New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-04
EDWARD EVERETT on WASHING tong


Edward Everett repeated HE orstoa On Georgc
Washington in the Academy Of Music before the Met
camille Library Association last evening. All The
seats with the exception OF few in the amphthestet
were occupied and the stage and aisles in the lower
,ers were crowded. Mr.. Everett was saluted with
oud sppause on entering and his ors,ion which wss
very long was continually interrupted by cheers. We
have room ory for the following very brief abstract;
Mr. Everett passed to the inquiry in what the true
greatness Of Washington consists, aud admitted THAI
be found difficult furnish an answer 70 ,he ques-
ton, which fully satisfied his own conceptions A'Ss
all the usual points Of great character were shuhcs
sied there was still something in Washington THAI
escaped analysis there an iudescribabie chaTtn
in bis portraits by Stuart. imparting an interest 10
them but which il was not easy TO refer TO its precse
source There could, however, be no doubt that the
essence and strength of Wsshington's character
lay in two things. Firs: In his possession in due
proportion each in the golden mean, of all the
powers aud qualities required Tor the useiui anu
honorable discharge Of the duties OF fe and, second
in the pure morality which lay at the foundation In
reference to the frst point the speaker maintained
that the absence of dazzling traits which strike the
in aginatioD, 50 far from needing an apology, was N
reality one Of the chief exceencies of the character o.
Washington They are in reality defects, and would
impair the beauty Of welbalanced character. Such
character also includes the sober aud little popular
Qualities-such as prudence, justice, common SENSE
which. although by far the most useful qualities IN
a public man. neither win applause nor strike The
imagination They place their possessor, however IN
harmony with the great powers which govern
the universe material ana mora-waSn sne h'sh bs
we rise in the scale of being, are the more cha-
racterized by quiet equilibrium and silent energy.
But the pure morality of Wasbngtons character WAS
the most important feature and Mr. Everett declared
il to be bis decided conviction, that II was an import
ant rsrt of the design of Providence In raising up
" Washington to be the leader OF the reyoiunonay
struggle and aiteIward the hrst President oil the
United States, to set before the people OF America
" in the morning Of their national EXISTENCE hvne
example TO prove that armies may De pest con-
Quoted lust war; mot successfully fought, ana gov
emments most ably and honorably administered ~
" men of sound moral principles TO teaoh 70 giisea
and aspiring individuals, and the parties they iead
4" hat. though hundred crooked paths may ccnduct
temporary success the plain and straight pam
of public and private virtue can alone lead to pure
and lasting fame and the blessings OF poster,ty.
In drawing his address to close, Mr. Everett quoted
the language of Hamilton in his general orders com
municatng the tdings of Washingtons decease 10 inc
army in 1899, tLa "the voice of praise would IN VAN
"endeavor to exalt name unrivaed IN the nsts !"
"te glorv" and he spoke OF the privilege enjoyed oy
Americs in the frst generation of her national esss
.nce of being permitted, in exchange for the Dngn.
examples she had inherited from other countries aho
ages, to give back name by Acknowledgements
brighter than ALL He quoted the remark oil Charles
lanes Fox that ga character Of virtues 30 happily
tempered by another, and 80 wholly unaicyea
by any vices Washngtons was hardly 10 De icund
in history" He referred also 10 the account gwen
II.
name of Washington was held in England, notwith-
standing bis leading agency in depnying her OF great
colonial empire and also to the honors paid TO ms
memory in Paris by order of Napoleon in 1900, when
a rompous ceremonial was had in the fardiides ana
eulogy pronounced by Fontanes. He remarked on
the different result that might have been expected
to the revolutions Of the last generation In the
Spanish and Portuguese possessions on this con-
tinent, in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Germs-
nv. had they been led by men like Washington.
Finally. Mr. Everett observed that il was peculiarly
incumbent on the citizens Of America, as depo.ares
Of the fame and memory Of Washington, to follow his
advice and obey bis counse especially as contained
in his Farewell Address. The most important OF his
celebrations was that which e9joined the preserve
ton Of the Union. This was the thought and caro-
which Law nearest to his heart aud il depends on tss
whether the United States shall be broken up INTO
group of independent military governments, wasting
each other in perpetual border wars, or remain
great powerful and prosperous confederate Rcpub.
lie. lfever his parting counsels on this head should
be forgotten on that day il may truly be said thas
Washington had lived in vain. Such "a calamity,
however the speaker exclaimed, shonld never be per-
mted TO take place. while the memory OF the glorious
dave and deeds of the Revolution remained and lea
of all should its possibility be admitted ON the birth
day of Washington, when in every part OF the coun-
try from the North TO the South, from the Atlantic 70
the Pacific tributes of affection and respect are smu-
taneously paid to bis name.