,and the inspiration of her bards, shall cause her to emerge from herhorizon, and shine with splendour over the vast expanse of the universe,claiming from remotest regions the respect due to her superiority. HappyAmerica! thy freedom is once more ensured to thee, and thy hero hasturned upon the vanquished only the retribution of his mercy.
[Phillips: Speech on Washington:
and glory rekindle at the urn of her Washington. ... now rivals the wealth of their commerce, the glory of their arms, the fame of their philosophy, the eloquence of their senate, and the inspiration of their bards!... that mighty continent may emerge from the horizon.... ... and turned upon the vanquished only the retribution of his mercy.]