The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-08-24

A better sketch of our own immortal
Ben. Franklin than this, from the glowing
pen of Macaulay, we do not remember to
have seen or read. 1t is richly worth the
attention of every reader in the land:
The new ambassador was BENJAMIN
Franklin, one of the foremost citizens of
the young Republic, and one of the foremost
citizens of the older Republic of Science.
He was of humble origin. Both in Boston,
the place of his birth, and in Philadelphia,
the place of his adoption, he had worked as
printer nor had be failed to derive great
mental advantages from that art "preserv-
alive of all arts" and of which the follow
ers, like the ships that bear spices and odors
from the East, retain something of those
precious cargoes which they are employed
to distribute.
The clearness of his intellectual percep-
tions was equalled by the clearness of bis
moral perceptions. Under the name of
Poor Richard, be spread abroad through
the humble medium of an Almanac, a sys-
TEN of homely ethics in which the virtues
of frugality, industry, and temperance were
extolled in aphorisms of ingenious terseness.
His growing fame soon obtained for him
offices of trust from the Colonies and the
Grown, and when, owing partly to criminal
interference and partly to criminal neglect,
difficulties arose between the Colonies and
the Grown, he exerted himself, first to prevent
and then to remove such differences. But the
hour of reconciliation passed away. He
then stood up for war with the same serene
courage with which he had stood out for
peace. He was one of the committee that
drafted the great Declaration" He was
now sent to represent the good cause at the
Court of France, and at the bar of Euro.
pean opinion. An extraordinary reception
awaited him. He was justly and widely
known as an eminent man of science and
as the Columbus of electrical discovery.
The French nation is fond, beyond all other
nations, of striking effect and picturesque
contrast. And nought could be more strik-
ing or picturesque than the spectacle now
presented. A Quaker diplomatist was to
appear at the most artificial of Courts--a
new Archimedes was to come from the land
of the Mohawk and the Natchez-a Scion
from Republic of yesterday was to recall
by his wisdom and appearance, the sages of
the ancient Republics. Naughty courtiers
bent with emotion before him. Brilliant
beauties struggled for the privilege of a
kiss. Painters and sculptors spread broad
cast over the land their copies of his august
features. The Academy rang with applause
when Turgot's adulatory Latin announced
that the distinguished guest had wrested
the lightning from heaven and the sceptre
from tyrants ~ ard, at later day, a ship
of-war was fitted ut at French port, un-
der the command of Paul Jones, bearing,
with pardonable inconsistency, the name of
Poor Richard.
The chief glory of Franklin is, that be is
the greatest of the pupils of Bacon; and he
was indeed such a pupil as Bacon would
have delighted to honor. To both master
and pupil, Philosophy was not the mystic
divinity of Plato, nor the impracticable
vixen of the schoolmen. But she was an
angel of beneGcence and minister of mercy
an Elizabeth Fry or Florence Nightin-
gale. Her mission was to relieve human
suffering, and to advance the good of man s
estate. Of these principles, Franklins
long career was triumphant application.
No sooner had the electric spark slid down
the kite-string than the lightning>rod was
invented for its innocuous descent. The
maxims of Poor Richard were meant not
only for the Quaker tradesman and his
neighbors, but for the government of en-
pires and the intercourse of nations. Even
the barren tactics of chess were made to
furnish precepts for the higher warfare Of
life.
Nor did his philosophy deny its choicest
fruits to the philosopher himself; for he was
serene and self.reliant in the hour of tri-
umph; when he entered Philadelphia with a
loaf of bread under his arm; when he lis.
tened, unmoved, to the pitiless sarcasm of
Weddiburne; when he stood the centre Of
all admiration in the splendid Court Of
Louis.
Jealous theologians have attacked the
orthodoxy of bis creed; casuists have ca
villed at the materialism of his ethical pre-
cepts; but be was doubtless good man; he
was unquestionably great man, and he
richly merits the title of "the most useful
man Of any age"-a title which he would
have envied beyond all the gifts of fortune
and all the aurels of fame.