New-York tribune., 1876-11-24

discussion of the slavery question tended to q
dissolution of the Union, it now appears tEat
Mr.. Webster was distinctly right, wrong as ne
was in the opinion that such dissolution would
be final and irreparable. His was the usual
mistake of conservative minds. He fOresaw
the storm, but not the giant strength with
which it would be encountered. In his rev.
erehce for fundamental law he did not always
sufficiently appreciate the broad, deep, and
solid character Of the popular understanding
nor yet the nicely and vigor of the popular con-
science In the actual presence OF rebellion
like that which since his death we have vlctO-
riously confronted he would never have
thought it mvincibe; while the muscular mlnd
and patriotic instincts of the man would nave
placed him among the foremost champions OF
an. n.undivided republic. His clarion voice, when
long before had utterly confused and silenced
the theoretical disunionists of the Senate, In
the dark days of our great trouble would
have been worth to us more than many
regiments. He would have negotiated, remOn-
strated, and conceded within the limits OF law
to the last, but when every honorable expedi-
ent had failed except that of force, he would
have been of no temporizng and of no uncer-
tain temper. The greatness of his indignation
would have carried him far above the atmos-
phere of clique or of faction, and in paroxysm
of public spirit he would have sundered the
conventional and social withes to which ne
frequently with lndOmitable good nature, sub
mitted The occasion was great, but who De-
lieves that his great nature would not have
been equal to It'll
The dedication of this memorial will have
come ut fortunate moment, II 1t serve To re-
mind us that love of country is no ideal pas
sion for poets and orators to play with, but
an actual virtue, the Importance as well as the
immortal beauty of which can never De over
rated. No nation can be sure OF never need
ing a new Marathon, and still less can the
spirit which rises above personal greed or prl-
vate ambition be safely banished from public
affairs. At this very hour, what is there
to keep lis as nation in the path OF
political rectitude, if it be not that large and
affectionate patriotism which dominated in the
nature of Daniel Webster7 A great man, he
was great equally in his faults and his VIZ
tues but the amor patrig which led him into
occasional errors of judgment survived hun
dred disappOintments, none OF which ever
betrayed him into even a transient infidelity
to political liberty. For it will be remem-
bered to his honor, that however governed he
might be by considerations of public policy, no
exigency extorted from him syllable in appro-
baton of slavery abstractly considered. Peo-
pie wondered to hear him, while abandoning
the Wilmot ProvisO and defending the Fugi-
tive Slave law, still declare himself to be
good anti-slavery man. Undoubtedly, how
ever. he was sincere in such declaration. 1t
WAS. indeed lamentable that he should so en-
tirely mistake the nature of the controversy,
but me did not stand alone, and it is easy to
be wise after the event.
As an orator, the reputation of Mr.. Webster
must continue to grow greater and greater
Here at least we may judge him by un-
cbangeable standards and according to canOns
which have been fixed for centuries. Many OF
his important speeches have lost their tenn
porary interest of topic, but as works OF art
they may be read and admired after the
language in which they were spoken has
ceased to be vulgar tongue. They are
monuments of our noble English which can never
fall into oblivion or even decay. Apart from
a massive force of augmentation, as remark
able for its cearness its strength, they exhibit
an unequaled precision in the choice OF. words,
which at the present day, when we, are fioun-
dering in cheap colloquialisms, may be profit
ably recognized and studied. There are also
passages in not few of these orations, in
which the discourse rises into an exquisite
poetical beauty, and even to pitch of epic
sublmity. There are those who think the
peroration in the reply to Senator Hayne the
finest in the language; nor are they far from
right.
These cursory reflections are naturally sug-
gested by the ceremonial which will take place
tomorrow. They have made little mention OF
old differences, or of resentments which have
been softened by time After life's litful fever,
the great man sleeps well. In the hour OF her
emergency it will be safer for the Republic to
remember than to forget him; nor can any
harm come of recalling the fidelity with which
he loved her through sorrow and mistake and
to the last.
Mr. W. Butler seems to be publIc-spirited
IL.