The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-25

History, therefore, is example which may
teach Us the general principles of human nature,
but does not instruct US greatly IN its various pos
sbe developments.
What DR.. johnson said in his companion of
Dryden and Pope 10 not napphcabe To this topic.
Dryden" sad he, ''kne~ more oi man IN his
general nature, and Pope in his local manners.
DR. yden's sentiments, therefore, are the excmplar
of human nature in general. Popo's OF human ma
ture modified IN particular relations aud cir
cumsianCes; and what Ia true OF individual man Ia
true, also, Of society and government.
The love OF liberty Tor instance, 10 IA passion and
sentiment which existed IN Intense force III the
Grecian republics, and III the early history of
Rome. II exists now, chiefly, and first of oh ON
that portion OF The western continent IN which we
live. Here il burns with heat and with ep!endor
beyond all Grecian or all Roman example. 1t Is not
light IN the temple OF Minerva, II IL not Il rcstal
flame in Rome; 1t ID the light of the SUI. II is the
illumination OF all the consultations. Earth, air,
and ocean, and all the heavens above us, are hlled
with its glorious illumination and, therefore,
though the passion and the sentiment are the snme,
yet be who would reason from Grecian liberty or
from Roman freedom to intelligent American
liberty, would be holding a iarihing candle To the
orb of day.
The magnificent funeral Grafton Of Pericles over
those who Tell in the Peloponesan war ID one Of the
grandest oratorical productions of antiquity. II
contains sentiments and cxcitta emotions congo
na to the minds of all lovers Of liberty, III all re-
gions and ut all times IL exhibits a strong and
dent attachment to country, which true patriots
always feel undaunted courage in its defence,
and resolution and Willingness 10 pledge and
hazard all Tor the maintenance OF liberty. can
not deny myself the pleasure Of quoting few pas,
sd gcs from that celebrated address
Il shall, therefore, begin trst," said Percles,
'with our iorctathers, since both justice and de-
cency require we should on this occasion besow on
them an honorable remembrance. In THIS our
country they kept themselves always firmly set
tied, and through their vaior handed il down free
to every since succeeding generation. Worthy in
deed of praise are they, and yet more worthy are
our immediate fathers; since, charging their own
inheritance into the extensive empire which we
now poasess, they bequeathed that, their work Of
toll 20 us their some. Yet even these successes we
ourselves here present, we who arc yet IN the
strength and vgor of days, have molly i'm
proved, and have made such provisions for this
Athens, that now IL Is all-suicient IN itse To am
swer every e1Igcnce ot war and OF pcaee.
- But by What methods wc have rlscn TO this
height Of glory and power, by what pohty and 10y
what conduct We are thus aggrandized, shall first
endeay or To show; and then proceed 10 the praise
OF the deceased. These, III my opinion, can be no
lHpsrluent topics this OCCASION; the discussion
| OF them must be beneficial to this numerous com
! pany Of Athenians and Of strangers.
! - W are happy IN form OF government which
cannot envy the la OF eighbors; for II hath
served model 10 others, but is original at
| Athens And this form, committed not to
the few, but 10 the whole body Of the people, is
called democracy. How different soeycr IN pri-
vate capsCIty, all enjoy the same general equal
ity which our laws are fitted to preserve and su-
| peror honors Just as we excel. The public admin
straon is not confined To a particular family, hut
Is attainable only by merit Poverty is not hind
rance, since whoever s able to serve has country,
meets with no obstacle to preerment from his first
obsc urity. The offices Of the State we go through
without obstruction from one another and live to
! gether in the mutual endearments OF private life
without suspicious; not angry with neighbOr for
! following the bent Ut his own humur, nor putting
on that countenance of discontent which pains
though it cannot punish; so that in private lie We
! converse without dIttidence or damage whilst We
dare not, on any account, offend ngalnst the pub
! hC, through the reverence We bear to the nagis-
trates and the Laws; chiefly TO these enacted Tor the
redress OF the injured and TO those unwrtten laws,
a breach of which Is regarded ne Disgrace.
