Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-08

MAS cold, raioy, and Uncomfortable. The
streets weFc flooded b. the incenant rain
ofSlhe preceding twenty-iour hours but
over all these detorring circumstances the
splendid reputation Of Mr. Everett triumph
cd, and Masonic Hall was crowded with an
audience that Cor numbers and Intelligence
was tribute worthy of the fsme Of The efp-|
tor, and Of tie illustrious subject Of his
discourse
In this noble oratioa, the peculiar quail
ties Of Mr.. Everett find fall swing His
ample fpad Of knowledge, q treasuge.dgawn
by long years Of patient research from
every domain which the human intellect
has explored, is by the moulding hand Of
genius compacted, polished and populariz-
ed. It affords, too, grand dispIay ef the
power Of Imagination, in the dramatic
grouping Of events and characters, aud in
the detection Of these subtle aihnifies that
are often found linking together historic
incidents, apparently remote or unconnect-
ed aud IN exposing those wonderful con-
trasts IN human conduct and fortune which
teach us the mblimest lessons OF public
morality. Nothing can exceed the artistic
skill with which Mr.. Everett uses his mate
rials lis choice Of language is perfect,
eyincing in It's variety, correctness, and
exquisite taste, the mature fruit Of scholas-
tic culture. Ills rhetoric is incompatible.
The most noble images arc ever at hand 70
illustrate and adom his labject, and he
seems to have nndor his control some slave
of the lamp, whose talisinanic touch brings
evory element and force OF natafe into
captivity, and compeis it 70 pay tribute, and
70 mm,ct in the grand procession d the
orator triumph.
Dutwe question much whether Gle pub
location of this discourse, confirming, as il
exqaisise grace and finish must, the claim
Of Ar Everett to be regarded as an unri.
yailcd rhetorician, VIII add anything to ais
reputation as calm and impartial student
OF history Hero worship IS the most las-
cinating form Of idolatry. Great as WASH
ingson was, we have learned to believe that
there arc no domigods. PIC towers above
contemporary men in virtue and fortune
yetwilhout the aid Of Adams and jefferson,
Franklin and Hamilton, Morris and Lee,
Henry and sherman, Stoubeh, Greene, knox,
Wayne and Lafayette, bis fortune would
have been very different and his virtues
perhaps have. lost half their splendor ia
in The obscurity OF his fortune 'i' A
And it IS just At this point we think the
temptations u the ELECTRICIAN are most
dangerous Dramatic effect is an exaciips
result, on whose altar justice Is sacrificed.
Ar Everett called on.us to adusirctbe more
tho extraordinary character Of Wasbingtuu
because 10 Waahinston had existed before
him. We mast believe that the diIlcdlties
here depicted For the purpose Of cSnltihg
the merit that had surmountc5 them, were
unduly exaggerated The path that Wash
inston and his compalrio,s tged was not au
unbeaien path an iIluslrious Lac Of pa
srio.s had preceded them, MANY Of whom
had carried tAeir love OF liberty ir.o exile
or to the scagold No nobler exposition OF
the rights Of the citizen was ever made, OF
over viii be, than was long before reeosded
IN the immortal prose Of Milton Hn1npden
illustrious name, wherever uttered, stirring
the hearts Of men Ike the sound Of trdm
pet, had lived and died the calm sagaeious
intrepid Zoe Of tyranny, the miAor OF every
manly grace and virtue, the perfect type O
Christian Statesman, colder, and gentle
man. The great events Of the Rebellion
and the Revolution in England matured the
principles of the American revolt ana
when the colonies felt that the 1mperia
Parliament had transcribed its powers
every portion Of this country furnished
pens ardent and eloquent to rebnke thl
usurpation, with instances and arguments
copious anu unanswerable drawn from Tia,
history Of the country that oppressed US.
The reference to MARLBOROUGH, SO magni
icent in the double contrast, wrought GU
with such skilfull elaboration, between tn,
characters Of the two great men, and tn,
splendors Of the princely palace of Blenhein
on the one hand, and the humble simplicit,
Of Mount Vernon, on the other, was, we ar,
compelled to believe, equally unjust Mari
borough was not stainless character. Blu
he WAS not a monster of selGshness ianl
cupidity. When the States General Of Hol
land repeatedly offered him salary o
sixty thousand pounds year, he repeated,
declined the princely income That sum
estimating the change in values occasonct
blythe vast increase in gold and silver since
that period, represented then value fully
equal to that now represented by a million
of dollars Now on what ground, suppose
you, did this miserly wretch, whose nams
Mr. Everett consigned, in inausOleun O
grim architectural dosolation, to darl
eternity Of asphaltic contempt--on whai
ground did he decline The splendid reward
Because he believed It would make him q
more conspicuous object for jealousy thai
already endangered the success Of the allied
army, and which must have ruined the com
mon cause but for his moderation and
genius.
!. Marlborough sssyed the cause ofmankinc
in transcendont. degree. Ills labors and
sutIerings were immense and grievous AZ
ter his fall he was attacked by libellers Al
false and interruptions as those who assail
cd the spotless name Of Washington, am
charged even the father OF his country with
peculation aud assassination But Marlbor
oush wiz yet have justice done his name
and services, IN spite Of the rancorous at
tack Of Macaulay, which, we arc persuaded
would never have found an echo in Mr.. Ey
crett, but for the illusions Of his own res