The Portland daily press., 1888-12-08
JOEL BARLOW.
a Great Man Now Almost Forgotten
boston Adyertiser.l

Boston Adyertiser1
Senator Platt of Connecticut presented to
congress on Tuesday petition from the
Fairfield Historical Society of that State ask
ing that government take measures for the
removal of the remains of Joel Barlow from
their foreign resting place and their inter-
ment IN suitable locality near the poets
carly home. Whatever action may be taken
by congress upon this petition, the incident
serves to bring before the present genera
tion nearly forgotten name which in many
respects Is one of the most noteworthy in
American history. The career of Joel Bar
low was eventful, romantic, diversified, in
fuential and suggestive perhaps beyond any
other known to fame in modern times. III
the lessons which that career is fitted to
teach are learned by our people as result of
the now prominence given to Mr.. Barlow's
name at this time, congress can well afford
all needful expenditure in connection with
the neglected dust.
Joel Barlow was an illustration of that
close connection that exists between patriot
Ism and higher education. When the Revo-
luton War broke out he was still in college,
put such was his zeal for liberty thathe went
from the Yale campus to bear arms on the
battlefield Of White Plains, and when the
battle was over laid down the sword and
musket TO take up again the Latin lexicon
and comic sections. Graduating in the midst
OF the great struggle, he delivered on COM
meneement day a. poem that famed the
smouldering fires OF patriotism in all hearts I;
and then, because there was an urgent want
of chaplains for Washington's army, Barlow
gave up for the time being the study of law,
studied theology for six weeks, and having
received ordination became an. army chap
lain, and so faithfully discharged the func-
tiOns of that Office that the soldiers fiocked
to listen to his every word as he exhorted
them to fight and pray. .---
Joel Barlow was signal Illustration of
the leading position which our country oc-
cupied in that early time on all matters of
liberty and human rights. When the Edin-
burg Review was sneeringly asking, "Who
reads an American book? Joel Barlow's
poem, the vision of Columbus" was cir
culating by thousands Of copies in France
and England, in each Of which countries it
had been reprinted from the American origi-
nal. Almost exactly 100 years ago he took a
part in the overthrow Of the regime in
France, and so highly was his character eS-
teemed during his residence in Paris that he
was named by the government one of the
commissioners to Savoy. In London, too, he
had the confidence of all the most advanced
leaders of the liberal party.
His versatility was remarkable and what
ever he undertook he did we'll. His writings
were many OF them brilliantly successful. his
sermons never lacked eager listeners, by
perseverance amid all manner of obstacles he
made himself master of the law, he was
successful as an editor, he made q fortune in
business affairs, his bravery and skill as a
soldier were pr0verbial, and so highly were
his diplmatic powers esteemed that President
Madison sent him as minister to France, and
his death occurred on the way to meet Ma
poleon, who wished to entrust .our country
man with an embassy of extreme difficulty
during the Russian campaign.
Joel Barlow is another instance of an en-
inent man who is known to posterity only by
some slight incident or some casual produc-
tion. 1t was while sojourning at Chambery
and engaged In grave diplomatic negotiations
that he wrote his appeal to the people OF
Piedmont urging them to adopt republican
principles, AT the same place and about the
same time he wrote his far-famed poem in
praise Of "Hasty Pudding" OF that humor
Gus ode perhaps the best known lines are
E'en in the native regions how blush
To hear the Pennsylvanians call thee mush.
Surely be would have blushed more deeply
| If he could have foreseen that within les
than century thousands Of people would
know that he wrote "Hasty Pudding" who
would not know that he ever did anything
| else.