Australian Heroes and AdventurersPyke, William T. (William Thomas)
History
Australian Heroes and Adventurers
Pyke, William T. (William Thomas)
Australia -- History -- 1788-1900; Burke and Wills Expedition, (1860-1861); Gold mines and mining -- Australia
believe that the issue of great events are little under the control of
human wisdom may prefer to call it--a more fortunate judgment might not
have been exercised, and a broader beam from the light of experience
brought to bear both upon the inception and the execution of the
exploring enterprise. Nor should we, assembled as we are, not to discuss
the merits of the project, but to pay honour to the memory of those who
conquered the difficulties which beset it, forget that, if it be true
that amongst those difficulties were the want of previous training for,
and special adaption to, the perilous task, so much more were the glory
and credit of the victory enhanced. Nor will the sad tale of the fate of
these men be without its beneficial influence upon the intellectual
training and moral elevation of our people. For, oft as it shall be
told, and ofttimes it will be told upon this very spot, Australian
parents, pointing to that commanding figure, shall bid their young and
aspiring sons to hold in admiration the ardent and energetic spirit, the
bold self-reliance, and the many chivalrous qualities which combined to
constitute the manly nature of O'Hara Burke. (Cheers.) While gazing on
that more lowly and retiring form, they may teach them to emulate the
thirst for science, the deep love of the Almighty's works in nature,
the warm and filial family affections, the devotion to duty,
self-control and submission of his own judgment to authority which he
regarded as rightly conferred and exercised, and which, if I read the
history of his brief career aright, pre-eminently marked the character
and conduct of William Wills. (Cheers.) Better for themselves, and might
haply have averted their melancholy end, if in Burke there had been more
of that practical wisdom which we call prudence, and a larger measure of
self-assertion and desire to sustain his own opinion, in the character
of his unfortunate companion. Better, I have said, for themselves, but
not for the cause of discovery and civilisation, for which they laid
down their lives; for who can doubt that the knowledge of the country
eastward of the line of the successful exploration, which has been
acquired by the expeditions sent forth under the auspices of this and
the sister colonies, to endeavour to solve the mystery of their fate, is
immeasurably greater than could have been reasonably expected to follow
for many years to come, had Burke and Wills returned to enjoy the
peaceful laurels they had won? United in undying fame, all that was
mortal of them now rests in the same hallowed grave. Well we know that
"neither storied urn or animated bust" can "back to its mansion call the
fleeting breath." "Honour's voice" cannot, indeed, "provoke the silent
dust;" if it could, well might their dust breathe again, and be eloquent
to-day. But what man can do has now been done. There in the quiet
cemetery will be placed the "storied urn." Here in the thronged city we
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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