ebster made the plea that there was only one kind
of charity, namely, Christian charity. Girard was not a Christian, for he
had publicly affronted the Christian religion by providing that no
minister should teach in his school. Mr. Webster spoke for three hours
with many fine bursts of tearful eloquence in support of the Christian
faith, reviewing its triumphs and denouncing its foes.

The argument was carried outside of the realm of law into the domain of
passion and prejudice.

The court took time for the tumult to subside, and then very quietly
decided against Webster, sustaining the will. The college building was
erected and stands today, the finest specimen of purely Greek architecture
in America; and the good that Girard College has done and is now doing is
the priceless heritage of our entire country.

One of Webster's first greatest speeches was before the United States
Supreme Court in the Dartmouth College case. Here he defended the cause of
education with that grave and wonderful weight of argument of which he was
master. In the Girard College case, eighteen years after, he reversed his
logic, and touched with rare skill on the dangers of a too-liberal
education.

No man now is quite so daring as to claim that Webster was a Christian.
Neither was he a freethinker. He inherited his religious views from his
parents, and never considered them enough to change. He simply viewed
religion as a part of the fabric of government, giving sturdiness and
safety to established order. His own spiritual acreage was left absolutely
untilled. His services were for sale; and so plastic were his convictions
that once having espoused a cause he was sure it was right. Doubtless it
is self-interest, as Herbert Spencer says, that makes the world go round.
And thus does sincerity of belief resolve itself into which side will pay
most. This question being settled, reasons are as plentiful as
blackberries, and are supplied in quantities proportionate in size to the
retainer.

John Randolph once touched the quick by saying, "If Daniel Webster was
employed on a case and he had partially lost faith in it, his belief in
his client's rights could always be refreshed and his zeal renewed by a
check."

Webster had every possible qualification that is required to make the
great orator. All those who heard him speak, when telling of it, begin by
relating how he looked. He worked the dignity and impressiveness of his
Jovelike presence to