New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-27


countng.room, and under the pressure OF pubic
opinion, is it, under these circumstances, easy
to speak always the true word ard 90 exactly
the right thingl
Z. How are the mighty fallen in the rnidst OF
tie battle" There age two ways in which TINS
exclamation nav be interpreted. !! may be
said Of those who in bold endeayor, and brave
defiance Of temptation, have suffered IN interest
and esteem. And. alas when Ne think III now
many souls good has guccumbcd TO eva, ana
great talents have been perverted, hDd noD!e
powers wasted, still again, with a very SGD
meaning may it be said" How are the mighty
TALENT"
But wish you particularly to notice that thi'
inward, personal, fe-c0nhict. is not Gu abStTae.
ton. that has little to do with HoroSm and
Martyrdora as we commonly employ those
terms. 1t is most intimately connected WIZ
HeTosm and Martyrdom upon The erandest sea-
lin which man il ever summoned 70 eEhipi'
those qualities. In proportion as man IS true
10 that which ia highest in his own soll, doef
he constitute the ready metefai ior iiefo
and Martyr.
Something more il essential to the ideal Of a
hero than mere courage, which may be The nat
ural endowment of very inferior, OF very
bad man. Suppose man 10 be cOUtending for
what he knows to be bad cause. but contend
ing bravcly, feTcely-yielding not 81 jot. We
may recognize his courage; but do We, in any
true, high sense, estimate him rs heYO2 Or
suppose his is simply the aim Of selfish aniDi-
ton: lie is fighting desperately for private ends
for personal honor or aggrandl6emrnt Is
hGi heroism Of the grand, inspiring kind2 Ia 1t
the sort of heroiSm that strikes music from the
worlds heartl No: We say that true heToism
mast contain A moral elemental seli-conquer-
irg ard self-sacri1ioing element. The hero IS
not tho man who contends for mere selfish ends,
or who fights with private yindic.iveness; but
tho man who contends for O eGase---
q great ard good cause. And ell
the more is he hero, because. It may be, he
has not been largely endowed with o spoh-
taneous animal courage. lie hes had To con-
tend against natural weakness Gnd fear. lie
has had To struggle with MS own heart, and to
repress the rebellion Of his own nature. What
las enabled him TO DO thisl The ideal Of Truth,
Duty. Patriotism--s great cause out Of himself,
aud beyond himself in the inspiration OF which
he has brayely overcome himself. Doyor thmh
that many men gave marched 10 THIS war OF
ours without any iesr--without any Tisgylngi
Have no. q hundred ties plucked ~ the soldiers
he2rt-strngs TO draw him back 10 that she,er-
ing horne which he was about to leave, anxio16-
IL feeling that il might be foYeycrl Has there
not been a reluctance Of the blood as he shout
dered his musket, assured that Il Yves for no
holiday excursion, bat for actual service Has
there been no thrll and tremo. Of tho flesh GS
le has stood aOne upon the outpost, conscious
thar t.eachorOus death might be lurking near
as ne has awakened 70 the long drum-rou sum-
moDing BIN to battle, and thought that before
an hours time DO might cease 20 be, lying
tra!npled in the red fuTrow. or with glazed eyes
- h. fa
has stood, be has fallen in the midst Of the bat
to; and soy there % truer herosm, struggling
first with its own heart ard it's own flesh, than
the bloodhound instinct that PUSHES at it, natu-
raj food with delight.
But, for an illrstration Of my subject, ] turn
from the more general aspects of our age, 70 thy
people Of our own land. The hour hes indeed
rome when, In our own experience, @e may
know how closely events repeat themselves,
and may learn how the great Cycle Of History
has its seasons az inevitably as tho collar year:
its Summer glory of luIuriant and achieving
peace-its Auturnnal ingathering Of results--its
Winter OF seeming barrerrcss--its Spring.
time Of elemental forces ana OF new life,
when tho seeds OF grand future arc
planted and history is prepared. Tho latter is
now our case. The Spring OF now EPooh--oi
an unknown but--wh0 can doubt 7--glon0us fl-
lture. And, rs G constituent Of this condition,
nc have our grand array OF Heroes and Mar
tyrs. Did We suppose that our sou had no Snch
crops in its bosoInf Did We think that our ma
tonsl life was limited 10 meGler issuos7 Did
NC imagine we had been placed here in this fair
ard bounteons land, with TIE richest heritage Of
the 0,d World poured into its bosom,
only to bay and sell, and get
gam Raging the harvest sown by
Heroes and Martyrs, did we think Fe need raise
10 Heroes ana Martyrs tool ii such WAS our
thought, the day Of triGl has undeceired liz. 10
has undeceiyed those who imagined hat no such
products would grow upon our stock. Heroes
and Martyrs they Gre the neH of The hOur.
They arc identified with tho names that live
upon tho Gps Of millions. il is OF these, more
than all others, ts; tho people talk around
their ire-sdcs and in their assemblies. II Is 81
these that VIC may freely speak even in Tho
sanctuary. orr heroes and martyrs cloud
Of Witnesses for the spirit and worth Of the
nation. Our heroes named IN tho homes o.
all who have left home and occupation, comfort
and kindred, and stood in the midst Of the bat.
tie. Preeentad TO US in glorious clusters, on
many a deck and field. An entire discourse
might be made up Of instances. Our memories
run backward AID forward through this war,
collecting flee Of illustrious deeds. We re-
member tire man who covered tho threat
eneJ powder with his body--tho gunner
who, bleeding to death, seized tho lanyard,
fred bis cannon, and fol- back doad-the gallant
captain who, WHOM his artillerymen were killed,
and himself left alone, sat calmly down upon
bis piece, and, with revolver in hand, refusing
to hy, fought to the end, and died, the last man
at his gun--the old Massachusetts, ID, at Get
tysburg, who, in the fierce fighting on the right,
on tho morning Of tho Sd Of July, had their COM
tnnr din,, ofirar Killed at the head of thu reri.