Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28

Of barbarsm hardly instructs us as to the manner in
which they viii exhibit themselves in cultivated period
of society.
And so it is of religious sentiment and feeling be-
leye is every where less, religious being
that is to say in all countries and at all times he feels
the tie which connects him with an invisible power.
1t is true, indeed and it is remarkable fact in the
history of mankind that in the very lowest stage Of hui
existence and in the opposite extreme OF high civil
lizaton, surrounded with every thing luxurious in Life
and with all the of human knowledge the idea OF
and superior Governor of the Universe is most
likely TO be equally doubted or disregarded
The lowest of human savage existence, and the intel
lectual and refined atheism such we have seen exi
bed in day. be strangely coincident in this
respect though from opposite causes and influences
that these classes led to doubt deny the existence
of Supreme Power. But both these are exceptions to
the general of human thought and the general
conviction of our nature.
Man is naturally religious but then his religion takes
its character from his condition. his degree OF knowledge
and his assocatons and therefore it is true that the
giou feeling which operates in state of society, and
under degree of light and knowledge, is not safe
example to prove its probable influence and operation
der circumstances essentially different So that, when
regard history instructor in the development OF
the perceptions and character of men, and in the motives
which actuate them, there comes concomiant rush OF
altered circumstances which all to be considered and
regarded
History therefore is an example which may teach
the general principles of human nature but does not
struc greatly in its various possible developments
What Dr. Johnson said, in his comparison of Dryden
and Pope is not inappcable to this topic Dryden,
said he knew Of in his general nature, and
Pope in his local Manners Drydens sentiments there
FORE the exempar of human nature IN general Pope
of human nature modified In particular relations ana
circumstances and what is true OF individual man Is true
also of society and government
The love of liberty for instance is passion and SEN
tmen which existed in intense force in the Grecian re-
pubes and in the early history of Rome 1t exists now,
chiefly and first of all that portion of the western con-
tinent in which live Here it burns with heat and with
splendor beyond all Grecan and all Roman example. 1t
is not light in the temple of Minerva it is not vesta
flame in Rome: it is the light of the it is the ilu
minaton of all the consultations Earth air and ocean,
and all the heavens above us, filled with its glorious
illumination and therefore, though the passion and the
sentiment the same yet he who would reason from
Grecan liberty from Roman freedom, to our intell-
gent American liberty would be holding farthing candle
To the orb of day.
The magnificent funeral Grafton of Percles those
who fell in the Peoponnesian is of the grandest
oratorcal productions of antiquity 1t contains sent-
ment and exctes emotions congenia to the minds OF all
lovers of liberty in all regions and at all times. 1t exh
bits strong and ardent attachment to country which
patriots always feel undaunted courage in its
defence and resolution and willingness to pledge and
hazard all for the maintenance of liberty. cannot deny
myself the pleasure of quoting few passages from that
celebrated address
q" shall therefore begin first" said Percles, with fore
fathers both justice and deceney require should
this occasion bestow on them an honorable In
this they kept themselves always firmly settled,
and through their valor handed it down free to every since
succeeding generation Worthy indeed of praise they and
yet worthy immediate fathers; since enargng
their inheritance into the extensive empire which we now
possess they bequeahed that their of toll their
Yet these ourselves here present.
who yet in the strength and vgor of our days. have
noby improved and have made such provision for this
Athens that is asufcen in itself to every
exigence of war and of peace.
But by what methods we have risen to this height of glory
and power by what poy and by what conduct thus
aggrandzed shall first endeavor to show and then proceed
to the praise Of the deceased These in my opinion can be
impairment topics this OCCASION the discussion of
them must be beneficial to this company of Athe
mans and Of strangers.
w
the laws of neghbos for has served model to
others but original at Athens And this form,
med the few but the whole body of the people,
called democracy. How different private capa-
city all enjoy the general equality which laws
are hed to preserve and superior honors just as we excel
The public is not confined to particular fami
~ but is aanable only by merit Poverty hindrance,
since whoever able TO his country meets with OBJ
staces to preferment from his first obscurity.
The offices of the State 20 through without obstruc-
tons from another and live together in the
dearmens Of private life without suspicious angry with
neghbor for following the bent Of his humor putting
that counenance Of discomfort which pains though
dence or damage whilst we not on any account offend
against the public through the bear to the
srates and the laws chiefly to those enacted for the redress
Of the injured and to those unwren laws breach Of which
is regarded as disgrace
"we Homer to be the herald of our praises
poet to deck of history with the charms Of where the
opinion of exploits must suffer by strict relation Every
has been opened by fleets and every land hath been
ated by armies which have every where left behind
them eternal monuments both Of enmity and friend
ship.
"As for you who survive them, you well pray for
better fortune but you nevertheless consider your
duty preserve the spirit and warmth Of courage against
your enemies not judging Of the expedeney of this from
mere harangue where INDUCING in flow Of words
tell you, what you yourselves know well he, how
many advantages there in fighting yaanty against your
enemies but rather making the daily increasing grandeur Of
this community the object Of thoughts and growing quite
enamored Of it. And when really appears great in your
prehenson think again. that this grandeur acquired by
brave and valiant by who knew their duty, and
the moments Of action sensible of shame and feared
reproach who whenever their attempts unsuccessful
dshonor that their country should stand in need
thing their yalor could do for it, and made it the most
glorious present.
Bestowing their public they have every
received praise that will decay sepuchre that will
always be most ustrous that in which their bones lie
moulderng but that in which their fame preserved be
on every OCCASION when honor the theme of either word
act eernay remembered This whole earth sepuchrt
Of Industrious men is 1t the inscriptions the columns
their native soil alone that show their merit memorial
Of them, better than all inscriptions in every foreign
reposed duraby in universal remembrance
own tomb From this very emuating these noble
patterns placing your happiness in liberty, and liberty
yalo be prepared TO encounter all the dangers war;
Gentlemen does not every page, paragraph and sen
tence Of what have read 20 home all our hearts, car
rying gratied consciousness Of its resemblance
to what is and dear to us in native land
Is il Athens, or America? Is Athens or America III,
theme Of these immortal strains Was Perices speaking
Of his country, he it or knew it or was h,
gazing upon bright vision then two thousand years be
fore him, which see in reality, and he in pros
pectg
But the Of Sparta and Athens what were the,
in lasting Importance and in their bearing the dest
mics Of the world in comparison with that eyermemorab
struggle which separated the colonies from the dominion
Of Europe?