The Portland daily press., 1864-11-29
Mr.. OOlfax's Lecture.

NNAy ANSeS0'
Mr.. Colfax was introduced by Mr.. Fling,
the President of the NJ. L. Association, in
happy manner. The orator was received with
loud demonstrations of applause. lie an
nounced as his subject, "The Duties OF Lille.
1t would not be expected of him to speak OF
all the duties of life which demand the obedi-
ence of all men, but his object was to review
and bring to the notice of his auditors a few
of those special duties which now challenge
the attention of the public.
The first topic was the besetting sin of self
ishness. He did not like the maxim which is
often repeated, that he was great man who
had nothing to hope and nothing to fear from
another. The man whose only promptings
were only for himself, his own comport, pros
perity and happiness, failed to remember the
distinction which the Creator had made
between himself and the beasts that run wild
in the forests and perish. Such an idea was
war against the very principles of our being.
Scott has said the race of mankind would
perish from off the earth If they ceased to as
sist each other. God never intended to peo-
pie this globe with purely selfish men and wo-
men.
The second topic was the duty of life in
volved in the idea of progress. He did not
believe the world was retrograding, however
much men might be disposed to venerate the
honored heirlooms of their ancestors. Men
often looked back upon the past with too much
reverence and regret TO be able to fully COM
prehend the import of the noble and heroic
achievements of the great present. The Wis
ions of the past were like twilight views Of
some ancient temple whose every object was
softened and made to look beautiful. The
progress Of the world was onward and 10 the
right direction. A glance at the glorious ad-
vance in art, science and the pursuits of in
dustry would enable us to realize the truth
that the achievements of modern times have
rivaled the glories of Sparta, Athens, Carthage
and Rome. The proofs Of intellectual prog
ress which clustered around the monuments
intelligent mind the conviction that we are far
ahead of the ancients in thousands of improve
ments.
The speaker now alluded to particular ex-
amples and Illustrations of his subject, and
run over the more salient points of the his
tory bearing upon it. He exhorted the men
tothrow aside ambition for wealth, distinction
and power that beset SO many, and seek that
higher knowledge and intellectual culture
that would produce a higher civilization, re-
fnement and pleasure.
The duty of patriotism was so plain and OBJ
vious that itrequired no explanation. Cicero
had told US that history was the evidence of
the ages, the light OF memory and the school
of lfe Its laurel is the crown of the patriot,
so that after generations might commemorate
his virtues and draw new inspiration from the
shrine of his honored memory.
The orator paid high compliment to the
President of the United States He entered
upon his duties in the darkest hour of the Re-
public, but never suffered despair to settle up
on lis patriotic soul. Amid tempest and storm
he had ever proved himself skilful, honest
and brave pilot, steering the Ship Of State
safely through strong winds and over rough
pillows. Our noble army next came in for a
share Of praise. These heroic men were a
worthy example of the impulses of our free
Institutions. When they return from the
tented field with their banners furled in tri-
umph, as they surely would come, they would
be met by triumphsl arches and receive the
honors of gratiied and patriotic people.
But the duties of patriotism were broad
and not confined to one arena. The battle
field had shown the patriotism of the soldier
and the sailor, but there was honor due to
those whose patriotism had manifested itself
so glowiugly in the Sanitary Commission and
other organizations which had been the in
struments of SO much good to those engaged
in fighting the battles of Liberty. These go
cleties had melted the hearts of thousands
and caused them to overflow with noble deeds,
that had been heretofore as hard as Horeb's
mighty head.
His peroration was grand and contained
some very fine sentiments expressed in beau
tiful language. When the ordeal of war should
be passed aud peace again visit our distracted
country with all its blessings: when our re-
generated and enfranchised Republic should
become that light which kings and prophets
had waited for and sought after, but never
found; when the Flag, the symbol of our
trust, should wave once more unassailed over
every acre of our national domain, and our
Consultation become the New Testament of
our freedom, our whole country would point
to the soldiers and sailors who should survive,
and each succeeding generation would add
new lastre to their glory.
He closed with the Golden Rule. The
noblest of all the duties of lie was that we do
to others as we would that they should do to
us. The lecture was prominently didactic,
full of moral instruction, and Astounding with
sentiments of pure patriotism.
After closing his written lecture, Mr.. Colfax
spoke for perhaps a quarter of an hour, in
familiar off-hand manner, Of the prospects of
the country at the present juncture, and the
conditions of peace,-so desirable to every
patriotic heart. In this part of his discourse
the audience was much more demonstrative
than in the earlier part of the evening, and the
speaker could not fail to feel that they were in
full sympathy with him.
His remarks, though political, were not par
tizan, and the spirit in which they were ut
tered was so kind and courteous ti1at, whether
the nearer adopted all his views or not, he
could not fail to be favorably impressed.
A large number of the substantial men Of
the city were upon the platform and some dis
tinguished strangers; among the latter we
noticed Hon. John II. Rice. of Foxcroit, and
Hon. Bion Bradbury, Of Eastport. Large
numbers greeted Mr.. Colfax at the close of his
lecture, Democratic as well as Union men, the
former seeming quite as well pleased as the
latter, thus showing that good feeling, comfy
and generous spirit have survived the severe
ordeal through which the country has SO re-
Gently passed.
Tho