The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-31
EiIton.

Blind Milton approaches nearly to that
true conception Of rightminded hero
which must ever be esteemed. What a
picture have we OF that sublime old man,
as sick, poor. blind. and abandoned Of
all his friends, he still held fast his heroic
ntegrity-rebuking with his unbending
epublicaDism, the treachery, cowardice.
and servilily of his old associates. He
had outlived the hopes and beatifc visions
of his youth-hc had seen the loud d-mouth-
ed advocates OF liberty throwing down a
nations freedom at the foot Of the shame
less debauched. and perjured Charles IL.
Crouching to The harlot-lhronged court of
the tyrant. and forswearing at once their
religion and their republicanism The
execu,ioner's axe had been busy among
his friends: Vane and Hampden slept in
their bloody graves; Cromwell's ashes had
been dragged from their resting place, for,
even in death, the effeminate monarch
hated and feared the conqueror Of Naseby
Marston Moor. He was left alone in age
and penury and blindness. oppressed with
the knowledge that all which his free soul
abhorred had returned upon his beloved
country. Yet the spirit OF the stern old
republican remained to the last unbroken.
realising the truth Of his own "Samson
Agonistes:"
''Patience is the exercise
OF saints. the trials Of their foritude,
Maxim them each their own deiiverer,
And victor over all
That tyranny of fortune can infict."
True, the overwhelming curse had gone
over his country; harloiry and atheism sat
in the high places, and the curses Of wan
ions and the j"sts of butfoons regulated
the measures OF a government, which had
just ability enough TO deceive, just religion
enough 10 persecuie. But, while Milton
mourncd over this disastrous change, no
selt-reproach mingled with his sorrow.
10 the last lie had st;iveh against the op-
pressor, and, when confined to his narrow
alley. prisoner in his own mean dwell
ing, like another Prometheus on his rock
he still exhibited al unsubdued defiance.
Who that has read his powerful appeal to
his country, even when it was on the eve
of welcoming back the tyranny and mis-
rule which, at the expense Of SO much
blood and treasure, had been thrown off.
can ever forget liz How nobly does lib
er;y speak through him! III" said he,
'sye welcome back monarchy, it will be
the triumph, ot all tyrants hereafter over
any people who shall resist oppression,
and their song shall then be. 10 others.
"tlow sped the rebellious English?" but 10
our posterity.y How sped the rebels your
tathers?" How solemn and awful is his
closing paragrsp ph: .'What have spoken
is the language of that which is not called
amiss "1'he Good Old Cause" Ifii seem
strange to any. it will not. hope, seem
more strange than convincing to backsli.
ders. This much should have said.
though were sure should have spoken
only to trees aud stones, and had none to
cry but with the prophet, '.Oh, earth, earth.
earth' to tell the very soil itself what its
perverse inhabitants are deaf to-nay,
though what have spoken should prove
to be the last words of our expiring iber-
ties-which Thou suffer rot who didst
make mankind free. nor Thou next who
didst redeem US from being servants OF
siniD