Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-04


\ comitant rush OF altered circumstances,
which are all to be considered and re-
/ garded.
Il History, therefore, is an example
which may teach us the general princi-
| pies Of human nature, but does not in
slruct us greatly in its various possible
/ developments.
4 What Dr. Johnson said, in his COM
parison Of Dryden and Pope. is not APP
plcable to this topic, dryden" said
he, knew more of man in his general
nature. and Pope IN his local manners"
Dryden's sentiments, therefore, are the
exemplar of human nature in general.
| Pope's OF human nature as modified in
particular relations and crc umstances;
and what is true Of individual man, is
true. also, Of society and government.
The love OF liberty, for instance, is a
passion and sentiment which existed in
intense force in the Grecian republics,
AMI in the early history OF Rome. 1t
exists now, chiefly, and first Of all on
that portion Of the Western continent in
which we live. Here, it burns with
heat and with splendor beyond all Gre
clan and all Roman example. 1t is not
light in The temple OF Minerva. il is not
a vestal flame in Rome; il is the light
Of the sun. il is the illumination Of all
the consultations. Earth, air and ocean,
and all The heavens above us, are filed
with its glorious illumination; and,
therefore, though the passion and the
sentiment are the same, yet he who
would reason from Grecian liberty, or
from Roman freedom, TO our intelligent
American liberty, would be holding
farthing candle TO the orb of day.
/ The magnificent funeral oration Of
| Pericles over those no Tell in the Pei
\ oponnesian war, is one of the grandest
oratarical productions OF antiquity. Ii
contains sentiments and eXcites emo
tions. congenial to the minds of all lovers
Of liberty, in all regions and at all times.
IL exhibits a strong and ardent attach
ment TO country, which true patriots al
ways feel an undaunted courage in Its
, defence and resolution and a willing
ness to pledge and hazard laII for the
maintenance OF liberty, ! cannot deny
myself the pleasure OF quoting few pas
sages from that celebrated address -
Il shall therefore begin first" said
| Pericles. with our foreiathefs, since | 9th
justice and decency require, We should
OH this occasion bestow on them an hon
orabe remembrance. In this our coun-
try they kept themselves always firmly
settled. and through their valor handed
il down tree 10 every since succeeding
generation. Worthy indeed Of praise
are they, and yct more worthy are our
immediate fathers; since, enIarging
our own inheritance into tile extensive
empire which we now possess, they be-
quealhed that. their work Of toll, TO us
their snns. Yet, even these successes.
we ourselves here present, we who are
yet IN the strength and vigor OF our days,
have nobly improved, and have made
such provision for this our Athens, that
now il is all sufficient in itseli TO answer
every exigence Of war and Of peace.
"But by what methods we have risen
TO this height Of glory and power, by
what poll y and by what conduct we are
thus aggrandized, shall first endeavor
to show and then proceed to the praise
Of the deceased. These, in my opinion,
can be no impertinent topics on this oc-
cas.on the discussion OF them must be
beneficial TO this numerous company OF
A thenans and of strangers.
"We are happy in form OF govern
ment which cannot envy the laws OF our
, neighbors, for it hath served as model
/ to others, but is original at Athens. And
this our form, as committed not to the
few. but to the whole body of the people,
| is called democracy. How different
| eoever in a private capacity we all en-
! 10y the same general equality which
our laws are fitted to preserve, and
superior honors just as we excel. The
public administration is not confined to
a particular family, but is attainable
only by merit. Poverty is not hind
rance, since whoever is able to serve
his country, meets with no obstacles TO
preferment from his first obscurity.
"Thc Offices of TIE state we go
through without distractions from one
another, and live together in the mu-
tual endearments of private lie without
suspicious not angry with a neighbor
| for following the bent Of his own humor,
not putting on that countenance Of dis
content, which pains though it cannot
punish so that in private life we con-
verse without dIllidcnce or damage,
whilst we dare not on any account
offend against the public, though the
reverence we bear to the magistrates
and the laws T; chiefly TO those enacted
for the redress of the injured, and to
those unwritten laws "A breach Of which
is regarded as disgrace.
ave want no Homer TO be the herald
Of our praise no poe; TO deck oil n
history with the charms Of verse, where
the opinion oil exploits must suffer by
strict relation. Every sea has been
opened by our fleets, and every land
hath been penetrated by our armies,
which have everywhere left behind them
eternal monuments both OF our enmiiy
and our friendship.
GAS for you who now survive them, you
may well pray for a better fortune, but
you must nevertheless consider II your
duty to preserve the same spirit and
and warmth Of courage against your
enc emies; not judging ofthe expediency
of this from "A mere harangue where any
man, indulging in flow OF words. may
tell you, what you yourself know NJ we'll
as he. how many advantages there are
in fighting valIantly your enemies. hut
rather making the daily increasing
grandeur ol this community the object
OF your Thoughts, and growing quite
enamoured OF u. And when II really
appears great IN your apprehenslons,
think again, that this grandeur was ac-
quired by brave and valiant mem who !
knew their duty, and in the moments OF
action were sensible Of shame and fear.