New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08
of that moral inhrmisy which manifested itself 20
fatally ON tho 18th Of March.

of that moral infrmity which manifested itseir 10
fatally on tho 18th Of Msrch.
Mr.. Lodse dwel.s much upon tho aid which
websters physical attributes contributed 10 MS
success as o debater and lawyer and 1t Is proper
that such considerations should be gwen que
weight The presence, the look, tho voice Oh
Daniel Webster were, according to all accounts
ynost itnposina. In appearance no really was, to
smuloy q hackneyed phrase, one Of natures noble
men, And though his biographer seems disposed
to dony to him tho power of originating great IDEAS
no possessed what is perhaps more useful faculty.
namely, that of embodying and expressing IN tue
most telling forms ideas which, II not new nao
been inchoate aud dim in the public MIND uhsii
he gave them life. Mr.. LodRe has something, ont
not much. to say Of his personal fsings, and par
t.cuarly of his loosenes in money matters.
Though possesr'pg clearer and fuller knowledge
of theoretical finance than most men III either MS
day OF ours he seems to have been quite Incapable
of managing his own affairs. and he acquired In
later life habit of spunging upon his friends-for
that in the literal truth of the matter,-whch
argued strange absence of senstivcness and self
respect. 1t is hardly worth while for any one 10
try TO excuse this vice. 1t is better for tho frank
blographer to state the facts as they are and let
the mans whole career and character abldc py
the general conclusions to be drawn from the
simple truth And as to Webster IL may be SAID
that his worst errors and falings inflicted more
harm upon himself than upon his conntry. Her he
served with splendid ability and extensive useful
ness If by temporizing with the Unsuitable south
he helped to make the inevitable collision more dis
astrous on the other hand ne gave to the North
that ideal of the Union which Ia now accepted
everywhere without sectional distinction, and by
his powerful financial arguments he Afforded aid
and comfort to the defenders of irrational and honest
currency al "A time when delusons OF the most
fantastic and misshievous kind were abroad. Mr..
Lodge has zone his work IN this instance carefully
aud we'll The picture he paints of Daniel Web
stsr is IN the main faithful. and the biographers
comments and az plantations are at once candid and
apprecative. 1t is Of course not full-length. but
rathera cabinet picture, and those who desire
anecdote. and who may perhaps have been expect
inO the OF poitaton OF the many strange and fabu-
Ions stories which have Webster for their hero. will
be disappointed. But it is fair presentation of
lilo which as a whole great and even splendid,
and which vas alphabetically devoted to the cause
of American natiOnalisn. Here" as MI Lodge
remarks in closing. lies the debt which the Amer
lean people owe TO Webster. and here IS his mean
in aud Importance IN his own time and to lie to-
day. His career. his intellect and his achievements
are inseparably connected with the maintenance
of a great empire. aud the fortunes OF "a great
people So long az English oratory Is read or stud
led 50 long will his speeches stand high In litera-
ture. so long a. he Union of the States endures.
or holds place in history will the name of Daurl
Webster he hoUored and remembered and his
stately eloquonce find echo in tho hearts of his
countrymen"