1885.
Ar. 381.

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TOBDEN,

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digious advances in civilization and real greatness ag youve
bas dove. And now I must add, and I am sure you, 88
intelligent, reasonable men, will go with me, that fifty years
are too short a period in the existence of nations to entitle
them to the palm of history. No, wait the ordeal of wars,
distresses, and prosperity (the most dangerous of all), which
centuries of duration are sure to bring to your country.
 These are the test, and if, many ages hence, your
descendants shall be able only to say of their country as
much as I am entitled to say of mine now, that for seven
hundred years we have existed as a nation constantly advancing
 in liberty, wealth, and refinement ; holding out the
lights of philosophy and true religion to ail the world ; presenting
 mankind with the greatest of human institutions in
the trial by jury; and that we are the omly modern people
that for so long a time withstood the attacks of enemies 80
heroically that a foreign foe never put foot in our capital
except as a prisoner (this last is a poser?);—if many centuries
hence your descendants will be entitled to say something
squivalent to this, then, and not fill then, will you be entitled
 to that crown of fame which the historian of centuries
is entitled to award” There is no way of conveying #
rebuke so efficiently as npon the back of a compliment. So
in like manner, if I have been bored about New Orleans, ]
have replied, ‘I join in all that can be said in favour of
General Jackson, Asa commander he has probably achieved
more than any other man by destroying two thousand of his
enemies with only the loss of twenty men, Bub the merit
rests solely with the Genersl, for you, as intelligent men,
will agree that there could be no honour reaped by troop:
who never were even seen by their enemies,” *

4 The reader will remember, as Cobden’s listeners did, that Washingtor
wag occupied by British forces in 1814.
© 4, F. Cobden, from Boston, July §, 1825. Cohden’s reference is to thf