He is more than a historian who deals only with the past,
illustrated with reflections, called philosophical, concerning the
events of the past. With the orator those events are recalled and
reviewed for encouragement or warning. The eye of the orator is
turned to the future. The peroration of Mr. Webster's speech in reply
to Hayne contains a prophetic description of the Civil War as it was
experienced by the succeeding generation. Fisher Ames' bold prediction
as to the disposition of convicts to found and to maintain good
government has been realized in the history of Van Diemen's Land. Said
Ames: "If there could be a resurrection from the foot of the gallows,
if the victims of justice could live again, collect together, and form
a society, they would, however loath, soon find themselves obliged to
make justice--that justice under which they fell--the fundamental law
of their state."
Nor did the spirit of prophecy desert Kossuth, in regard to Louis
Napoleon. In 1852 he said: "The fall of Louis Napoleon, though old
monarchial elements should unite to throw him up, can have no other
issue than a republic,--a republic more faithful to the community of
freedom in Europe than all the former revolutions have been."
He seemed also to foresee the unity of Italy, although he overestimated
the tendency there towards republican institutions.
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