1--WE want no Homer 10 be the herald OF our
| praise no poet to deck of history with the
charna of verse where the opinion of xpos must
suffer by strict relation. Every sea has been
opened by our heets, and every land hath been pen
etrated 10y our armies, which have everywhere left
behind them eternal monuments both OF our enmlty
and our friendship.
AS for you who now surviyc them, You may
well pray for better fortune, but you must never
theless consder II your duty to preserve the same
splnt and warmth OF courage against your enemies;
not judging of the expectancy OF this from mere
| harnngue, where any man, INDUCING in a How
OF words, may tell you, what you yourselves know
as well ne he, how many advantages there are IN
fighting yalisntly against your enemies, but rather
making the daily increasing grandeur OF this com
! munlty the object Of your thoughfs and growing
! quite enamouTed of II. And when II really appears
great IN your appro nsious think again that this
! grandeur was acquired by brave and valiant men;
| by men who knew their duty, and IN the moments
oil acton were sensible Of shame ana feared re-
| preach; who, whenever their attempts were unsuc-
cessful thought n dishonor that their country
should stand IN need Of any thing their volOr could
do for It, and made II the most glorious present
Besiowing their lives on the putc thsy have every
one received a praise that Will never decay, sr-
pulchre that ~ always be nOst Illustrous not
that In which their bon,s lie mouldcring, bot that
IA which their lame " preserved, 10 be, on every
occasion when honor IL the theme Of either word or
act, etrrnaly remembered. This whole earth H.
the sepuchre 81 Illustfious men; nor it the IN
scrpuon On tic columns ut their native soil alone
hat show their merit, bot the memorial OF thsm
better than all inscriptions, ia every foreign na.
/ ton, repOsited more dutaby ia universal fcnem-
breuCc thun on their own tomb. From tbIB yer
/ moment, emulatiug thrsc noble patterns, placing
your happiness 10 hb,rty, aud liberty IA valur. b,
/ prepared 10 encounter al the daugcr- OF war
Gentlemen, does not every page, pltagfap h, 1bc
sentence Il What have read 20 home 10 al our
hearts carrying most gratiiird c0ust iou.ur-s u
Its resemblance o. what - near and dear 10 ~ u
our native land, j. II Athens, or America l.
Athens Or America the theme ui thcsc immortal
strains Nas Prri,l's speaking ~ his own com
Try, az be "a i o. knew a., vac be gazing upon
Tight yis,ou then tao tluus.nd yrars before bm,
Which Ne zee in reality and a. be cav In prospect
But The contests 81 Sparta aud Athsns Wha
we're they va lasting importance, and in their bear
ibe on the dcsttui'z 81 The world. in CumparI=or
With that ever memorable Struggle which separate,
iie colonies tom the dominion II Europe
How different the rcsuit which betded AthcuI
irOm that which crowned ihe glorious rilJfts Of Oul
ano.stOfs aud, therefore, this renOs ned grafton 90
Pepoles, what 10 t "a comparison with asa Effort %
historical elequeuce which should Jusuy set ioftt
the merits II tie heroes aud the nartyrs Of th'
American Revolution, And the lb.rty VI Athens
and Of the other Grecian republics. beiug iyunde,
In pure dsmo,rscies, without any principle Of r.
pres,ntatiOu, wa fitted only Jr small States Th
exercise Of popular power ~ a purely Democrat,
/ form, cannot bc extended over countries Of largt
extent; because, ia such countries, all cannot az
semblc in the same place, tO vote directly upyr
laws and ordnance, and other public questions
but the principle Of representation - expansive;
may be enlarged II not infinitely, yet indefinitely
90 meet new occasions, aud embrace new regions
While, therefore tie love Of liberty was the same
and IT, general principle the same, IN the Grcoiai
republic ~ ~iiii W, y'tnOt only yer, forms essen
ttolly different, lot that alec WA wanting Whicl
We have been taught % consider az Indispensable
TO its security, that 10, fixed, tettled, definite
fundamental law, Or constitution, imposing hmi
tatiOns and restraints, equally governors ant
governed. We may, therefore, inhalo all the foil
noas and greatness Of the GreCian spirits. bat W.
necessarily give its development a different form
and subject u 90 new notifications.
But history is not only philosophy teaching D.,
example; Its true purpose BE- 20 % illustrate %
1pr0q uf y it