ample—though it is to be hoped that it will
hereafter afford many—of so great a work of
usefulness extemporized by the spontaneous
self-devotion and organizing genius of a peo
ple, altogether independently of the Govern
ment.
But while the present struggle has called
into brilliant exercise all the high qualities
which the institutions of the American Repub
lie have made general among her citizens, it
has also laid open—as it is the nature of try
ing. times to do—all the weak points in her
national habits, and in the working of her in
stitutions. These are doubtless far better
Oue D-A-ILY Fabe.
VIEW OF UN
ON AVENUE IN THE GREAT CENTRAL FAIR.
known to thoughtful Americans than they are
likely to be to any foreigner, and this great
historical crisis will be doubly blessed if it
directs attention to them. In all states of
society the most serious danger is that the na
tional mind should go to sleep on the self
satisfied notion that all is right with it; but
the great awakening of the public conscience
which is taking place on the one political and
social abomination which has done more than
all other causes together to demoralize Ameri
can politics, has probably removed all dan
ger of this sort for one generation at least;
and warrants the hope that the American
people will not rest satisfied with the great ad
vantages which no other people and no other
Government possess in so high a degree; but
will resolve that their democracy Bhall not be
behind any nation whatever in those elements
of good government which have been thought
to find a more congenial soil in other States of
society and under other political institutions.
John Stuart Mill.
Avignon, May 25,1864.
pRINTKD by Rinswalt A Bbown, 111 A 113 South 4th
Street, Philadelphia, for the Great Central Fair in
aid of the United States Sanitary Commission.