The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-06 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, NOV. 6, 1865.

On Friday Mr. GLADSTONE had a glorious opportu-
nity before him, and he certainly made the most of
it. Those who were fortunate enough to hear the
valedictory address are not likely soon to forget it.
The right hon. gentleman appeared in a distinct
character from that of the Statesman or Minister,
and shone forth conspicuously, as he well might, as
the polished orator, the accomplished scholar, and
the brilliant man of letters. The theme of his dis-
course was " The Place of Ancient Greece in the
Providential History of the World," which was a
very appropriate one, and one also to which the
orator was peculiarly fitted to do justice from
his tastes and studies. He commenced by
remarking that no one could doubt that the
people who inhabited that " little cluster of rugged
mountains and of narrow vales played a great
part upon the stage of history, and left an inde-
lible mark upon the character of the human race,"
and also, it is certain, that Christian Europe has
assigned to Greece the largest share in the culti-
vation of the human mind. This doubtful and
disquisitional age, however, has presumed to ques-
tion the utility of this devotion to classic studies.
Mr. GLADSTONE endeavoured to point out the fal-
lacy of those persons who inferred, if they did not
exactly declare it, that the Providential care of the
ALMIGHTY had been confined in narrow limits
of old to the valley of Jerusalem, and
in modern times to the Christian pale,
and, according to some, not to all within that
circle. Now, exclaims the right hon. gentleman, in
earnest and emphatic terms, surely it would be a
paradox to deny that "He who cared for the six
score thousand persons in ancient Nineveh, who
could not distinguish between their right and their
left; Ile without whom not a sparrow can fall ; He
that shapes in its minutest detail, even the inani-
mate world, and clothes the lily of the field with its
beauty and its grace, lie never forgot those sheep
of His in the wilderness." Those who carefully
follow out the discourse of Mr. GLADSTONE, and
dwell upon his characteristic definitions and
elaborate descriptions, can hardly fail to
realise his meaning, and to recognise the
truth of the opinion that he asserts, and
concur in the notion that an important part in
what we call the providential history of the world
was given to a race of such unrivalled gifts in the
great plan for the " rearing and training of the
human children of our FATHER in Heaven."

The superiority of this race is shown by some of
the peculiarities which distinguished it, and which
spring more from innate qualities than from trained
intelligence. A profound reverence for human, life

and human nature is conspicuous at a very rem ote
period of their history. Hence we find, as here
stated, " the highest refinements of the mannias of
the gentleman existing at a time when among the
Greeks the material appliances of civilisation were
in their infancy, and when writing and the alphabet
were practically unknown." The sentiment of
honour was the prevailing one in those times, and
it is impossible to over-estimate or exaggerate its
effects on the minds of those who entertain it in a
high degree or to a great extent. It is curious to
observe that human sacrifice does not appear in the
pages of HomER, and did not belong to the original
usages of Greece ; it seems to have come in at last
by contagion from abroad, and not to have been
identical with the dispositions of the people. All
the most famous portions of their literature testify
to the abhorrence in which this barbarous practice
was held among them. The Greeks were also most
distinguished for the care they took in preserving
their bodies from insult, and this is evidenced in
many ways. PRIA3I'S horror was great at the
idea of his body being torn by dogs, and many
others shared his horror of exposure and injury.
The beauty of the human face was highly reverenced
in Greece, but caricatures were almost unknown
there.

