THOMAS F. BAYARD 81 homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, that "quarter section," so well known to the land laws of the United States. There this great typical American first saw the light. There first he learned, from a pious mother's lips, the letters of the language that in later days, by speech and writing, he was destined to adorn. From that mother's teachings he imbibed in tender infancy those vital truths of religion and morality which formed the basis of his character, and to-day give strength and permanence to the immortal part that survives. He was born in New Hampshire, and he died in Massachusetts, but he lived and died with a love for his whole country that never knew state lines, nor paused upon the imaginary boundaries of sections. Nature had gifted him with great powers of mind, coupled with warm and generous feelings. His intellect enabled him to comprehend the mighty and manifold interests of humanity, contained within the Federal Union, and his heart was large enough to embrace them all. Before or since, New England has had no such champion or representative, but he gained no victory for her at the cost of other portions of his country; and in all the loving praise and manly defence of his own home, in no speech or letter, wherever uttered or written, not a thought or expression, belittling or derogatory to reputation, or wounding to the self-love of any other portion of his fellow countrymen, have I found. Webster was a statesman living under a written constitution of government, and his creed may neither be stated in a breath, nor condensed into a phrase. It would be as delusive as it is unjust to try such a man by phrases torn from their context, and by chance expressions, without interpreting them by the general meaning which surrounds them. But as to some meanings there is no doubt; and that Webster was the soldier of the constitution, because it created and continued the government of "a more perfect Union," is as fixed as the everlasting hills of his native state. With a vision that was prophetic, he witnessed the growing alienation of his countrymen, and the dangers to the Union which it threatened. These apprehensions clouded his anticipations, and the recorded and reiterated warnings and deprecations against sectional animosities, that burst from his very heart, are almost countless. They form part of his history, and read now and hereafter they will ever attest the sagacity of his mental vision, and the depth and sincerity of his patriotism. The veil which hides from our eyes the future, no doubt conceals, in mercy, many an assault upon the peace, law, and liberty of the land we love; and in the misty foreground of the future, I fear there are dimly to be discerned forms and shapes of evil. But we must stand as the father of Webster stood, "a minute-man," ready for their defence, fortified, enlarged, and refreshed by the memories and the counsel of our great countryman-Daniel Webster. QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES 1. Give a few of the outstanding incidents of Webster's life. CHARLES SUMNER CARL SCHURZ Honor to the people of Massachusetts, who for twentythree years kept in the Senate, and would have kept him there longer had he lived, a man who never, even to them, conceded a single iota of his convictions in order |