Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-12-23
HYkN EAR7YL LIGHTS FAXED.

""EN Efh IHEt LICHIO F.iIIED ~.
Daniel Webster cast spell over man. When
he spoke, minds equal to his own were swayed
by his power. Even the sweep of his stalwart
arm overcame them. The scholars among his
political foes appreciated his intellectual force
and his almost faultless use Of the English Ian.
guage.
In the vigor Of his manhood, sculptors and
printers thought him the perfection Of manly
beauty. To this day men show that they are
fascinated by his memory, for they talk much
about him, and earnestly discuss his character,
They love to muse over those las, words, which
winged their way from his beloved Marshfield
home, in the cool New England October OF
1889.
The great frame was shattered by the seventy
years of liberal, energetic life but the giants
mind was vigorous and reasonable. His las,
words were his weightest words, FOR they are
permeated by the noblest things, sweetness and
light
81 shall die tonight" said Daniel Webster
to his friend and physician, DIR. Jeffres, on
Saturday, Oct.5.
''Nou are right, sir" was all the reply
which grief permitted. In the evening his
last will was brought to him. Signing It, he
said, Thank God for strength to do a sen.
sible act; O God | thank thee for all thy mer
cies"
MIR. George 7. Curtis, his biographer, no.
ucing that the dying statesman was about to
speak at some length, thought his words should
be recorded. Seating himself at a little table.
near the bed, he carefully wrote down these
words, which were spoken slowly, and in
tone that made them audible throughout the
house:
"My general wish on earth has been TO do
my Masters will.
THAT there is God all must acknowledge.
| see Him in all these wondrous works. Him.
self, how wondrous !
what would be the condition Of any of us il
we had not the hope of Immortality What
ground is there to rest upon but the Gospel?
There were scattered hopes of the immor.
tally Of the soul, especially among the Jews.
The Jews believed in Il spiritual origin of crea-
ton. The Romans never reached it; the
Greeks never rached it.
at is tradition that communication was
made TO the Jews by God Himself through
Moses. There were ntimations -crepuscular.
twilight.
''But - but - but - thank God, the gospel
OF esus Christ brought life and Immortality TO
light-rescued drought it TO light
Then in voice in which there was no tone of
weakness, he repeated the Lords Prayer and
closed it with this benediction: 'Peace on earth
and goodwill to men,-that is the happiness,
the essence--good-w to man."
This was the last unrevised speech of the
great orator and logician. But his last revised
speech Is engraved upon the marble of the tomb.
stone that markes his grave. Written, revised,
and signed by Daniel Webster, a few days
before his death, they read as folowes:
Philosophical argument, especially that
drawn from the vastness OF the universe as com.
pared with the apparent insigniicance of the
globe has often shaken my reason for the faith
that is in me; but my heart has assured and
reassured me the gospel Of Jesus Christ must
be a devine reality.
1.-The sermon on the Mount cannot be
merely human production. This belief enters
into the very depth of my conscience The
whole history of man proves it,"