The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-05-25
.sGiVe the World Assurance of
Man,

Man,
Ladies, gentlemen. and members of the
Literary Societies: The scene before us to-
day transports the mind to those elysian
realms where the bards of old tell us that
Universal Pan, knit with the hours and the
graceS
In the dance, leads on the eternal SPRING
The harp of Memnon or the eloquence of
Apollo could scarcely draw an audience
from the ideal regions to which they soar at
such moment as this, into the chambers of
a speakers heart, when beauty. music and
flowers awaken in the heart emotions which
we love to experience. As | wander back
to occasions similar to this when we cele-
brated the anniversary day of our own and
our sister Society, The voices of the Past"
Battlefield, The Utilitarian Spirit of the
Age, Our Country's only Hope" TO
thine own self be True" and moments
make the hues with which years are Color
ed,"-recall soul-stirring strains of elO-
quence which were poured forth by former
orators. when these subjects first named
were presented with such force. Had [ the
magic power of those who preceded me in
former days, then might | hope to awaken
a warm response in your hearth, whilst I'M
folding my theme,
GIVE THE WORLD ASSURANCE OF MAN"
The soul ever aspi-es to higher life, a
nobler manhood. There is in all men
Utdulliul image Oh HE. Judl llIS pointed 10,
aud shaped by their real tastes and inclina-
tionS. All true men are artists carving
from the unshaped block the life whose
image is shadowed in their minds; like the
sculptor. they must be enamored of the
image they carve.
If it is not the realizing of that life imaged
in the mind, it will be devoid of energy and
beauty.
The true soul of man is a never-failing
fountain; the life that springs forth from
the soul of loves fountain, like the stream
of poetry that flows from the fountain of
the poets heart, becomes clearer. broader,
and deeper, the further it advances.
The lake embosomed amid the tropical
hills. which are crowned with never fading
beauty and verdure, cannot reflect from its
bosom the snow-clad peaks OF the Arctic
CLINE; neither can man nobly live and re-
fleet any other life than that which is mir
rored in his soul, and to which his desires
and inclinations naturally impel him. The
painter cannot faithfully represent scenes
which he never beheld. nor can the sculptor
evoke from the dull cold marble any forms
but those around him; the Greek, Roman
and Italian statuary are types respectively
of the Greek, Roman and Italian men; the
artists looked in themselves for their forms,
and saw mirrored there, those around them.
and these they embodied in their produc-
tons; so must man live outwardly, the life
imaged inwardly, by the aspirations of his
heart.
The hand of destiny sometimes keeps
back the soul from the heights to which she
aspires. Bright gems are often borne in
deep-ocean caves. The desert bears flow
ers whose beauties are unseen, and whose
fragrance is wasted.
The want of knowledge and chill penury
have progressed the noble zeal and frozen
the genial current in many soal. The
short and simple annals of the poor" tell of
many who sleep in their lOwly bed, "un-
honored and unsung," who under Fortune's
smile might have "read their history in a
nations eyes, Many country church
yard, "tar from the busy. haunts of men"
would recall the beautiful words of the poet
Gray:
perhaps in this neglected spot is laid.
Some heart once pregnant with celestial
fire.
Hands that the rod of Empire might have
swayed;
Or walked to ecstacy the living Tyre. .
Some village Hampden with dauntless
breast
The little tyrant of his field withstood,
Some mute inglorious Milton here may
Some Cromwell guiltless of his country s
blood
But when the frowns of fate are not thus
so dark, If men pursue the path of life for
which they are by nature suited. they are
all possible heroes. ''AIl may nave III Jffey
dare choose, a glorious life or grave" The
ideal hero of the mind, can be realized in
actual life, by him in whom the ideal hero
lives.
The stream can rise no higher than the
fountain. What the poet sings the man Can
live. The husband can be rs devoted. and
affectionate TO his wife as he was before
marriage. when only lover. But to live
nobly man must be in harmony with him.
self; he cannot be one thing when made tor
another. Taste for any sphere of life indi-
Gates ability for successful effort in that par
ticular calling. Real power and inclination
lead the same way. The soul paints itsell
on the face; all the passions are portrayed
on the countenance; but need not cite ex-
amples, for nature has established univer-
sal law. that all outward signs are the SYM
bols OF hidden powers and qualities within
Then shall not free, outward acts-the real
inclinatons of man represent the power
within him? Shall nature show wisdom il
all things, \ connection between the hidden
and the visible, and then violate her OWE
wise laws, by establishing no correspond
ence between the course of life to which
taste and real power impel him?
Man must be what he is and become what
he can, and not violate the plain laws which
the Deity has written upon his nature. We
want men who viii obey the laws stamped
upon them who know what they can best
do and where they are most needed; mel
who viii 90 where duty calls. and feel tina
IS where the battles thickest there's the sol
dier's duty ;n men who win condemn wrOr
! Ia friend or foe; who are true 70 the yer,
heart and whose consciences point uner