title: The American Journey: Reconstruction to the Present (THE AMER JOURNEY RECON/PRESENT)
author: McGraw-Hill Education
description: McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
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  THE YOUNG AMERICAN  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
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  # THE YOUNG AMERICAN
  
  
  ### Ralph Waldo Emerson
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  
  _A Lecture read before the Mercantile Library Association,
  
  
  Boston, February 7, 1844_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  GENTLEMEN:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It is remarkable, that our people have their intellectual cne
  
  
  country, and their duties from another. This false state of things
  
  
  is newly in a way to be corrected. America is beginning to assert
  
  
  itself to the senses and to the imagination of her children, and
  
  
  Europe is receding in the same degree. This their reaction on
  
  
  education gives a new importance to the internal improvements and to
  
  
  the politics of the country. Who has not been stimulated to
  
  
  reflection by the facilities now in progress of construction for
  
  
  travel and the transportation of goods in the United States?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This rage for road building is benef