The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-10-29
LES PAROLES Successes
DES ANCIENS.


from the French of Fenelon's
''Telemaque," demonstrates that
the forces that undermined the. an
Gent governments, are nearly iden-
tical with those which unhappily
at the present time seem to pre-
dominate in the public sentiment
of our own fair land. To preface
this extract, it may be proper to
state the circumstance which led to
the productionof "Telemaque.''
The pious and eminent French
ecclesiastic Fenelon, whom our
own gifted poet Whittier has hap
PLY described in his plaintiye and
touching, "Chapel Of the Hermits,"
as living:
In days when throne and altar heard,
The wanton's wish, the bigot's word,
And pomp of state, and ritual show,
Scarce hid the losthsome death below,
midst fswning priests and courtiers foul;
The losel swarm Of crown and coWl,
| White-robed walked Francois Fenelon,
Stainless, as Uriel in the SIN.
This same eulogiZed Fenelon, for
! for his marked virtue, was selected
and entrusted by the French mon
arch Louis XVI with the tutorage
and education of the young dau-
phin.
In order to combine historical in
formation with ethical instruction,
Fenelon translated from the Greek
into the French language, 1.-The
adventures of Telemaque," son of
the renowned warrior and sage
| Ulysses, king of Ithaca. In this
work the young Telemaque is por-
trayed as a model of virtue, and as
preparing himself by rigid course
of discipline under the guardian
ship of the watchful Mentor, to
eventually become wise and just
ruler. Fenelon, who is the counter
part of Mentor to the dauphin, in
his adoption of "The adventures of
Telemaque," into the beautiful and
expressive language of France, has
ingeniOusly interspersed narrative
with ethics. drawing practical
deductions from the misfortunes
successes and varied experiences
through which the distinguished
young Greek passed for the purpose
of intoxicating thoroughly in the
mind of the French prince the
: sterling principles OF justice and
humanity, in order that he might
become able to honorably fill the
high and responsible position natur.
ally destined for him in the future
In the narrative, Telemaque by his
intrepid valor, and bY the convic.
ton of the justice of his cause, has
vanquished the impious and tyran
ical Adraste chief Of the Dauniens
who sought in violation of com
pact and by long course treachery,
fraud and discrimination (elateC
by his hitherto military PROV
ess, to usurp sole dominion ovel
the isles and coasts of the
occupies Hesperi@ns." After mar
rating the sudden downfall, anG
tragical end of Adraste, the author
after reviewing the causes which
led to his signal defeaty moralizes
upon the situation in the quotation
already referred to in the commence
lnent of this article, as follows:
'Similar to certain lands which
upon the surface appear firm anG
immevable, but which are being
Slapped and undermined little by
little. For a long time the slow
work which insidiously attacks the
foundations are lightly considered
nothing appears weakened, all seems
stable, nothing is shaken. How
ever, the props are destroyed one
after another up to the moment
when, suddenly the earth sinks, ant
opens an abyss. Thus a power IN
just and deceitful, whatsoever
seeming advantage on prosperity i:
procured by UGH violence, digs fol
itself a precipice under its feet
Fraud and inhumanity, SAP
little by little the most soliG
foundations of legitimate au
thority. 1t may be admired; III
may be feared; its power may b
intimidating up to the moment Of
its dissolution. 1t sinks of its owl
weight, and the disaster is irrepar
able, because it has destroyed witt
its own hands the true. supports
]. good faith and justice, which attract
!. love and confidence. Thus no EN-
pire is safe unless it has affection
for its basis" -
Is it possible that we as great
intelligent and hourishing nation
with all the knowledge and benefit
to be derived from the sad expert
ences of the past, and of the cause;
which led to the downfall of some o
the most powerful ancient
empires, witnessing their stranded
wrecks upon the shores of time
with their history before us, can W.
then without needing the mournfu
lesson that they teach, Wilfuliy
pursue the same disastrous course
or will we awake to the danger be
fore it is inevitably too late ant
sound with clarion note the Thrilling
cry Breakers ahead?3 Letus thel
as true patriots rally one and al
around the fair temple of liberty
the broad and deep foundations o
which the fathers laid and cementet
in tears ard blood and arrest tn
profane hands which would dare +
tamper with and desecrate its corne
stones, or who would impiously en-
deavor to extinguish the fire tina