Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-27
GRAFTON.

sheiir favorites; whom they hola IN pecu-
liar regard, and Cypress with excessive
-Dauegyric. The rulers OF the national
anunciis. and the leaders OF the national
armies, are the most frequent objects oil
the public aduIatiOn, because their lnfiu-
encies is most sensible in the scheme OF
society, and their renown finds a bulwafk
IN the vanity of the people. On them
the popular orator accumuiates virfaeS
and aggravates applause, until the real
Glory Of his hero is obscW,ed amidst the
halo of imaginary excellence. Yet pos
terity so seldom confirms these DEGREES
Of popular and temporary favor, that a
more moderate computation Of their me
nit were perhaps not less polite than
lust. would we perpetGAte the memory OF
those. < who propose Immortality as the
price Of their labors, and have trusted
20 posterity to pay IT."
TO consider this anniversary, which a
grateful people has consecrated to the
memory Of great and good man, but an
occasion for lavish & indiscriminate euio-
gY to invest him with improbable or
Impossible PROJECTIONS and call up all
the worthless of old time, but to postpone
them to purer aud brighter model, -
therefore both injustice to the merit we
design to exalt. and gross forgetiulness
Of the best objects Of wise institution.
On the men who have served or embcl-
lissed tie state. a ration does wisely to
confer those distinctions, of which the
most exalted spirits are ever tbe most
eager and whoever appreciates GEM
us. ard knows the sweetness of renown,
will be slow to condemn those who. on
occasions like this, have forgotten their
impartiaI,ty in their zeal Yet the lustre
with which desert or good fortune has
encircled these summaries OF the land,
may snrely sub erxe better purpose than
Co gid the periods of an annual psnegy
ric. Great men have been called the
IS landmarks and beacons Of the state. .
Their history is, by an association per-
maneat and honorable, connected with
the history of the communities they have
served. Amidst the celebrations sane
tilted by their names, the mind naturally
reverts to the national fortunes which
are past, and anticipates the deStlnles to|
come. All the fevolutions through which
virtue or crime the designs or capnces
ofhuman Judgment; the uncertainty Oh
fortune, or rather the certainty OF Pro-
%idence, have conducted mankind,-as
far as they supply motives OF hope, OIL
lessons of CAUTION to people, are there
fore his legitimate themes, who commence me-
rates national hero on a national ieStl-
val.
Happy is that merit, which has thus
fortified IT'S fame in the passions, and al
lied its own gssrv with the glory OF al
people since the wise of all ages ave
conspired to ,ament, how seldom popular
gratitude appr1priates applause IN the
proportion Of virtue and OF geyus 3
how often it casts the ga.lands Of merit
before the shrine Of successful guilt, orr
undeservine .oed fortune. Yet the Gu
iogist Of greatness,-ifhe be animated by
q lust admir- alton of glory, aud consider
renown as the common and pecular pro-
rertv Of the wortpies Of hl ankind al
treasure not to be wasted on the base,
,nor too lavishly ssuaadered even OF tie
deserving--will contemplate his hero a
part from all popular esteem and vulgar
praise: will strip him of the advent, 1
tious decorations with which national
pride, or party zeal may invest him );
and aim to confirm the empire OF his
fame by this equitable retrenchment OF
ITS limits.
Mankind, ever dazzled with prOdi-
gies of glory, often rob the many TO the
cxaltation Of the one: the gem is torn
from its owner, to glitter on the crown OF
a favorite the d cling OF the worthy
is demolished. for the erection OF a ten
pie to an idol. To observe and appor@
ton the detached parcels OF merit, nei-
Their gratifies their love Of the marvel
lous, ner is adapted to the tone OF their
enthusiasm. 10 all ages, they are found
condues ing the streams OF renowR to
sone common channel attr buting eve
~ feat of valor and prowess to lerss-
les, Or all the successive retnements OF
policy to an Alfred. The acre OF our
own country has partaken, perhaps, OF
this invo!nntary adulation. 1t was rot
possible that we should regard so
long and so intensely the Chief iu-
mtnary Vt system, in which SO muc
keht and lnstra revolv0d W,thont