Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-07-03


The Death OF GENERAL La FAfErrE,
is one Of those events which cannot take
place without striking homo TO nation's
heart with that force Of mighty sadness
which is remembered once and forever.
No corner of the earth but will be affect
ed by the tidihgs. Filling the highest
and the proudest station in public opin-
ion, that was perhaps ever occupied by
a mortal-inseparably associated with,
the birth and progress ofths grand events
which have placed this age in an unap-
proachable advance Of every other, and
which have given new tone to the po-
litical aspect Of the world the death Of
the purest and most consistent republi-
can Of his time-will startle, with the
contrast of their own degencracy, the
prohigate anarchists Of France, and tho
tottcring idols of exploded despotism will
eXult in the removal forever from tho
scene of life, Of the incorruptible patri-
ot-the sway of whose holy principles
made them shake and tremble OH their
lofty thrones.
And America How will the voice Of
universal sadness ring FROM her thousand
hills, now that the last of the memorable
men who guided her arm in tho dark
hour of her revolutionary struggle, is no
more! The friend Of her Washington
the last link that bound his living memo
ry with her present greatness-the first
in her affectiOns-the FIRST in her graft.
tude-whose memory will live last in her
remembrance. Lafayette thou great
and good The time will never come
when the recollection of thy virtues and
thy services will be effaced from the
heart Of the country of thy adoption, and
to which thy exertions so greatly con-
tributed to give rank among the nations
OF the earth.
This is not the time, and not the place,
to give that view of Lafay yette's charac-
ter TO which il is entitled. What viis.
STUDIES of political life have been hist
He commenced his career when the
light Of the most dazzling period Of tho
lofty monarchy Of France was still bright
upon the land. Actuated by the impuls-
es Of his generous enthusiasm, he enlist
ed his energies in that infant cause
Of liberty which attained vigorous man.
hood in America, and stretching across
the wide Atlantic, soon grew 10 a giants
might in his native land. "The Royal
Ship Of France went down" The feu-
dal rule of a thousand years was sup
planted by the genius Of Revolution,
which, drunk with license, and mad with
new-found power, stalked from dsso}a.
ton to desolation-subverting all, con-
trolling all, destroying all--untif man.
kind grew sick with horror, and turned
frighted from the sight.
| But Lafayette had no part with its
blood, its terrors or its crimes--his voice
was heard above the storm--the pure
serenity Of his prime pies prevailed at
last, and for a moment France seemed
to have settled into tho grandeur and
dignity Of regulated freedom. Then
come the iron sway Of sterner but more
imposing despotism. Napoleon went ON
from conquest to conquess--gathering
glory from successive victories---ahd
conc en,rating the Nations energy with
his own fame and power, till tire bubble
burst, and he fell, crushed beneath tho
massive weight Of the edi6cs he had ere
ated.
H La FAYErTE never bowed down to tho
splendid idol. When tho world went
wild with adoration--aloof and ia retire.
ment, the republican General, upawed,
unflattered, and unintmdated preserved
his consistency and his principles. The
Bourbous, supported by the bayone's OF
the Holy Alliance, returned to the throne
which mocked their imbecikty. Tho
patriot Of 1897 was true to himself IN
1914. He had no common cause with
men whose promises were faithless---
whose presence was an incubus on tho
land. And in the hundred days, still
faithful to the guiding principles Of his
life, he d,strusted the suspicious love for
constitutions, when found in the despos
master Of the Confederation Of the
Rhine.
When the dynasty Of Napoleon was
crushed by the arm Of England never 10