Washington sentinel., 1854-02-24
TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON.

TRIBUTE III
The New York Herald, of the 22d, contains
an interesting article on the subject Of the an
niversary Of the birthday of the Father of his
Country, from which we make the following ex-
tract:
g In February, 1900, Napoleon, then first
consul of France, issued an order to his army
announcing: Washington is dead! This great
man established the liberty of his country.
His memory will always be dear to the French
people, as it will be to all freemen of the two
worlds The standards and flags throughout
the French republic wore for two months the
usual badge Of mourning, and after ar. imposing
military solemnization in the Champ de Mars,
glowing eloge ftnebrede Washington was pro-
taines in the Temple Of Mars, in presence of
the first consul and of vast audience of civil
and military authorities.
And while the French republic was offering
this spontaneous tribute to the memory of our
Pater Patrie, and celebrating the majesty Of
hisvirtues-at once honoring hisname and com
mending the great national principles of which
his mind and sword were the exponepts-the
British fleet of about sixty ships of the line
lying at Torbay exhibited another striking
proof of sympathy, when, on the announcement
made by Lord Bridport, then in coTmand,
every flag throughout the fleet was lowered
halfmast.
"Other foreign States, by expressive tokens,
confessed their appreciation of the great man
whose name had already acquired a deep sig
ni6cance in the vocabulary of the worlds motS
dm gAet."
Epochs are inaugurated by great events or
by great men. 4. Every nation has its great
days, endeared to it by the occurrence. of some
great event or by the birth of some benefactor.
That nation cannot be altogether without vir-
tue, patriotism, and public spirit, in which is
cherished with pious reverence the memory Of
great days dedicated to freedom or to freedoms
champions. Our history as a nation is brief,
but it has continued long enough to furnish us
with signal achievements in popular redemp-
ton, and in illustrious names that were not
born to die. In common with the rest of the
Christian world we have the great religious
and social festival Of Christmas. But it is
our sole and exclusive glory to have the Fourth
of July-aday permanently, enduringly fixed in
the annals of human liberty and popular pro-
gress 1t is our own--an American day.
We have another day, the Twenty second Of
February, consecrated by the birth Of him who,
after achieving the independence Of his coun-
try, filled the highest Office it could bestow,
and, after terminating career no less virtuous
than brilliant closed in death the eyes that had
so often flashed in victory. Gle died childless,
that his country might call him Father"
That this day may continue to be observed
and celebrated, is the wish ofall good patriots.
1t is bond of union between all the people
and sections of this great country If it shall
ever be attempted to be. dishonored and set
aside, the attempt will be made by those agi-
tators and fanatics whose lives are devoted to
the impious work of sowing the seeds Of sec
tional strife and discord. Many such men re-
ject the Bible, and the same feelings would
prompt them to reject the Constitution which
we love and the great national days which we
are accustomed to celebrate.
We have thought it fit to offer these remarks
inasmuch as from our respect for the anniver-
sary of Washington's birthday we issued no
paper yesterday, and therefore had not the
opportunity of writing anything on the subject.