The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-06
THE CONTRAST.
Henry CLAY AS HE wAs--AND HENRI


Clay AS HE IS.
+" Ifeel, as men feel yhen mo onighf falls,
Amid dark, deserted aisles;
Or the icind plays, sadly, along the wal!s,
of lonely and forsaken halls,
That zoe kneU ia their day of smiles"
1t is probably k novn to many of our
readers, that the editor Of this paper was
formerly among the warmsst and most
un.iring friends of Mr. Clay. This was
ia the days Of his meridian glory--in
1912, 'I6-when his master-nind SEEM
ed To stand in unshorn and unimpeded
noblencss--like n colossal statue rear
ed far above the change and clouds of
this transitory world. The heart Of the
patriot loves TO linger upon these glori-
Gus scenes of bye-.onc days-when not
cloud was seen to lower upon the path
way Of his exissence--uot a speck tn dim
his future prospects. Look at him in
the season of fiery trial-when the faces
Of treemen gathered paIeness, and the
hearts Of the bravest began to quail
towering magnificently amid blight and
desolation, s.Iike the last mountain in
the deluge"--his name beacon blaze
To guide US to a heaven Of rest-and
then think how the bosom must swell
with bitter agony to see the Demon OF
Popularity cast its baleful influence a.
round his heart To see him now
standing like a blasted oa!l--is like
witnessing the soaring of a noble plant
by an unexpected tempest.
To think that his fair fame should be-
come blighted by dishonor That for a
mess of pottage, for mere personal ag-
grandizemcnt, he would band with his
country's foes With such men as Dam
iel Wsbster--who during the deep dark
ness that overspread our borders in 1912,
caused the town of Hopkinton to be H.
Illuminated on hearing that Hull had sur
rendered his army! To see him, whose
name was once q tower of strength, be-
coming prey to fierce jealousy and
blasting enyy--to see him doleing out
the cant aud mummery Of priestcraft--
retailing the theological humbugs of the
great Christian Party, in the U. s. Sen
ate-migit well cause the hearts Of his
friends to shrink and wither as if scorch-
ed by an unconsuming fame. No won
der that upon their souls falls darkness
and dismay when they see that his gifts
are like those impaired to fahled evil
spirits-bright, bewildering, leading to
desolation aud death
Who could have supposed that Henry
Clay-ihs orator--ths statesman--would
ever sink 30 low in the scale of being as
to become q tool in the hands Of the
clergy an agent Of priestcraft when
this holy alliance was accomplished
''this contamination SO devoutly 10 be
wished" by the enemies of freedom, our
! friendship for him was no more. Then
was sundsred every cord that bound him
to the hearts of frsenien. This has
made his once proud name, proverb,
and byeword. Over his brow hoary
winter has crept--of shame-not Of time.
His faculties are palsied--his mind has
los, its wonte1 vigor-and be may now
exclaim with truth, non sum qualis
eram."s
What must be our feelings TO gaze up
on home ofinnocence and love, and sec
ruin brnoding upon its walls Judge Of
the sensations of father when he bends
over the dying couch of wsyward.
prodigal son! The past--the sunny
past--comes crowding upon the mind.
lie remembers when IN youthful guile
lessnsss he stood by his knee--when
thrusting his fingers through the locks Of
his golden HAIR, fancy was weaving bright
visions Of hope respecting the future
greatness of his boy--he recollects that
but a few brief months ago, he was the
pride of every eye and the joy Of every
hcart--now he lies before him, wasted
emaciated skelston So altered is he
that even the eye Of parental fondnes
can scarce discover one feature upo,
which il had loved to gazs. Thus stans
't.s fathers of our country, who ere