e poles, so there appears to
be a great cycle of humanity, whose law is that every portion of the
race shall pass through each condition of social, intellectual and
moral existence.

But whatever may be the fate of families, races and nations, their
influence is in some sense perpetual. The Past is not dead. By a
mysterious cord it is connected with the Present. Could we analyze
our life, we should perhaps find that but few of the emotions we
experience are to be traced to events and circumstance which have
occurred in our own time.

We admire the heroes of Grecian history and even of Grecian fable. We
are inspired by ancient poetry and eloquence, as well as by the bards
and orators of modern times. Painting and sculpture are the equal
admiration of every refined age. The virtue of patriotism has been
illustrated by savage as well as civilized life. Thus every recorded
event of the past has somewhat of value for us. Hence men seek to
connect themselves by blood and language with Europe, or even with
Asia, and delight to trace their family and name into the dark
centuries of the Past. We search for the truth amid the myths and
fables of Grecian and Roman history, and have faith that the ruins of
Ninevah, Memphis and Palmyra shall yet declare the civilities,
learning, and religion of ancient days.

Few nations have had a perfect history. Valuable history can be
derived only from the continued record of the transactions of a people.
Wherever governments have existed in fact before they have existed in
form, or wherever the proceedings of a government have not been matters
of record, there can be no trustworthy history. In these respects
Massachusetts has been fortunate. Her government is older than her
existence as colonies, and from the first a faithful record of her
proceedings has been made. The foundations of New Plymouth and
Massachusetts were laid more than two centuries ago; the circumstances
of this occasion lead us to consider the least defensible portions of
their history; yet the world cannot charge them with suppressing any
fact necessary to a true appreciation of their policy and character.
Whatever they did was in the fear of God and without the fear of man.
Conscious of their own integrity of purpose, they shrunk not from the
judgment of posterity. And though in this hour we may not always
approve their policy, so neither can we comprehend their principles or
appreciate their trials. The h