Mr. GLADSTONE considers that the " anthropo-
morphic spirit of the Greek religion was the source
of that excellence in art which has become to after
ages a model for imitation, and a tribunal without
appeal," and no doubt he is perfectly right in his
theory. This poetical and refined religion of theirs
exalted their conceptions and softened their tastes,
and was most favourable to art. It is difficult to
find a more interesting study than that of the
Greek artist, surrounded by all that is beauti-
ful, and ever seeking to excel his pre-
vious efforts. So much skill and such
rare opportunities could not have been bestowed in
vain; they were intended to work out a purpose and
to fulfil a mission, and the best proof of their impor-
tance is, that the generations which have succeeded
to the ancient Greeks have not attained to their par-
ticular point of excellence in art,while their achieve-
ments do not enhance the mind or charm the
taste like the doings of those in the days of old.
The purport of this discourse is to show that the
Greek life was for a purpose beyond itself and the
intellectual pioneer of Christian civilisation —in
other words, that while Christianity has been the
salt of the earth, we must not forget the things
which were worthy of preservation, and which the
Christian religion enables us more the fully to en-
joy and to appreciate, turning talent to its right
use, and making genius conduce to the glory of its
Giver more than to the fame of any individual.
The most touching history of old cannot be found
in the pages of the classics, and Mr. GLADSTONE
has forcibly displayed the difference that exists be-
tween the things that relate to the glories of this
world and those which appertain to the better things,
which are eternal. " All the wonders of the
Greek civilisation heaped together are less won-
derful than is the single work of the Psalms."
And further on he shows the contrast between hu-
man excellence and divine influence. " Palestine
had no share in the glories of our race ; they blaze
on every page of the history of Greece with an
overpowering splendour. Greece had valour, policy,
renown, genius, wisdom, wit ; she had all, in a word,
that this world could give her ; but the flowers
of Paradise, which bloom thinly, blossomed
in Paradise alone." The difficulty then, it would
seem, in studying this subject of the attainments of
the ancient Greeks lies in the fact that we must
accord enough, and not too much importance to their
meaning and influence. They are important parts
in the grand system of development and progress by
which the human race is destined to approach
as near as may be to the standard of perfection.
" Tracing the footmarks of the Most High in the
seemingly bewildered paths of human history," we
shall find, as is here eloquently expressed, " every-
where, before and behind us and above us and be-
neath, the Power which

" Lives through all life, extends through all extent,
Spreads undivided, operates unspent.' "
So comprehensive a subject as this which Mr.
GLADSTONE has selected for the theme of his part-
ing address is sure to find many critics, but no
fault can be found with the general argument,
whatever controversy may exist as to matter of
detail, and not only as a splendid exhibition of learn-
ing and a grand illustration of research may this
discourse be commended to the attention of the
student and the philosopher. It is useful as well as
ornamental, and contains suggestions that are alike
interesting and important; there reasoning is blended
with the principles of true religion, and we may
follow the cause of the inquiry, content to believe
that it will arrive at a conclusion in which all Chris-
tians may concur as to the boundless wisdom of the
Divine influence on human actions, to which the
sublime and beautiful are ministers.

President JOHNSON'S opinions on the reconstruc-
tion of the Southern States have been very fully
expressed in a conversation with Mr. GEORGE
STEA RNS, which that gentleman has since published.

Mr. JOHNSON'S views are, as might have been ex-
pected, liberal and enlightened, while they are
totally devoid of that exaggeration and ferocity
which mark the theories of the extreme partisans of
either side. It must be borne in mind, in reading
Mr. Jo HNSON'S observations on the position of the
negro in the Southern States, that ho himself is a
Southern man, that he has been intimately acquainted
with the tone of feeling both of the negro and his
master, that he has seen the working of the system
in full action, and that he really knows what he is
talking about--a knowledge by no means insepar-
able from political declamation. Mr. JOHNSON, in
discussing the vexed question of negro suffrage,
unhesitatingly declared that it would not do to give
the negro universal suffrage at the present moment,
for that such an arrangement would occasion a war
of races. Seven years ago, he said, such a thing
could not have been mentioned in the North itself,
and the changes in the South have been far

more rapid and violent than those in the
North. The Southerners have been obliged, in
Mr. JOHNSON'S words, to accept more unpalatable
truths than their neighbours, and it is only fair to
give them time to reconcile themselves to the
changes forced upon them, and to understand their
new position. This is the only way in which the
predominant authority can hope to see its dictates
fairly accepted by the Southern people, and the
theories which it so strenuously upholds become
really incorporated with the feelings of the nation.
Those abolitionists who look upon the negroes as
an oppressed nation, and expect that in giving them
freedom they will at once know how to deal with it
like the Italians or the Poles, may learn some
startling truths from. Mr. JOHNSON'S observations,
remembering that he has been himself formerly a
slaveholder "in practice, though not in principle,"
as well as Governor of a Southern State, and inti-
mately acquainted with the whole working of the
Southern system. Mr. JOIINSON declares that for-
merly the antagonism in the slaveholding States was
between the non-slaveholding whites and the negro,
and that the outrages now committed are mostly
between these two hostile parties. There was a
time in the Southern States, he tells us, when the
slaves of large owners looked down ui on non-slave