The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-24

Brought death into the world.
And the best historical production OF ancient and
OF modern times have been written, with eqeai
fidelity 10 one leading thought or purpose.
IL has been said by Lord BoDgbroke, that " his
tory is philosophy teaching by examples" AID b..
fore Bolingbroke, Shakespeare has said: =
There is a history Ia all mems lives,
Figuripg the nature OF the times deceased
Tie which observed, man may prophecy,
With . aim OF the main chance Of things,
As yet not come 70 life, which in their
Seeds and weak beginnings lie entreasured
Such things become the hatch and brood of time
And, by the necessary form OF this,
Kiug Richard might create perfect guess,
That great Northu nberland then false to him,
Would Of that reed grow to greater falsene's,
Which shoud not fId ground to rest upon,
Unless on your
Are these things then necessities!
Then let US meet them like necessities ~
And wiser man than either Bolingbroko or
Shakespeare has decared:-
The thing that hath~been IL is that which shall be-
and that which is done, is that which shall bs DONE
and there Is 60 new thing under the SUM
These sayings are ell just, ami they proceed
upon the idea that tao essential characteristics Of
human nature arc the same every where, and in all
ages.
This. doubtless, is true and so far as history
presents the qualities and propensities of human
nature, it does teach by example. Bolingbroko
adds, with remarkable power OF expression, "that
the school of example IL the world, and its great
masters or teachers are history and experience
But the character Of man so much varies, from
age to age, sotn in his individual and coli sctive
capacity, there comes such change of circum-
stances, go many new obi scts Of desire and aver
sion, and so many new and powerful motives
spring up in his mind, that the conduct of men,
In one age, or under one stats of circumstances,
is no sure and precise indicai lion of what will
be their conduct, when times and circumstances
alter; 20 that the example Of the past,
before it can become useful instructor TO
the present, must BIO reduced to eemen-
tary principles in human nature, freed from tho
influence OF conditions which we're temporary and
Aaye changed, and applied to tho same principles
under new relations, with different degree OF
knowledge and the impulses arising trcm the alter
cd state OF things. savage has the passions of
ambition, revenge, love ana glory and ambition
and love, reveIse and the hope of renown ere also
elements IN the character Of civlized life but the
aeyeiopemens OF those passions, in state of bar
barIsm, hardy instructs US as to the manner in
which they will exhibit themselves in cultivated
period OF society.
And SO it is of religious sentiment and feeling.
believe man is everywhere, more or less, religious
being that is TO say in oil countries, and at all
times, he feels the tie which connects him with an
invisible power
Il is true, indeed, and it il q remarkable fact in
the history OF mankind, that in the very lowest
stage Of human existence, and in the opposite ex-
treme Of high civilization, surrounded with every
thing luxurious in life, and with all the cans OF
human knowledge, tho idea Of an unseen and
superior governor Of the universe is most likely to
be equally doubted or disregGrded.
Tne lowest Of human, savage existence, and the
intellectual and refined atheism, such as we have
seen exhibited In our day, seem to be strangely
coincloent IN this respect; though IL IS from oppo
site causes and Influences that these classes are led
to doubt or deny the existence Of q supreme power.
But both these are exceptions to the general cur
rent 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 do gree of
knowledge, ana hisassCciatons eud therefore, it is
true that the religious feeling which operates ia
mo Of md mr. haro Ia Of Iiyn
and knowledge, is not a sale example TO prove It's
probable Influence and operation under ciccum-
stances essentially different; that when
gard history instructor, in the developement
Of the perceptions and character Of men, and in the
motives which acUasa them, there comes con.
cemitant rush Of altered cireu instances, which are
all TO DE considered aud regarded.
History, therefore, is example which may
teach US the general principles Of human nature,
but does not instruct Us greatly in its various pos.
sible Developments.
What Or. johnson said, in his comparison of Dfy.
den ard Pope, ID Lot napplicabe to this topic.
"Dry den," said he, "knew more OF man ia his
general nature, ard Pope in his lscal manners"
Dryden's sentiments therefore, the exemplar of
human nature in general, Pope's Of human nature
ss modified in particular relations aud circumstan.
ces. And what IS true Of individual man, is true,
also, of fociety and government
The love of liberty, for instance, is rassien and
sentiment, which existed III intense force in the Gre
clan republics, and in the early history OF Rome.
1t exists now, chiefly, and first OF all, on that por
ton Of the Western continent in which we live.
Here it burns with heat aud with splendor beyond
all Grecian and all Roman example 1t is not q
light in the temple Of Minerva, it is not vcstai
fame in Rome; it is the light of the sun it is the
illumination of all the consultations. Earth, air,
and ocean, and all the heavens above US, are filled
with its glorious illumination; aud, therefore,
though the passion and tho sentiment are the
same, yet he who would reason from Grecian
liberty, or from Roman freedom, to our Intelligent
American liberty, would be holding tarthiDg can
die TO the orb Of day.
The magnificent fuaeral Grafton Of Perices over
those who tell in the Pelopcnesan war, Is one Of the
grandest oratoricsl productions OF antiquity 1t
contains sentiments and excites emotions oongenlal
to the minds of Gil lovers of liberty, ~ all regions
and AZ all times. Il exhibits strong and ardsnt
attachment to country, which true patriots always
fee-an undaunted courage 10 its defence, and 70.
solution and willingness TO pledge and hazard all
for the maintenance Of liberty. cannot deny my
self The pleasure Of quoting o few passages from
that celebrated address -
81 shall, therefore, begin first" said Pericles,
"with orr fogefatheTs, since both justice AMI do
cency require, we should on this occasion pes'o"
on them an honorable remembrance. In this, cur
country, they kept themselves always froly settled,
and through their yaiori handed it down iree 20
every since succeeding generation, Worthy ln-
deco OF praise are they, and yet more worthy arc
our immediate fathers since, charging their ogn
inheritance into the extensive empire which We
now possess, they bequeathed that, their work Of
toll, to vs. their sons. Yet, even tfese successes,
We Ourselves, here r.esent, sc VINO are yet IA inc
glength and yigor Of our days, have Dobly i'm
proved and have made such provisions for this, our
Athens that Eo~it ia alspioiens ia itself to answer
every exgence Of var ard of peace.
"RGt by what methods we have r. en- to this
height Of glory and power, by what p0lity aud by
what con0uct sc are thus asg'andlzei, shall hfsS
ordeayor to show, and then proceed 10 tho praise
Of the deceased. Thee, in my opinion, can be no
impairment topics on this oooasiop The discussion
of them must DO beneficial to this numerous com
papy of Athenians and Of strangers.
"We are happy 10 foTR ef government which
cannot envy the laws Of neishoors; for is hath
served as a model TO Others, but is original as
Athens Ard this our fora, rs 6 muitted not to
the few, but to the whole bsay Of the people, Is
called demo, rscy. How different gocver IN a pri-
vate capacity, we all enjoy tie general equsl
iy which CDR laws are fitted TO preserye, euo sups-
rior hopoTe just as VIC excel. Tho public admins
rstion is not confined to particular family, but IS
drance ,sincesg hoover is able to serve lis country
meets With no obstacle to plefe1mont from biz first