The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-11
be for time sustained But with me other tri
butes-tributes Of less perishable nature and
material-pOSsesses the Fraferan.o

preference. The passing prayer of the Pilgrim
It the tomb y OF "a higher worth than the studi-
Ell taiogy with which the marble is adorned =
The odour with which good name is embalmed
n the simple memory of the people gives forth
IT'S sweetness when the laurel has lost its green
ness. and the etigy has grown grey
In no school-howsoever wise may be the les
sons-howsoever holy may be the lives of those
VINO teach therein-is the vanity and precari-
BUSINESS of worldly honors so forcibly impressed
upon the mind, as in that sphere, where with
the interests and passions of the multitude men
come in contact and whereas there are many
instances of the like on record-the cloud breaks
IN sudden wrath above the head which was
crowned but yesterday, and the favorite be-
comes outcast.
so frequent have been these examples that
centuries of history have in vain been written
If men-doing good deeds, following out great
purposes, and bent upon a great result-set
their hearts upon q compensation in this world
But if thus L have been taught to estimate
the applause and pageantry with which most
men are hailed in public life-regarding both as
little better than the whirling dust of the high
way, or the froth and bubble of the seal have
at the same time been taught to value, and
Preeioao treeeuro- to regard that favor that
trust that friendship, which approaches, en-
compasses, and cllngs to after the excite
ment which accompanied his first appearance
had died away, and the durability of the impress
slons then avoWed in his regard have been test
GU W OOSeifdtIoil, ny Criticism, Dy the ordinary
effects OF time, and, it may have been, by an
antagonism, reckless and relentless. The friend
ship coming to one thus steadily, temperately,
nrageously-coming to one when the tide has
retired, and he stands as it were alone on the
silent shore, dividing his thoughts between the
past and the future, the wild path he has come,
and the yet more perIlous one which he has
yet to set his -prints-the friendship which
thus encirces one is above ali price, for in its
groTth it has given promise of its immutabili-
". That the feeling you exhibit towards me
may be so considered and described, no one,
however querulous or conscientious he may be,
will have the temerity to dispute.
Gentlemen, l know not whether there here ex-
lists concurrence of opinions with those L hold
and have avowed, with regard to certain ques-
tions--the school question, for instance; orwhe-
ther If the votes were taken l should appear in
a minority OF one. Neither am | anxious, out
OF these alternatives, to ascertain what the fact
is. When l consider it proper to give an opin-
ion one way or the other any theory, per-
sonage, event, | do 50 on my own accord on
my own responsibility, for it's own worth for
better or for worse. l seek the imposition of
my opinions on no man. | ask man to back
them. More than this, | should feel aggrieyed
that any friend of mine, controlled by private
reasons, should hesitate to diff er from me; or to
speak more accurately, should hesitate to avow
his difference on any question which has ELECTED
from me an unmistakeable expression.
Honesty, thorough independence of mind
high moral courage-these L place above the
dearest friendship. In an enemy, the deadliest
might strike against, | would do honor TO these
qualities. Active in friend-though they met
me at every pOint-they would not estrange but
rlvet my confidence in his mpathy-elevating
and not depressing my conception of his good
ness
Thus I speak, having we'll known, and yet
knowing what sterling Friendship fs-rhe song it
wakes from the saddest heart-the light it pours
down through the clouds that gather above the
household-the fragrance it steals from the dull
lest or the rankest weeds thatintercept our path,
or spring from the ruins of hopes struck down.
Thus l speak, who not for all the perfumed ISL
ands of the South Pacifc-not for all those cham
bers rooted with cinnibar and paved with silver,
of which brave old seaman of your navy, in
his description of the Amazon, has lately spoken
who, not for all those wondrous reasures
would exchange of those friendships it was
my fortune to find whilst was yet child in the
groves that were vocal with the songs and peo-
pied with the shades of the priests the poets,
the soldiers of the elder times--in their long
robes, and the snow white fillet and the Hyperi-
on star upon the brow. | do not inquire then,
whether you concur with every thing or anything
l may have said, here or elsewhere. On the
contrary, / assume that you dissent from me on
many points and yet L say, that for this very
difference of opinion set the higher value ON
the compliment you have paid And why
hny, IOf CiiiS uiHereHce Wnlcn may exist
between u.s. do the more preciously regard the
trust and friendship which, with the ringing
cheer and flashing cup you have pledged me in
this old hall this evening. For this reason as
have few moments before stated-that 1t de-
notes the prevalence amongst YOU of that Just,
that tolerant, that liberal spirit, which galantly
challenges to the proof opinions maintained in
conscience to be true-which fears not to test
them in the lists where the silver spears of in
tellect make trial of their mettle-which clears
the ground, admires the bearing, adjudges VIC
tory, awards the prize even to the champion
whose cry and crest is other than your own-a
spirit sustaining the public mind in a state OF
heathful, and brilliant, and courageous activity,
where it would otherwise cover, darken, and
stagnate-a spirit which is the foundation of
charity, and peace, and propriety, and a grace
full order amongst men-a spirit which brings
dismay upon the workers in deceit, poverty and
shame to those who gamble with the credulity of
a people-brings on error, exposure, light, and
consternation and to the despotism, of which all
these evil things are but the agencies and weap
ons, dethronement and annihilation-a spirit
which, if not fostered by her children the Com
monwealth, that was Graded here, shall have
fewer days than Carthage or Genoa, or Venice,
which, in their generation, were less favored
than you have been but which, if, on the other
hand, preserved, shall lift this republic high
above the infrmties and calamities that have
oyertaken, heretofore, the prosperous and nigh
ty ones Of earth-setting it, like city of gold,
upon an everlasting hill.
In this spirit, l conceive, you have met me at
this festival You are true to me, if / mistake
not-simply because have been true to myself,
that is, true to my conscience, my memory, my
IL HI