The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-02-11
Mr.. Prentfce's Lecture ON "American
Statesmanship.o

FRIDAY MORN1NG........- .........FEBRUARY IL
MIR. Prentice's Lecture ON "American
Statesmanship."
A large and intelligent audience greeted
Mr.. Prentice on Monday night, at Crescent
City Hall. The lecture, in literary point
of view, was mastery effort, and worthy
of the distinguished scholar, poet, and Drill
liant writer. 1t portrayed most powerfully
the sad decline of purity, patriotism, and
honesty among those who assume the lead
In our political affairs, and its strong and
startling truths presenting the perfect absence
of even q tint of partizan feeling or preju-
dice, sunk deep into the mind and heart OF
every listener thst loves his country better
than he loves the political party to which
be adheres. As the Enquirer has published
an illiberal, and bigoted review Of the lecture,
which is full offalsehoods and misrepresenta-
tons, and evidently the production OF
mind of such narrow compass that it is ur-
able to comprehend the boldest truths or
noblest ideas when not uttered by afollow-
er fits own creed, we furnish our readers,
to-day, with condensation of the lecture,
which will enable them to judge somewhat
of the admirable sentiments it contains, the
truths it related, and the thorough appro-
priateness of the theme, though by no means
portraying its powers, and beauty and grace
of expression.
The founding of States, said the lecturer,
has been called the noblest of works. The
preservation of States was a work Of equal
dignity. States are founded but once; they
are governed always. The importance and
the grave responsibility of State-making
could not be overrated; but is not the
business of State-preserving matter of
equal gravity and importance, when we re-
feet that the happiness and destiny ofnations
are dependent on it? Forming States is
work of criticism rather than of CREATION
The State founder has only to survey the
wrecks of empires that lie on the shores OF
the past, ard select therefrom such materials
as history and experience have proved to be
good and useful But the statesman who
would preserve his State may be called on
to meet contingencies for which history fur
nishes no precedent.
The lecturer mentioned, as the elements
of successful craftsmanship, the virtues of
patriotism, integrity, courage, patience,
frmness of soul, sagacity, candor, judgment
and a thorough knowledge of politics All
of the qualities must meet in the perfect
statesmen, and some share of them all must
be present before we can reasonably look
for respectable craftsmanship. Harmonious
iy combined, they produce the wisest and
best systems OF government separated,
IA &c. nd lei,
craftsmanship. He placed patriotism first i;
because genuine ardent love for country
was the handspring of true craftsmanship.
Without it, genius would be calamitOus.
Do these virtues enter very largely into
American craftsmanship of the present day
= Are our politicians patriotic, honest, brave,
patient, sagacious, candid fertile of resource,
wise, and thoroughly versed in the science
of government, and in the art of politics
No: there never was set of public men SC
utterly destitute of public spirit. The faint
est thrill of patriotic emotion never disturbs
their souls. Instead of being animated by
patriotism, they are actuated only by n love
of place Loving their country next tC
nothing, they love their eountrys Office:
with consuming ardor. They do not ever
assume the virtue they have not. Nay
they openly avow their hatred of theft
country, and revolt Mt the loyalty Of others
They not only hate the Union, but they e.
further, and hate those who love it.
DR.. Johnson sarcastically defines patriot
ism to be the last refuge of a scoundrel.-
Our politicians regard it in the same light
for they are as shy of exhibitions of the at
lection as an Englishman is of a scene
They are not only indifferent to the publ
good, but they actively exert themselves t.
bring about public evil. The odor of ma
tionalitv is detestabla to them and thei
eontortions under an accidental burst O
genuine patriotic emotion from others ar
absolutely excruciating.
Sir. James Macintosh, whose aversion t
music was almost incredible, was ono
dragged by his friends to the Italian Opera
and his agony under the harmonies that en-
ehanted all around him, suggested to
friend this thesis for the next paper to be rea
before the Edinburg Philosophical Societ
What is the physiological effect of must
on the sensorium of Macintosh a.
equally interesting question would be
what is the physiological influence of a patri
otto speech on the spleen of a Disunionist o
the liver of an Abolitionist
Are they any richer in the second ele
ment of Statemanship? Destitute OF patri
otism, how are they off for integrity? Lor
Bacon, in his Christian paradoxes, defines
Christian to be one who believes angels
be his superiors, and, at the same time, b
servants Our politicians might be define
20 be class who look upon the people {
angels and, at the same time, as dupes.-
They fawn on the people TO betray then
They tatter them to swindle them. Phocio'
the stainless, though impracticable, Ather
ian whose stern virtue resisted alike I'll
gold of Alexander, aud the fercer tempt
lions of despair on being applauded by ii
populace during one of his speeches, turns
80 friend, and asked" What have ga
amiss ?" Our politicians are never distres
ed by the computations that afflicted Phi
cion. They speak only to elicit the hurra
of the populace. They are as regardles
too, of the peoples good, as three are anxio
for their applause. They promise ever
thing, and fulfil nothing. 1t has been sal
bya keen satirist, that one should alwa
keep his countenance, but never keep !
word-a maxim which American statesm
IN