The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-08-12
EVERETT ON THE UNION.
AN GRAFTON DELIVERED AZ BosToN, July
9th, 1888.

masterpiece OF eloquence, not only because oi
its oratorial merit, but because of its pure and
Union loving sentiments and especially because
OF lis glorious tribute to the lamented Choate,
the great master OF American oratory. Read
Ii, ever y One.- Ed.
AS Mr. Everett rose he was greeted with tre-
mendous cheering, long continued, when be
proceeded 10 speak as follows:
SiR-I am greatly indebted to YOU and the
company for this most hattering reception
My attendance of late has seldom been given
on occasions Of this kind, and could not with
consistency have been given at this banquet,
had not yolr obllgiag invitation contained the
assurance that you proposed TO celebrate the
Fourth OF July IN national spirit, excluding
everything OF a political or partisan charater''
As long as [ was in public life was a member.
as you know, Sir, Of that old Whig party to
which you have referrad-the national Whig
party ia political association, Sir, am sure
you will grant, of which no one need be a.
shamet. The proStration Of my health COM
/ PEELED me, four years ago, TO resign the
honorable post which then filled in the pub
: ilc service. Since that period new parties have
been organized the old have either retired for
while, at least, from the field, or have been
forced 10 some degree on new issues and if
telt the slightest inclination (which | do notl,
with the partial restoration OF my health, to
( return to public life, should be deferred from
II by the fact, that between the extremes of
/ opinion which distract and threaten to con-
/ vuse the country, | find no middle path of
practical usefulness which friend of moderate
counsels is permitted to pursue. Statesmanship,
| as 1t was understood in my younger days-that
/ is, the study of the foreign relations of the
country, its defences, naval and military, its
CurI vuCy IHIaIGvs, Bsat nutssI.s-
ments, its great industrial interests, and the re-
/ latons OF the Government TO the Indian tribes,
has almost become an obsolete idea, and our
political life has assumed almost exclusively
the form of sectional agitation. Into that
drrary and proht'ess agitation I have no heart
! TO enter.
| Justified by the character Of your celrbra-
/ ton, have yielded without scruplr- to the
wish-rather ] have found myself as little able
as desirous to resist the alI-powcrfuI temptation
! American oratory, Il am glad on oue account
that he has retired IRON the table, aS | can
speak with greater freedom what l think and
feel, on an occasion and upon a theme not
- &
the flight of his eloquence. And, Sir, I will
say, il the pure and exalted principles OF
nationality which he has this day unfolded and
! illustrated, under your auspices, are a faithful
/ exposition OF democratic doctrine, then | must
| be permitted 10 share the satisfaction of the
/ worthy gentlemen ia Molere's play, at finding
/ greatly 10 his astonshment and delight, that he
had been speaking prose all his hfe The
great founder Of the Democratic party, Mr..
/ Jefferson, in his inaugural address on the 4th
! OF March, 1901, SAID .we have called by
/ different names brethren Of one principle we
! are all federalistS, we are all republicans. -
| II the orator OF the day to whom We have all
! listened with such admiration, has truly ex-
| pounded the principles OF your Association
| and your PARTY, think we must say with still
/ stronger emphasis, ''We have allied by differ
ent names brethren the same principle We
are all Democrats"
| For myself, sir, standing aIoof from public
life and from all the existing party organza-
tons, San truly say, tha. have never listened
to an exposition of political principle with
/ higher satisfaction. | heard the late MIR.
/ Samuel Rogers, the venerable banker poet of
/ London, more than once relate that he was
present on the 10th OF December, 1890, when
! Sir Joshua Reynolds delivered the last of his
discourses before The Royal Academy of Art
Edmund Burke was also one OF the audience :;
and at the close of the lecture, Mr.. Rogers saw
him go up 10 Sir Joshua, and heard him say,
in the fuliness of his delight, in the words of
Milton,
Tne angel ended, and in Adams ear
/ So charming eft his voice, that he awhile
| Thought him stin speaking, still stood fixed
10 hear.
When our friend concluded his superb ora
tion this morning, I was ready, like Mr.. Cru
ger, of New York, (~ho stood with Burke for
the representation Of B.istoll s'to say ditto TO
Mr. Burke" Twas unwilling to believe that
tie noble strain, By turns persuasive, melting
and sublime, had ended. Tue music of the words
still dwelt upon my ears the lofty train of
thought elevated and braced my understanding i;