Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-12
webster and cAeass.

/ webster and choale.
4 Il have always believed that Mr..
4 Webster, more than any other one
imam, was entitled to the credit Of that
grand and universal outburst Of devo-
ton with which the whole North
lSprang to arms in defense Of the con-
stitution and the Union. many years
after his death. when the first shot at
Fort Sumpter. like hrebell in the
might. reused them from their slumber.
and convinced them that the great
citadel Of their liberties was in actual
danger. said Hon. Joseph H. Choate In
his recent Boston GRAFTON. Differ as we
may and must an to his final course in
his declining years, the one great fact
can never be blotted out. that the great
work of HIS grand and noble life was
the defense Of the constitution-so that
he came to be known Of all men a. lts
one defender-that for 80 years he
preached to the listening nation the
crusade OF nationality, and fred New
England and the whole North with its
| spirit. He inspired them to believe
that to uphold and preserve the Union
against every foe. was the first duty
of the citizen; that II the Union was
saved, all was saved; that II that was
lost. all was lost He moulded better
even than he knew. 1t was his great
brain that designed, his flaming heart
that forged, his sublime eloquence that
welded this sword, which was at last,
when he was dust, to consummate his
life's work and make Liberty and
Union one and inseparable forever
And SO, in large measure, 1t was with
Mr. Choate. His glowing heart went
out to his country with the passionate
ardor Of a lover. He believed that the
first duty Of the lawyer, orator, scholar
was TO her. His best thoughts, his
noblest words, were always for her.
Seven of the best years Of his life, in
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, at the greatest personal sacrifice.
he gave absolutely to her service. On
every great question that arose. he
made, with infinite study and research,
one of the great speeches of the debate.
He commanded the affectionate re-
CARDS of his fellows, and of the watch
full and listening nation He was
profound and constant student Of her
history, and revealing in tracing her
growth and progress from Plymouth
Rock and Salem Harbor. until she filled
the continent from sea to sea. He
loved to trace the advance of the
Puritan spirit, with which he was him
self deeply imbued, from Winthrop and
Endicott, and Carver and Standish,
through all the heroic periods and
events of Colonial, and Revolutionary.
and national life, until in his own last
years, it dominated and guided all of
free America.
He knew full well, and displayed in
his many splendid speeches and adj
dresses. that one unerring purpose Of
freedom and of Union ran through her
whole history that there was no acct
dent in 1t all: that all the generations
from the Mayflower down marched to
one measure and followed one flag.
That all the struggles. all the self-sac-
rif1ce, all the prayers and the tears all
the fear Of God, all the SOUL trials, all
the warnings for national life, Of more
than two centuries, had contributed
to make the country that he served
and loved. He, too. preached in season
and out Of season the gospel Of nation
atty. He was the faithful disciple of
Webster, while that great master lived.
and. after his death, he bore aloft the
same standard and maintained the
same cause Mr.. Everett spoke moth
ing more than the truth, when he said
In Faneuil Hall, while all the bells
were tolling, at the moment when the
vessel bringing home the dead body OF
his lifelong friend cast anchor in Bos-
ton harbor: IF ever there was truly
disinterested patriot, Rufus Choate was
that man. In his political career there
was no shade Of selfishness. Had he
been willing to purchase advancement
at the price often paid for it, there
was never moment, from the time he
first made himself felt and known. that
he could not have commanded any
thing that any party had to bestow.
But he desired none of the rewards or
honors Of success"
He foresaw with clear vision that the
division of the country into geographic /
cal parties must end in civil war.
What he could not see was that there
was no other way-that only by cutting
out slavery by the sword could Ameri-
ca secure liberty and union too-hut to
the last drop of his blood, and the last
fiber of his being, he prayed ana
pleaded for the life of the nation, nc
ccrding to his light. Neither of thcse
great patriots lived to see the fearful
spectacle which they had SO elcouently
deprecated. But when at last the
dread day came, and our young heroes
marched forth to bleed and die for their
country. their own sons among the
foremost, they carried in their hearts
the lessons which they had taught, ami
all Massachusetts,, all New England.
from the beginning, marched behind
them. following the flag and keeping
step to the music Of the Union" as he
had bade them, and so I say let us
award to them both their due share Of
the glory.