The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-07-21
Published by Request ofhe Committee Of .dr-
raHgenents.

TQHgeUeWS'
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS AS the
day we celebrate was the birthday of our
National Independence, and is therefore of
great HISTORICAL importance, it appeared to
me that few remarks on History in general,
and the history Of Greece and Rome in partic-
nlar. would not be inappropriate to the pres
cnt occasion, as the lessons to be derived
from history are often highly instructive.
History has been said to DO, Philosophy
teaching by examples, or Moral Philosophy
rxcmpitied by the lives and actions Of men.
Taking therefore this description as correct,
its chief use appears to be the knowledge it
affords us of the progress Of the human mind
in the cultivation of the Arts and Sciences,
especially the Science of Politics, which has
the close st and most intimate elation to the
general welfare of our race. 1t also furnishes
us a most important lesson in exhibiting the
ndissoluble connection between Virtue and
Happiness, illustrating on large scale by the
example of Nations, a truth which has be-
come familiar to us by daily observation of
the lives of our species. But the study of
history is not only instructive, it is also high
~ entertaining, for, as has been wei remark
cd, truth is often stranger than fiction. Is
the lover Of novels and romantic stories de-
sirous of having access to q record Of the
most exciting and Interesting events, involv-
ing tales of crime and passion of the most
heart-stirring character, he has only to apply
Ia hnr
TO his enraptured gaze, and he will at once
throw aside those of fiction which had before
engaged his attention, the interest of which
in all judicious minds is so often destroyed
10y their obvious want Of truth and probahili-
tv. History therefore has claims on the at
tenton both of those who wish TO obtain a
deeper insight into the origin and progress of
society, and ofthose who only resort to read
ing for the purpose ofpassing away an idle
hour, and who generally have recourse to the
nnwlolcsome exsitcmcnt produced by some
thrilling narrative of love and murder, or
"hair-breadth Escapes and perils by flood and
tcld;" which exist only in the ina ginations
Of their authors. To such readers as these if
truth ever comes at all, she must, come sin
1.-The gnrb of fairy fiction dress'd," but they
should remember that it is a law of the ami
nal economy that high state OF excitement
is always followed by corresponding degree
Of depression, and that it is better to make
nse of the simple and wholesome nourishment
Of truth than the highly seasoned, but nox-
ious yiands presented at the feasts prepared
ly Imagination for her guests.
The first among the profane Nations of An
tiquity whose history is remarkable and at
the same time authentic j.. the States of
Greece. What interesting associations are
called up in the mind of the scholar by the
mention of that illustrious name! What a
long procession of Philosophers, Poets, His
torians, Warriors, Painters, Sculptefs, and Ar
clitects pass wildly before his minds eye.
when he thinks of q country which was dis
tinguiShed by all that can adorn and dignity
our nature when the rest of the world was
immersed in state Of comparative ignorance
and harbarism. Whose bosom does not glow
those illustrious men who adorned the heroic
Age Of Greece1 Gold must be the heart of
that man who is not sensible of such emo
lions whilst following Leonidas to the Pass
Of ThcrmopyiD, or watching with the Disci-
llcs Of Socrates for the fatal hour of sunset /!
I Who does not delight in imag ination to walk
7 with Plato in the Groves of the Academy, or
TO listen to the lectures of Aristotle in the
l.yceum? Well may We look upon these
! godlike men with pride as ornaments of our
for the errors Of their philosophy, which
clearly prove how insufficient is the light af-
'iordcd by human reason unaidcd by Divine
Revelation for the discovery Of truth in
Ethics or that Science which teaches the
proper regulation of tho heart and life. Alas!
how changed is the character of the inhabi-
tants Of that lovely land from what they were
in-days of yore But recently emancipatsd
from the CALLING and degrading letters OF
Turkish bondage, they are said by travellers
still to retain some of those vices which Slav.
cry is sure to cngender, and to resemble the
ancient Carthaginians, rather than those
Greeks of old, Of whom Homer sung, and
whom Demosthcncs harangucd, and who were
at the same time models of manly beauty in
their persons and unsurpassed in vigor and
acuteness of intellect. He who contrasts her
present with her past condition would willing.
ily adopt the language Of Lord Byron in his
lnimitable poem OF Childe Harold
''Ancent Of Days. august Athena where,
Where are thy men Of might? thy grand in soul
Gone, gimmering thro the dream Of things thai
They won and pass'd nway-is this the whole
A school boys tale, the wonder of an hour?
The Warriors weapon and the Sophist's stole
Are sought in yain,. and DER each Wondering
tower, mower
Dim with the mist ofycars, gray fits the shade Of
The next Nation in order Of time that dis
linguished itself both in Arts and Arms, wa.
he Roman. Shades of Caesar, Pompcy
3rntus, Scipio, Cato, Cicero, Virgil and
Horace, if it were possible that you coult
inspire me with some portion of your higl
pirt and lofty talents to enable me to d,
iIstice to character of which you were tn,
brightest specimens, l would invoke your ait
p give force and brilliancy to the few re
i,arks shall make on the cn-hilled cit,
fImperial Rome, the once proud mistress
the World. And here question natural
occurs to tho minds of the Phloss phca