Daily national Democrat., 1859-07-15

CoL. Il. ~. BAKER.-Col. Baker has made an
other speech in San Francisco. The Colonel is a
good talker, there is no doubt about it. Falling
far short Of the highest order of eloquence, with
out having ever uttered an idea either grand or
sublime unmeasurably behind Chatham, or
Burke, or Henry, he stands in the very first rank
of sylabub orators -.Sdc Standard.
What does man mean by such an expos
ure of himself as is contained in the above ?
Surely, Jadge Bolts never penned the Ian
guage quoted. He could not be so blind to
transeendent and hitherto unquestioned in
tellectual merit. What Col. Baker "never
uttered an idea either grand or sublime" E?
We venture to say that there are passages in
his best efforts that no man in the world has
ever surpassed in sublimity of thought and
grandeur of expression. Where, in the whole
annals of oratory, ancient or modern, will be
found a finer outburst of eloquence than the
following, which we extract from the oration
which Col. Baker delivered at San Francis
co, on the occasion of the celebration of the
laying of the Atlantic Cableg Let any man
read it, and say ifhe has ever heard it sur
passed. 1t win be remembered that the last
comet was then visible:
We have accomplished a great work. we have
diminished space to point; we have traversec
| one-twelith Of the circumference Of our globe with
trains Of thought pusating with intelligence and
| almost spilftualizing matter But, even while we
| assemble to mark the deed and rejoice at its con.
! plet0n the Almighty, as if to impress us with a
becoming sense Of our weakness, when compared
with his power, has set new signal of his reign
in heaven. If tonight, fellow citizens, you will
look out from the glare of your illuminated CITY,
into the northwestern heavens, you will perceive
low down on the edge Of the horizon, a bright
stranger pursuing its path across the sky Amid
the starry hosts that keep their watch, ii shines
| attended by brighter pomp and followed by a
broader train No living man has gazed upon ITS
! splendors before, no watchfu votary of science
| has traced its course for nearly ten generations
1t is more than three hundred years since its ap.
proach was visible from our planet when last
II came, II startled an Emperor on his throne and
while the superstition of his age taught him to
perceive in its presence a herald and a DOOM his
pride saw in its flaming course and fiery train, the
| announcement that his own light was about to be
cXtingushed In common with the lowest of his
subjects, he read omens of destruction in the bale
tul heavens, and prepared himseffor fate which
alike awaits the mightiest and the meanest
! Thanks to the present condition of scientific
| knowledge we read the heavens with far clearer
! perception. We see, in the predicted return o
the rushing, blazing comet through the sky, til,
march of u heavenly messenger along its appoint
cd way and around its predestncd orbit Fo
three hundred years he has Travelled amid the re
gions of infinite space. "Lone wandering, bu
not lost, he has left behind him shining suns
blazing stars, and cleaning constitutions nov
nearer to the Eternal Throne, and again on tn
confines of the universe. lie returns, with vsag
radiant and benign ; he returns with unimpedc,
march and unobstructed way: he returns, tn
majestic, swift electric Telegraph Of the Almigll
ty, bearing upon his flaming front the tidings thai
throughout the universe, there is still peace ant
order--that, amid the immeasurable dominions O
the Great King, His rule is still perfect--tha
suns and stars and systems tread their eudles
circle and obey the Eternal law.