There has indeed been a Divine Intelligence guiding the destiny of our republic by the 'higher law' of the progress of free society toward a Christian democracy. We do not think the Peace Party will be able to abolish that 'higher law,' as certain of our politicians expect. We believe God Almighty is shaping a free and exalted civilized nation out of this republic, by a law of progress which we did not make and cannot repeal. We may postpone that nation by our folly and sins, but it must be made. Through labor and education, and religion and arts, and politics and war, 'it marches' on to supremacy--_the people's nation_. And when it is established it will be the controlling nation of this continent, one of the firmest powers on the earth, the terror of every aristocracy, and the joy and hope of every people on the round globe. THE UNDIVINE COMEDY-A POLISH DRAMA. Dedicated to Mary PART III. 'Il fut administe, parceque le niais demandait un pretre, puis pende a la satisfaction generale,' etc, etc.--_Rapport du citoyen Gaillot, commissaire de la sixieme chambre, an III., 5 prairial._ 'The sacraments were administered to him, because the fool demanded a priest; he was hung to the general satisfaction.'--_Report of citizen Gaillot, commissary of the sixth session, 3d year, 5th prairial._ A song! a new song! Who will begin it? Who will end it? Give me the Past, clad in steel, barbed with iron, floating in knightly plumes! With magic power I would invoke before you gothic towers and castellated turrets, bristling barbacans and mighty arches, baronial halls and clustered shafts; I would throw around you the giant shadows of vaulted domes and of revered cathedrals: but it may not be; all that is with the Past: the Past is never to return! * * * * * Speak, whosoever thou mayst be, and tell me in what thou believest! It is easier to lose thy life than to invent a faith; to awaken any belief in it! Shame upon you all, great and small, for all things pursue their own course in defiance of your schemes! You may be mean and wretched, without hearts and without brains, yet the world hastens to its allotted destiny; it hurries you on whether you will or no, throws you in the dust, tosses you into wild confusion, or whirls you in resistless circles, which cease not until they grow into dances of Death! But the world rolls on--on; clouds and storms arise and vanish; then it grows slippery--new couples join the dance of Death--they totter--fall--lost in an abyss of blood--for it is slippery-blood-human blood is gushing everywhere, as if the path to peace led through a charnel house! * * * * *