The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-06
THOUGHTS rHAr pREATHr.
Bna from MIR. Cur.i-'s providence orr

hits from Mr.. CurtIa's Providence ORR.
ton.
Every educated man is aware of aprofound
distrust OF the courage and sagacity Of the
educated class. franklin and Lincoln are
good enough for us, cNclaims this jealous
sccpticism; as II franklin and Lincoln did
not laboriously repair by vigorous study the
want Of early opportunity. The scholar ap.
pealing to experience Is loudly told to close
his books. as il books were not the ever-burn-
ing lamps of accumulated wisdom. When
Notaire was insulted Ivy the London mob
he turned at his door and compimented
them upon tho nOblenoss Of their national
character, their glorious constitution, and
love of liberty. Tho London mob did not
feel the sarcasm. But when ! hear that
America may scorn experience because she
is law to herself, ! remember that few
years ago a foreign observer came to the city
Of Washington and said: " | did not fully
comprehend your greatness until saw your
Congress. Then felt that il you could stand
that you could stand anything, and under
stood the saying that God takes care of chill
dren, drunken men, and the UrGted States"
do not forget that Virginian tongue OF
flame, Patrick Henry, nor that patriotism ol
the field and hreside which recruited the sons
OF liberty. The inspiring statue the Minute
Man at Concord-and q nobler memorial figure
does not stand upon our soil--commemorates
the spirit that left the pillow standing in the
furrow, that drew Nathaniel Greene from
his anvil, and Esek Hopkins from his farm
the spirit that long before had sent the poor
parishioners of Scrooby to Holland and filled
the victorious ranks of the commonwealth al
Naseby and at Marston Moor But in America
rs in England they were educated men who IN
| the pulpit, on the platform, and through the
press, conducted the preliminary argument
of the Revolution, defended the ancient ira
ditions against rcactionary England, aroused
the colonies to maintain the cause of human
nature, and led them from the daspee and
Bunker Hill across the plains of Saratoga,
the SHOWS of Valley Forge, the sands of Mon
mouth, the hills of Carolina, until at York
town once more the king surrendered to the
people, and educated America had saved con.
stitutional liberty.
Leadership is the power of kindling sym
patty and trust, which will eagerly follow.
II is the genius of moulding the lips of the
stone Memnon TO such sensitive life that
the first sunbeam oiopportunity strikes them
into music. In great crisis it is thinking
as others think, feeling AS others feel, which
tips the orators tongue with fire that lights
as well as burns. So when Lord Chatham
stood at the head of England, organizing her
victories by land and sea, and told in Par
Lament their splendid story, his glowing
form was Britain's self and the roar of Brit
ish guns, and the proud reclamation of Brit
ish hearts all around the globe flashed and
thsndered in his eloquence. This is a glo-
rious morning." said the scholar Samuel
Adams, with price set on his head, as he
heard the guns at Lexington. "Decus ct
decorum est" said the young scholar Joseph
Warren gaily, as he passed to his death on
Bunker Hill. They spoke for the lofty en-
thusasm of patriotism which they had
khhlled. twas not mob, an ignorant null
titude swayed by mysterious impulse; it
was body of educated men, wise and heroic
because they were educated, who lifted this
country to Independence, and laid deep and
strong the foundations of the republic.
Here upon the old altar of fervid faith and
boundless anticipation, let us pledge onr-
selves once more, that as the courage and en-
ergy of educated men fired the morning gun,
and led the contest of the Revolution,
founded and framed the Union, and, purify
ing il as with fire, have maintained the ma
tional life to this hour, so, day by day, We
will do our part to lift America above the
slough of mercenary politics and the cunning
snares of trade, steadily forward toward the
shining heights which the hopes of its nativ-
ity ioretold.