The primitive Republican., 1851-10-09
Beautifui Alluglon o Nj. webgter

Ina discourse delivered. before the Phi Beta
Kappa Society, Of Bowdoin COLLEGE. Maine
the Rev. DR.. VIM. b. Sprague gives his
thoughts on The Perpetuity Of Intellectual
Influence" From this splendid and classical
production we take pleasure in making the
following extract:
Ii were to select from the whole intel
lectual nobility Of the present day one whose
influence, especially as a statesman, furnishes
as apt an illustration Of my subject as any
other, / should have no occasion to look be-
yOnd New England; and the name to which
l refer, has already become so much the
property of history that delicacy does not
forbid me to allude to it; while yet it is so
much house word, that / should pronounce
! it. Thatillustrious man, nearly half a CEN
tury ago, was hard at work at a neighboring
college in the cultivation of his intellect and
he has been hard at work ever since for tle
welfare of his country. speak not of the
distinctive hue Of his political opinions, or
OF any particular position he may at any
time have assumed but overlooking all par
ty distinctions, speak of him as an earnest
honest, far-seeing patriot; man of wisdom
and a man of might as great truly in reposC
as in action in thoughtful moderation il
resistless power / honor him as fit to be 9
balance wheel in our political mechanism
(which shall give to each and every part Off
a steady, safe and effective operation. Ihonol
him as one who has more than once showr
himself able to stand up in serene grandurC
amidst warning elements, and to make his
voice heard above the loudest swell of the
storm, declaring for his country, his whole
country forever / honor him as one wht
has given additional value to the privilege
J of being an American, and whose name W.
have only to repeat, to rebut many of th'
paltry calumnies of other nations
:, There have been periods in our history
when all parties have united in tribute o
homage to his public character; and ever
when he appeared on the arena of politica
, conflict, and mingled in the hottest of tht
fight, he has never stood in so much as al
cquivocal attitude, in respect either to dig
nifty or integrity; and his very adversarie
have felt constrained to do him honor. Hi
vocation has been that Of statesman an,
there his influence and his honors hav
chiefly centered and yet he has OCCASIONAL
brought an Offering the cause of literature
which has given him place among he
:. most renowned benefactors The production
of his pen, distinguished alike by chast
simplicity and rugged strength may fairl
e challenge comparison with the most class
productions of antiquity. His thoughts al
like a chain Of diamonds, and his style ill
ii crystal stream. Even Plymouth Rock an
Bunker Hill have been invested with ne
e, attractions by the power of his eloquencc
I'd and as long as one stands witness for re-
gious freedom, each will be witness also
the majesty Of his intellect. Yes, he wi
live on through all coming time will live
R continually brighter and stronger and mo-
[r [r widely difused life And if the State whe
he was born and nurtured, or the State
Z which most of his public life has been passe
should venture an attempt to monopoli
- his fame, or hereafter to build his monumer
his country would cry out that he belongt
to her the world would cry out that he /
longed to her and these universal clair
would be echoed and re-echoed by each pa
ing generation.