Hereditary influence did certainly exist, but there is much reason
to believe it existed rather as a consequence of hereditary merit
and acquired qualifications, than as a birthright. Rivenoak,
however, had not even this claim, having risen to consideration
purely by the force of talents, sagacity, and, as Bacon expresses
it in relation to all distinguished statesmen, "by a union of great
and mean qualities;" a truth of which the career of the profound
Englishman himself furnishes so apt an illustration. Next to arms,
eloquence offers the great avenue to popular favor, whether it be
in civilized or savage life, and Rivenoak had succeeded, as so many
have succeeded before him, quite as much by rendering fallacies
acceptable to his listeners, as by any profound or learned
expositions of truth, or the accuracy of his logic. Nevertheless,
he had influence; and was far from being altogether without just
claims to its possession. Like most men who reason more than they
feel, the Huron was not addicted to the indulgence of the more
ferocious passions of his people: he had been commonly found on the
side of mercy, in all the scenes of vindictive torture and revenge
that had occurred in his tribe since his own attainment to power.
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