The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-11-01

will this evening invite your atten-
ton to brief review of the life labors
and ideas of one of those extraordina-
ry men who appear only at rare inter-
walls in our world to instruct or agi-
tate it, so that they seem to be sent by
Providence for some great end !; wheth-
er as prophets, sages, poets, statesmen
or warriors, who tower SO greatly
above other men that contemporaries
are unable to take their measure, and
generations pass away before their
real greatness is appreciated. Of this
small class Edmund Burk is promi-
nent, as q man whose influence will be-
felt to the remotest ages, for the moral
wisdom which pervades and dignifies
his writings. A man whose whole
life was devoted to the cause of truth
and justice, and who set an example
of private virtues in corrupt times, as
remarkable as the force and originality
of his genius ITSELF do not present
him with the vain idea of doing him
Justice or of fully comprehending the
august movements which he opposed
or directed. Such is beyond my pow
er. But 1 may direct your minds to
some of those cardinal truths which he
taught like one inspired, which have
great significance in those conflicts
through which the world advances in
the cause of liberty and political JUS
tice.
He was educated at Trinity College
and made respectable aitainments, but
did not give promise of those vast
powers which were developed in the
House of Commons. At the age of
twenty he turned his steps to London
and entered as student of law at the
Inner Temple, since the bar was then
as it was i'm Rome and as it still is at
all great Capitals, the usual resort of
ambitious young men who haye their
eyes fixed on prefermcnt and Office.
Burk however did not like the law as
q profession, and dropped the stud
without admission to the bar, not be-
cause he failed in industry, for he was
the most plodding of students mot be-
cause he was deficient in the gift of
speech, for few men haye been more
favored not because his mind repclled
severe logical deductions for he was
the most philosophical of the great Or
ators of his day not because the law
though technical,is not a noble exercise
for all the higher faculties of the mind,
for according to Lord Campbell, he
was deeply imbued with scientific
principles of Jurisprudence, and gained
subsequently, the applause of all law
yers. * The Great career of
Burk began by opposing the leading
opinions OF his day. by opposing the
spirit and sentiments of the King, the
Parliment and the higher classes, with
reference to American affairs. In this
difficulty he took the side of reason
and common sense. He disregarded
all traditions, theories and prejudi' es
He would not even discuss the ques-
ton whether the mother country had
a right to tax the colonies. 1t was
enough for him to know that it was
foolish and irritating to exercise alb
tract powers which could not be car
ried out. He foresaw and predicted
all the consequences of attempting to
coerce a people like the Americans
with the forces which England could
command. He pointed out the infatu-
alton of the ministers of the Crown.
He detailed the strength and resources
of the Colonies their union, their love
of liberty, their hatred of wrong, their
reserve power. He did not encourag
the Colonists in rebellion, as rebellion
it seemed in the eyes of Englishmen,
aud as it was in matter of fact, but he
pointed out the course which the Col
onists would surely pursue if the un-
wise policy of the, government was
continued. He advocated conciliation,
the withdrawal of all absurd preten-
tions and theoretic rights, the repeal
of obnoxious taxes, the removal of ali
restrictions on American industry, the
withdrawal Of all monopolies, all un-
genuine distinctions, all impracticable
coercion. For ten years he labored
with successive administrations to
procure a conciliation, till it was too
late. He spoke nearly every day. He
appealed TO reason and common sense
disdaining all harrangue, rhetoric,
words and appeals to passion. Every
speech he made was battle with ig-
norahce and prejudice. What he gain
ed he extorted, fighting his way, inch
by inch. till his learning and patriot
ism, his enlightened views and elO-
quence gained the respect of antagO-
nists. "If you must employ your
strength" said he. Indignantly, to
ministers bent upon coercion, "emplOy
it to uphold some honorable right. 1
do not enter into metaphysical dis
tinctions, I hate the very sound OF
them. Nobody will be argued into
slavery. Ii yon cannot recognize your
sovereignty Win tncir IrccuOu tuc
COiOnists will cast your sovereignty
in your face. Because Manchester and
some other towns are not represented,
is America to have no representation
at all 1t is not enough for q statesman
to know that he means we'll. Duty
demands that what is right should not
only be made known, but be made
prevalent, and that what is evil should
not only be detected but defeated. Do
not dream that your registers, your
bonds, your afiidavits, your letters of
Office, your instructions are the things
that keep together the great contex.
ture of the mysterious whole. These