GREAT MEN'S BODIES
torney-General—or a great anything else where ability of the highest order is demanded. His body does not look as if it had ever seen much real work; or been at all educated, as it might have been—as Mr. Justice Chitty's; or Lord Esher's; or Sir Richard Webster's; or George Washington's; or Abraham Lincoln's were educated. If he thinks it is too late now, let him look at the daily habits of Gladstone; or of the young lad of eighty referred to on page 160; or of a charming Philadelphia lady of ninety-two there mentioned; and see whether, if he will, he may not yet have the force and lung-power, and power of voice, that can fill a mighty hall of his delighted countrymen so easily, when a great theme is up, as Daniel Webster could; as Mr. Gladstone did at eighty-five; as Bourke Cockran can; and as Mr. Choate cannot—yet. The field is ample. Once in every four years this entire land is turned into a vast debating club; and, when the struggle is at white heat, men go about—demagogues rather—arraying class against class; fomenting envy, and jealousy, and hate; asking the poor what right others have to live in fine houses, though bought and paid for with money, every dollar of it honestly earned; telling men that they can borrow a dollar; then vote a half dollar to be a dollar; pay the debt with it; and still be honest. What a power men like Gladstone and Choate could be at such a time! They would strike a chord responsive in the heart of every man fit to be a citizen of this Republic. Or in greater questions, when there is a foreign foe; for the American heart in America's quarrel is always true; and will stand, as it ever has stood, every test that comes.
And how such men would own, and rightly, the hearts of the people!
413
