New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-18

"Whoever desires that his intellect ma,
grow up to soundness, to healthy viSor, mus
begin with moral discipline. The mind O
man hath need to be prepared for piety ant
virtue; it must be cultivated to that end.o
1 If there is one thing above another that il
needed, it is Disinterestedness, which is thu
very soul of Virtue. Some of our creates
philosophers have forfeited their reputa
| tions, because in their researches for truth
| finding that by making known their discov
cries their plans would be thwarted, the,
have even sought to undermine the grand
primitive truths on which human virtue, dig
nifty, and hope depend. What value is ones
influence if he lack virtue: Some of oul
brightest scholars, some of our most cult
waited minds, have left as legacy to us and
all posterity, corrupt lives, characters all
blackened by dishonesty, wickedness and
crime. You cannot read the life of Lord
Bacon without being struck very lorcibly with
the disparity between his moral and mental
development. Shaw says: ''The political
| life of Francis Bacon, forms, with his purely
Intellectual or philosophical career. con-
trast so striking that it would be difficult to
find in the records of biographical literature
anything so wildly opposed Bacon was
one Of England's profound scholars and held
under the crown various positions of trust
and emolument, and at one time was Lord
High Chancellor of England. Yet through
the whole of his public career he was stained
with acts of the basest serviity and COR
ruption.
Lord Byron was one of England's great
poets. lie had superior educational adyan-
tages, yet his history forces us to conclude
that his moral training had been sadly neg
lected. "His father,' says the same writer,
was an unprincipled prohigate, and his
mother had temper so passionate a. d I'M
comfortable that it reached in it's capaclous
alterations Of fOndness and violence, very
nearly to the limits Of insanity" BY a dis
soute and reckless life he DESTROYED his con-
stitution and died at the age of thirty-six.
byron, without doubt, eXerted an influence
while he lived but not wholesome one,
Contrast the lives of Bacon and Byron with
that of Milton, and what a disparity there is /!
Inc former stand before you stepped in cor
ruption and sin; the latter stands forth
crowned with honesty and purity of life.
John Milton stands at the head of literary
men. During his life he evinced greater
scope of erudition than any who preceded
or followed him. All his writings, from the
very beginning to the close, prove that he was
profoundly learned and possessed the most
remarkable genius. His entire life shows
that he was an earnest and devoted atlyO-
cate for truth and right and was conscien.
tious in all he did. In this character we see
true culture, standing forth in all its beauty
and symmetry. Milton cultivated his moral
nature and it developed with his mental pow
ers and here lies the secret of his unprece-
denied success in letters and the wholesome
and powerful influence he eNerted in his own
day and will through all time. There is no
part OF his life more sublime than at its close.
When shut out from the beauties of the world
by blindness, and burdened by poverty, retir-
ing into obscurty he gives to the world those
immortal cpics which have made him the
greatest poet OF all time. If you read his
Paradise Lost" and ''Regained" inyolun.
tarily you will eXclaim: ''IIe must have
been inspired from on high !" / presen.
this scholar, patriot and Christian as the en-
bodiment Of True Culture. Let US emulate
his virtues and his devotion to duty and lit
erature.
So far l have drawn my illustrations from
beyond the seas; not because we lacked eX-
amples among us, but because I.desired to
bring before you some Of the illustrious
characters of Europe.
This land is favorable for develOpinp the
mental powers, because of its institutions
and form OF government. Our public school
system of the North, is a'powerful ally and
renders it possible for all to receive a solid
foundation fora thorough education. Because
OF the opportunities afforded by this system,
men from the humber walks of life have re-
ceived such degree Of training, that by dint
OF their own eXertions, they have evinced a
remarkable degree of intellectual develop
ment. Although the opportunities for ac-
curing culture are SO favorable among us.
yet some of our leading men who have fig
ured conspicuously in church and State. have
been weighed in the balance and found
wanting"
Daniel Webster was one of America 5
ablest statesmen. AS jurist, he achieved
great renown, and his success as Senator,
Foreign Minister and member of the Cabinet
was no less illustrious. AS New England
er he naturally imbibed the spirit of Justice,
and used his powerful eloquence and persua-
sive arguments in behalf of the oppressed of
this land. Time and time again have the
Senate walls rung as he pleaded the cause of
the enslaved. But he was ambitious. and
doubtless with hope Of securing the nomi-
nation for the Presidency he pandered to the
caprices of the slave oligarchy and blacken-
ed his reputation. He had been a strong
advocate Of human rights, but when the
Presidents chair doomed up before him,
hoping to secure the Southern vote, he made
that memorable speech in March, 1850, in
which he took position Numerically oppos-
cd to all his past life. Ambition is laudable
when it is pure and noble, but very deleteri.
Gus when it is selfish and impure. This act
of Webster brought stain on his public life
which time never will oblterate. lie was a
man of well-cultured intellect, but when he
most needed moral stamina, he was found
lacking.
Edward Everett was acknowledged by all
as one of our finest scholars and the most
polished orator Of the land. Ellis orations
are as pure in style, as able in statement
and as authentic in expressions of popular
history, feeling and opinion as those of De.
mosthenes and Cicero. in their day." They
contain the results Of long and faithful re.
search, and there is not page but glows
with evidence of scholarship, taste and just
sentiment in short, they bear the impress
of highly cultivated intellect He aban.
doned his chosen profession as an embassa.
dor for Christ, and it is said that in the latter
part Of his life he regretted the step he ha(
taken.
A republican form of government necessa.
rily develops men of influence from among
the populus. Many have distinguished them.
selves for their patriotism and have made
large and noble sacrifices for their country
But OF these late years, men have sacrificed
but little for their country, and they seen
rather to strive to see how much they car
get from the government. So many of oul
public men, while engaged in public duties
have brought opprobrium upon themselves by
bribery and illegitimate investments, so tina
now in many parts of our land politics are
Synonymous with everything that is mear
and "rovelling. For this reason many of Ou
| best men take no part in politics. The New
York City fraud and ahe Credit Mobilier ex
pose involved some Of our most trustworth,