New-York tribune., 1872-12-05


when the salient points of mans character have BEEN
nstnctiyely spprehended but very few instances
when the expressions OF regret and regard have been
spontaneous, so widespread. and similar.
The record of Mr. Greeley's life like his person.
known everywhere These euoges that pour In thick
ana fast from every quarter Of the land mado
up with artificial rhetoric. They genuine. Those
tears "a freely shed to-day by country rcsde and in
distant States as the shadowing drapery OF these
walls, conventional tears. They no Official
symbols OF mourning that hang around US; they repre-
the peoples thought aud twiDed about the peo
ples heart Of honest purpose and benefcens
tendencies vndicates under all transient mlscon
cepon Where today party badges and poiti-
cal dlsnctionsi They coil to ahesi Where in the rev.
erent sadness Of this differences creed They
melt away in the broad light of Christian recognition
that testihes to true mans fe and arches over good
mans grave. All this then, say indicates nstruc-
appreciation Of character that could not be made
more distinct by any labored analysis.
AN NwRoUGHT LOVE OF HUMANITY.
And now. my friends, one lesson adapted 10 this
place and this hour ask you before the face Of the dead
10 consider for moment or two what 1t was TO which
this aifectionate remembrance attaches, and wbch
draws this spontaneous regagi II not mere intel
ectual ability large and undenIabe it In tho
present instance IL official station Ar. Gree-
ley held no Official station The will OF the people,
pressed through its Electoral College, to-day that
he should hold no such station. To-day the win OF God
elects him TO place from which all human bonors look
small and dim. No, my friends, the attraction in this
instance Is the magnetism OF simple goodness. need
not say that Mr.. Greeleys heart large his
brainthat love for humanity was an inwrouglt element
Of his nature. This complete, so broad in him.
that IL touched all sides of humanity TO speak. 10
manifest in kindness and regard that keep their
silent record In many private hearts; in hand ever
open ready help in of tho kndest flees
worn by man, the expression Of which was
"A meeting Of gentle lights rilhOa. name"
The hundreds of poor towOrn men who yesterday
passed through the crowd to take last look at that
worn countenance were moved By no idle curiosity.
They went there not merely 10 gaze at the t,ce Of
great journalist and famous politician They
drawn by the conviction that hs was the poor
friend the sympathetic champion Of workingmen, who
had struggled through their experiences and never for
gotten their claims. Mr.. Greeley's public action was d.
rected by the same impulse. 1t was the motive power
Of his entire efforts his almosi unprecedented work for
many years and In so many ways 1t enlisted him in
the service OF every humane Not only dId II IN
spire his lifelong with oppression and evil and
meanness OF every sort-I made him exceptionally
erous and tolerant. Some may think that he erred
the side of against justice. Perhaps 80 but II
we must at all. that is good side TO err on.
sweet disposition may hold even IA
harmless solution, while there Is a precision that
is as sour as IT Is sound. But let it DO
remembered that often mercy is the synonym of jus
tice. Another danger attendant upon such spirit Is
creauty-too much readiness 10 believe the most and
to believe the best Bat this human nature Of ours
which, discipline 1t may, will still bs fallbe, IL
full likely be wise at this extreme az at tao other
Truth better than fiction. Nevertheless, II the dsplr
aging estimate OF humanityis the one then fiction
is better than fact The doctrine OF trust In man. how
qualified by painful experiences is necessary rs tho
inspiration to all noble effort and for any OF
mind, for the working machinery OF life, and for evey
fber of the social organism Do you tell that there Is
no substance in human virEue that all honesty ls
ketabe, and all love selfish mask -thlt in this world
there loyal Friendships unpurchased benefits,
no faithful hearts no incorrupble souls l. all that
sentimental usioni Then, say let Tus be cheated by
that illusion. always shutting out minor truths and de-
ceiving US even TO the grave.
LESSON FOR Us ALL.
Whatever may have been the mistakes of him who lies
dead before us, there mistake Ia the
rent OF that principle which inspired his lDogs and chr
acterized his life. Aud here, repeat is q lesson for
all. trying TO do the work OF life, may be discour
aged by instances Of conspicuous greatnesst least
greatness that expresses intellectual power and achieves
splendid success. It may seem to us that because
cannot do great things. DO nothing that "a ot
worth and that it matters little what we do But good
ness Is richer than greatness. II lifts TO God
than any intellectual elevation, and moreover IL Is aeces
sibe for the humbest life. do not say that all duty.
that all religion expressed in love for manthoLgb
have ample warrant for belief that all the law Is fulfilled
in this one word Thou shalt love thy neigbor thy
self" The love Of God. however, is the spring OF; and
kndles and nourshes love But how is tho love
Of God TO De maniestedi It is to be manifested
according abilities. within orr sphere, whether
broad narrow, and every day bless Gcd that tho
great necessary work OF the world is faithfully
red on by humble in spaces and by faithful
women in circles, true to the impulse Of tho
divine love within them, performing works Of simple
And ysa ono afpl spn n 1fspl
when the greatness which the world confesses B the
greatness OF goodness, because that unlike intellectual
power is communicable power for the goodness Of the
community Therefore, from the cup OF our sorrow
here to-day we may drink inspiration for best
deayors, while are thankful for the achievements
that in this instance SO large and so effective.
To men Of different power different kinds OF work
assigned Some are discoveries OF truth. some arc
vehicles inspiration, inventors OF instru
ments some are builders OF States But truly has II
been said that the phlanthropsts, In the OF
their wisdom and their purity OF real, the real
fellow workmen of the Most High" Other agents
plore Gods works illustrate this truth. But this 10
OF little value IL difuses His blessedness and
contesses his help Therefore they who by earnest
effort against evil, by indignant rebuke OF wrong.
by steadfast advocacy OF trutL, Justice, and
freedom, work benehcently for man, most
truly work for God and work with God.
How faithfully, how effectively he, for whom we hold
these soemnesltoday wrought his work to those ends
it superhuous for TINS to show He enlisted in that
war from which there is discharge. He contended
against what he believed TO be wrong-nspired not less
by the goodness his heart than by the strength Of his
mind He struck for what he believed TO be right until
mind and heart gave way, and, marked by scars ami
honors, he lesIdesd upon the field.
LIFE OF PRACTICAL GOODNESS.
Permit me still further to say-as.unfoding. also, In
this hour ts practical lesson for ourselyesthat Mr.
Greeley's work life eminently practical work