The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-04
Wisceli liaQeoQs.
Extract.

OF the great men who have appeared
in the world, many have been distin-
guished by the splendor of their birth or
station; many by the boldness or variety
of their achievements; and many by the
peculiarities of genius or conduct, which,
from the extraordinary contrast presented
by them, have awakened the curiosity, or
gratifed the novelty of the gidddy null
titude. / know not how it has happened,
but so, l fear, the fact will be found to be,
that high moral qualities are rarely the
passport to extensively popular favor or
renown. Nay, calm and steady virtue,
which acts temperately and wisely, and
never plunges into indiscretion or ex-
trayagance, is but too often confounded
with dullness and frigidity of tempera-
msnt 1t seems as if it was deemed the
prsTogative, if not the attribute of genius,
to indulge itself in eccentr;cities, and to
pass from one extreme to another, leaving
behind it the dark impressions of its vices
or its follies. The deeper movements
Of the soul, in the inmost workings of its
thoughts, are supposed to display them
nSAfOog llhO III JuC udIuIAl MOIlQ,
by occasional explosions, which awe, but
at the same time excite the crowd Of
eager spectators. They are struck with
admiration of what they do not appre-
hend, and mistake their emotions for the
presence Of a superior power. They are
bewildsred by the shifting exhibition,
alternately Of brilliant deeds and debasing
passions, of intellectual efforts Of trans
cendental energy, and parodoxies of over
wrought ingenuity, and being unable to
fathom the motive or source Of anoma-
lies, they confound extravagance with en-
terprise, and the dreams of ambition with
lofty and well-considered design.
And yet, if there is anything taught us
either by the precepts of Christianity or
the history of our race, it is, that true
greatness is inseparable from sound NOR
ais; that the highest wisdom is but another
name for the highest talents that the
genius which burns with pure and regu-
lar flame, throws far and wide its bene6-
cent light, to guide and cheer us; while
occasional corruscations serve only to per-
ple1 and betray us, or, to harrow the Ian
guage Of poetry, serve but to make the
surrounding darkness more visible. The
calm and patient researches of Newton
and Locke have conferred far more last
Ing benefits on mankind, than all the
achievements of all the heroes and con-
querors OF ancient or modern time. One
patriot, like Epaminondas, Scipio or Wash
ington, outweighs host of Alexanders
OSsarS and Napoleons. The fame of JUS
unian, as fortunate possessor of the i'm
penal purple, would have long since faded
INTO an evanescent point in history, if his
memorable Codes of Jurisprudence had
not secured him an enviable immortality
.! the instruction which they have i'm.
parted to the legislation of all succeeding
umes. He who has been enabled, by the
,Cece OF his talents and the example o.
us virtues, to identify his own character
WIN the solid interests and happiness o.
MS country; he who has lived long enough
70 stamp the impression of his own minC
upon the age, and has left on record les
sons Of wisdom for the study and improve
%SoI ..; ot all posterity he, / say, has at
s.neo all that truly great man shoult
Pre to. He has erected monument t
s memory in the hearts of men. Thei
AG,ude will perpetually, though it ma,
Aie1tiy, breathe forth his praise, ant
r;I, 1 voluntary homage paid to his nam
,nS i speak language more intelligibl
so - more universal than any epitaph in
iOed on Parian marble, any imsg
sculpture.