Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-06-25
"An Old Question. "

Mr.. EDIToR-In the REGISTER of las
week, on the first page, | met with ant
read 4 very interesting selection unde
| the above heading and credited to the n
Y. Post. This week if you will kinkly
permit me | will make some notes on
and draw some differences from tn,
Posts article, and for which kindness
| will be quite thankful to the REGISTER.
We not irfrequently hear now-a-d day
good persons say, and with much appar-
ent sincerity. 'that the former days were
better than they are now.n This senti
ment is entertained, but expressed il
other words by the writer in the Post
and hence lndulges himself liz the belle
that it would be "a Godsend to this ma.
ton if Benjamin Franklin,' that wise anC
judicious statesman and patriot, ''coulG
be returned to this nation again" The
present writer, while not wishing to de-
tract one lOta from the well earned fame
of DR.. Franklin, begs leave most en-
phatically to dissent from the well-mean
sentiment of the Post in that particular
If it were such boon to this nation, the
present writer is simple enough to believe
that. so highly favored are we bv the AL
mighty Ruler, that Benjamin Franklin
would certainly have returned to his
former people long before now. Other
men quite as good as Franklin. have liv-
ed end served their country we'll, but
have all passed away from their duties
their friends and associates ard never
have returned. In every age since the
men have been raised up among theil
people for the nOblest of purposes, anC
have shed great lustre upon their country
comforting lasting benefits upon theil
people; but none of all this long roll OF
WORTHLESS have ever been recalled to this
former field of activity.
Such an incident would not be in har-
mOny with the plan of the Divine govern
ment among men. 1t is in the plan of
the Divine Ruler that every age rperiod
shall provide or produce such instrument
talities ana means as are essential for its
own we'll being. After this method are
all the purposes of the Infinite Ruler eX-
ecuted and fulfilled in his dominions.
OHlv once. sought to be made-King Saul .
when in great extremity. supposed it
would be some kind ofa ''send' if Sam
,.el, one of the Franklns of his day,
could be called back again, and he sought
out the witch of Eudor to do it. The
sequel shows that the scheme was abor-
tive. There is no place in nature for, nor
any such thing as Godsen from the city
of the dead.
But again; our country or times do not
require the peculiar presence of any of
those distinguished sages and patriots
who may have proved themselves so illus
trious in their respective times. | doubt
much if the very best OF them would be
adapted, at least without much modifica-
ton, to our day and generation.
Moreover, the American nation has
had an uninterrupted period OF prosperity
and growth since the demise of these great
fathers of the Republic, that has had no
parallel in the former history Of other
nations. This proves conclusively that
he continued or occasional presence of
my of the majJres of this country was
lot longer required. Fancy to Yourself
such a political economist as B. Franklin,
ackling the appropriations of modern
lines and what would be the result?
| will now only say u word of DIR.
franklin as scholar and scientist. He
made many useful experiments in phys
cal science, and very successfully applied
hem. In this way he did both service
md honor to his country. He wrote
many state papers but fell behind many
If bis associates in this peculiar field.
Would he not fall far behind many of thi 5
lay? Notwithstanding, he made bis
mark upon the pages Of history, and
mong the lovers of physical science in
hose interesting times. But DR.. Frank |
in was not a very great scholar nor pro- !
ound mathematician: nor was he what
ONE would esteem as superb states |
nan. He was wise, prudent, and hon. |
st, and as an economist he might be !
aid 20 have been born so. But in litera-
ure he some times displayed want of
xactness and thoughtfulness that some /
ines elicted no little criticism. 1t has |
een said, too, that in certain instances
he distinguished author could not have |
'een oblivious of the error. But a single
Instance will be given on this point and at
his time. On noted occasion in the
ourt of Kings Bench, the Judge was
living a charge on some point in the
law and used such phrase
5 S'the foot of usuage," and DIR. Frank
n in his criticism of the Judge, made
ne cutting remarks upon that saying, all