The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-07-14

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were not of wantonness or intention H,
had enemies, but they were evoked by par
tisan conflicts, and illustrate but the usua
penalty paid for public distinction. Mos
Will concede TO him, honesty of purpose, re-
soluteness of action, and consistency OF opin.
ion, Subjected to partisan analysis, the mea'
sures he supported may be objected to vehe-
mently, while the integrity of the statesman
is not seriously questioned. We stand yet
too close to the events in which he was a
prominent actor, to Judge with that imparli-
ality which is indispensable TO just history,
or intelligent praise. The men of another
generation will sketch with fidelity what is
now left unfinished, or is discolored either be
overweening friendship or unjust opposition.
But we may judge at once OF his character
and intellectual qualities, and claim for them
their Just position in the public estimation.
A prominent trait in the character of Mr.
Polk was integrity. He was immovably ho-
nest, The temptations TO which long pub
lie career subjected him, did not upon any
known occasion, seduce him into dishonest
or disrepuiable action. Allied to this trait
was anoher-frmness. When interest APP
parently called him to yield "A just position,
he stood by it, regardless of personal results.
He was no worshipper Of policy at the eX-
pense of right He was man Of principle,
and not of eXpediency. He was content 10
fight for truth, even under obloquy and mis-
representation, convinced that in the long run
his vindication was sure. 1t was natural that
such man should be consistent, and he 1CaS
So He was no changelng. By friend and
foe his position was always distinctly known,
aud could be depended upon as permanent.
But behind these features of character, and
of a rarer excellence, was an abiding faith
in the capacity Of our race for improvement.
He was no scolIer at humanity. He was
sensible OF its corruptions, but he did not be-
ieve that they were incurahle Improve
ment, progress, amelioration these were, in
his view, the watchwords of hope for our
race. And is it not one of the truest sub
iects of praise in public character, that with
enlarged experience and in full view o! a
bounding evils, he does not permit himself
to doubt the destiny of man To attain this
point we are called TO pass throug fiery or
deal, and to resist the promptings OF all the
evil and desponding elements OF our nature,
True, in the spring of life we look forward
with unbounded hope. We are sanguine OF
achieving an honorable position for ourselves,
and are full of confidence in the ADVANCE
ment of our race in virtue, intelligence and
happiness But few clouds daIken our sky,
and they cast but transient shadow, We
see all things through a poetical medium
We have a conviction that all mankind are
prompted, like ourselves, by aspirations al
ter the beautiful and the good. Our hearts
20 out toward all men, and we are read TO
submit to great sacrifices and TO 90 through
arduous labors to advance their welfare
Selfshness has not yet paralyzed our SYM
pathies, nor di5rust poisoned our minds.
We desire to break down all fetters upon
individual right and anticipate atme when
all corroding errors IN society are to be swept
away and all abuses utterly destroyed. A
time of peace, Of right, of freedom, of un.
bounded and buoyant happiness, is soon to
dawn upon the earth This is the spirit with
which we stand on the threshold of life, and
prepare to act our part in its eventfuI scenes
But. as we advance, thousand discour'
agements encounter us. Vice, sellishness
ignorance, passion, folly and violence, rem,
der the world an apparent theatre OF error
tumult and wrong. And those who at.
tempt to reform society are loaded with Il.
buse or derided as visonaries. This is the
crisis in our intellectual life Happy he who
shall escape its perils unsCathed Too ma
ny utterly abandon, at this point, what they
term "the dreams Of youth, and are ever at
ter scofers at "unattainable perfection ~
They make shipwreck of all that is mobiles
and purest within them, and are nambere
with the children of selfshness and guile
See them! pursuing the dollar through a
the avenues of thrift with zeal that know
neither turning or pause. See them climb
ing with incredible industry up all the tortr
Gus paths of selfish and heartess ambiio
to places of trust and power, See them
cropping through all the dens of sensuahty t(
pleasures wherein guilt and disapPoinmel
are everlastngly mingled Norris this all
Corrupted themselves, they corrupt others
They are apostles of evil, sapPing alike Il
vitais of public liberty and individual virtu
Mr. Polk was not of these. He pass'
from youth to manhood, and thence to ag
with fresh and free and hopeful spirit }