The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-02-03
NO. 80.

have f1ocked the generations ever since to
drop the tear of remembrance upon the
hs,lowed spot. In following the history
of this remarkable man step by step, it is
not so very difficult to account for his un-
bounded popularity among al! classes, par
ticulsrly among the classe from which he
sprung; especially, if we take into consid
GRAFTON the overshadowing influence of the
poet OF song maker. For, according to
high authority, the power possessed by the
song maker is greater than any other pow
or among men.
Let rue make a nations songs and you
may make her laws" said Republican
Fletcher, 160 years ago. The same senti
ment WAS adopted by the great Chalmers,
and is now reiterated by the philosoph;c
Carl yle. But to satisfy ourseve. let us
look and see what has been accomplished
by that sublime author of Liberty, the Mar
seilles Hymn. What tyrauts has it not
sung into exile or to the guillotine! And,
reflect that the perjured usurper, whose
bloody heel now rests upon the sacred lib
critics of a gallant people, makes it a penal
offence to sing this hsaven-born strain,
within his empire. Yet he sleeps in ter
ror Of its music every night of his life
He may, perhaps, blindly think that he has
crushed the gem beneath his armed claw;
yet, | think, he will live long enough to
fud out. that
Truth crushed to earth shall rise again;
The eternal wears Of God are hers;
p,,t. Al
Aud dies amid her worshippers;
and find himself sung from the Tuileres
to the guillotine. 1t would have been SO,
long ere this, had the sentiments of that
song been universal in France, Is the
songs of Burns are in his own country
Does auy man imagine that a similar law
to that just alluded to. passed by Great
Britain, prohibiting the singing Of "a
mans man for q that" ''Scots wha hae
wi Wallace bled," or Burns songs gener-
ally, could be enforced in Scotland? No!
gentlemen. All the bayonets that ever
we're forged could not enforce it while a
true Scotchman lived. But for the diff
ference between the law-maks1 and the
song maker, we can find good illustra-
ton at home here. Thomas jefferson was
q master law-maker, and is universally &C
credited as the drawer or framer of our
eyer-to- be admired "Declaration of Inde
pendence." 1t is model paper. There
is but little difference between the dates OF
this instrument and another declaration of
independence, by Robert Burns, called "a
man 5 man for a that'-the Declara
ton of Independence set to music, if you
please, gentlemen. But, mark the differ
ence in effect of the two, in the lands
which bore them. The former is pro-
nounced by many "vague and meaning
less, consisting of glittering gensralties, -
and Is getting into esteem; while in the
whole length and breadth of the land
which claims the latter, there is not to be
found one voice or whisper against any
sentiment therein contained.
| have not time to enlarge here. If We
accept the fact, then, of the crowning in
t1uence possessed by the song-writer, we
shall the more easily sea how Burns reach
ed the hearts and hands of his country
men because, first, he was full Of sinceri-
ty, and enthusiastically in earnest in
whatever direction the muse led him
and this is wonderful element Of success
in whatever direction pointed. Second,
his muse delighted in objects with which
everybody was familiar; thus he was al
ways to be found on the side of the hum
ble and the helpless, against the coldness
and seishness of the powerful aud the
strong. Third, he had great personal in-
dependence and love of liberty-a spirit
which is breathed throughout all his wri
tings. Fourthly, bis great heart loved all
created things, and the suffsrings of the
hunblest found warm sympathy from him.
The winter wind brought to hi- mind the
"ourie" csttle and the silly sheep, and
elk happing bird, wee helpless thing,
That in the merry month O Spring
Delighted me, to bear thee sing.
What comes O theel
Where wilt thou cov'r thy chittering
And close thy e'e y wing,
His tender mercy went beyond this
He could not think Of "Auid Cloutie,"
without compassion for him, and advises
him to reformation in this merciful way E:
"But fare 20 well, auld Nickie Ben,
Oh, wad ye tax a though and men;
Ye aiblins might, dinna ken,
Still hae a stake,
I am wac to think, upon your den,
Zen for your sake
And, fifth, the poet was intensely a
Sco,cbmau and has strengthened the ma
tionality of the general character Of his
eountrymen-a proof which you hear be-
fore you to night. And lastly, gentle
men, bis great heart was compassionate,
benevolent and religious. Says he, what
ever mitigates the woes or increases the
happiness of others, that is my criterion
Of goodness" or, as he sums it up in
verse
"But desr this truth impressed my mind,
Through all his works abroad:
The heart benevolent and kind,
The most resembles Cod"
As his soul overfowed With these ssnti-
ments and feelings, which gu,hed out with
.ilvery tones in sweetest strains OF melody
The marvel need not be Why We love him
bat we ought rather to marvel If heart
40 insensible could be found that ,oould