But at this point we must stop, for I tread on ground where only speculation presumes to stand.  The time has not come to solve such a mighty problem as the French Revolution, or even the career of Napoleon Bonaparte.  We can pronounce on the logical effects of right and wrong,—­that violence leads to anarchy, and anarchy to ruin; but we cannot tell what would have been the destiny of France if the Revolution had not produced Napoleon, nor what would have been the destiny of England if Napoleon had not been circumvented by the powers of Europe.  On such questions we are children; the solution of them is hidden by the screens of destiny; we can only speculate.  And since we short-sighted mortals cannot tell what will be the ultimate effect of the great agitations of society, whether begun in noble aspirations or in depraved passions, it is enough for us to settle down, with firm convictions, on what we can see,—­that crimes, under whatever name they go, are eternally to be reprobated, whatever may be the course they are made to take by Him who rules the universe.  It would be difficult to single out any memorable war in this world’s history which has not been ultimately overruled for the good of the world, whatever its cause or character,—­like the Crusades, the most unfortunate in their immediate effects of all the great wars which nations have madly waged.  But this only proves that God is stronger than devils, and that he overrules the wrath of man.  “It must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.”  There is only one standard by which to judge the actions of men; there is only one rule whereby to guide nations or individuals,—­and that is, to do right; to act on the principles of immutable justice.

Now, whatever were the defects in the character or philosophy of Burke, it cannot be denied that this was the law which he attempted to obey, the rule which he taught to his generation.  In this light, his life and labors command our admiration, because he did uphold the right and condemn the wrong, and was sufficiently clear-headed to see the sophistries which concealed the right and upheld the wrong.  That was his peculiar excellence.  How loftily his majestic name towers above the other statesmen of his troubled age!  Certainly no equal to him, in England, has since appeared, in those things which give permanent fame.  The man who has most nearly approached him is Gladstone.  If the character of our own Webster had been as reproachless as his intellect was luminous and comprehensive, he might be named in the same category of illustrious men.  Like the odor of sanctity, which was once supposed to emanate from a Catholic saint, the halo of Burke’s imperishable glory is shed around every consecrated retreat of that land which thus far has been the bulwark of European liberty.  The English nation will not let him die; he cannot die in the hearts and memories of man any more than can Socrates or Washington.