The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-23

ded down from one class TO another, I'LL
thew enter into the earliest, instructions OF
youth become. sell.evident propositions,
interviewer with our judgment and feel
ings. Thus difiused, they become pub
lie opinlon-,he generator and modliier Of
government aud law. They form mo.
raj currency, circulating among communl-
~ as necessary to its security and pros
peri,y as the currency Of exchange 10
commerce.
Thus no, only the revolutions, but the
existing state Of society depends upon the
influence of speculative authors. Aristotle
ruled the world two thousand. Bacon,
discovering that man was the "nterpreter
of nature" hurled the master of the
schools iiom his throne, became himself
lord of the ascendant, and at once caused
thorough revolution in every department
of learning. He shone upon that night of
celuries, the morning star, heraldlng the
dawn Of glorious day. Locke and New
ton, following in that light, gave an i'm
pulse equally great in both mental and
physical science. William Blackstone,
in his obscurily. spoke in tones loud as
the voice of constitutions, Of law, of truth
itself Adam Smith built the fabric of
political economy with his own hands,
and laid the foundation of national wealth,
policy, and happiness. A few abslIac!
tr,l. hn
pendence, laid the French monarchy in
ruins, awaked heroic Greece from her
cold slunber of centuries, called Poland
struggling in a despols chains, to be a
martyr Of liberty, broke the cords which
bound our sister republics OF the south,
and are still going forth, like the fiat of
omnipolence, to wrest the sceptre from
tyrants, and wake the sons of liberty TO
glory.
Elevated above the common level, these
men first catch the light Of the sun of
truth, and reflect it to others, as the
towering mountains first glitter in the rays
Of the kindling morn, which gradually de-
sccnd to the hills and valleys. Their
influence, like the slow workings Of ma
ture, is often difficult TO be seen. There
is not the violence. the earthquake, the
fire, and the storm which attend the march
Of despolism but the genller influences
of creaton-lhe sun, the dew, and the
breath Of heaven, attended with life and
growth.
The character Of one age was once
moulded by the preceding. Bacon the
politician lived in one age, and Bacon the
philosopher in another. But now, by the
innumerable channels Of instruction, by
institutions, and periodicals, the influence
Of speculative men is quickened. The
closet and the world-these two spots,
long separated, are now made contiguous
The retired genius may now stamp the
impress Of his spirit upon his own age,
give tone and character To Lis own time,
and, when dead, speak with the voice OF
accommodating strength to pos'erliy.
In point of moral suhlimily and true
greatness, such an exercise Of power is
without parallel. The intellectual and
moral energy Of the speculative philoso'
pher, touches springs of infinite might
Ills grea, aad kindling thoughts go forth
from his cell. like light from the morning
sun, 10 warm, TO cheer, and guide the HUI
man race. VIVA, to him are thrones ant
dadems, while dwelling among his owl
high and lofty conlempla'lons, while con
fding in his theories. which, undying
shall progress through all coming time
His is tie soul that agtales the life. giving
principle that anima,es the mass. Hi
spirit, like lis grea, Author and Prototype
"Livcs through all life, extends thro all extent,
; Spreads undivided, operates unspenl"
S.