The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-05


superatiYes which for The hest Of Ordinary huma-
nifty, are too weak Comlarison with the host iustrous
instances recorded by unGslred pens, shocks Us lAe
impertinenee History has not dared to pant him. De-
lighting 10 trace the features OF her sub ct too often
overlooking the minor neamcns, and shrouiins her he
ioes IN blaze OF spiendor lest We should observe too
closely when she gazes on Washington drops her pencil.
Mhehce shail she assemble her coiofs no" blend tAem
in adequate keeping Where presume 70 shade con
trast Her skill Is vain. She seizes the silver mirror
Of ruA catches lis full reflection and Gods own sunght
likes there, just 80 exquisite, that the most nicros
oolc scrung sses only new beauties the more intimate
q, for the power that image on every American
heart Searching through the classic ages we discover here
and there distinguished BY one or more Of those
commanding qualities which belong 10 Washington. Ia
bus, Cato Scipo, Airicanus Epamnondas, cncinnatl
rise to our minds contemplate him al different
ments but the likenesses very partial anu their
lack OF other attributes which had the more stri
ing. In him nothing is wanting yet II Is not the parts
but the parts arcuated as whole, that gives hEn his
serene grandeur Nor may we adopt the Greeks eclcc
tic eXpcdieni and unite in him what i admirable IN each
Of all the Others for then should miss the relative de
gress in which the Almighty hand moulded his peculiar
symmetry u the few who have arisen from among m
people TO control important popular revolutions, WASH
ingion alone has the honor OF having Established free
principles and OF having perpetated his work The power
OF the rest ceased with their lifetime, If lasted so long
MOI to cite less though familiar exemplcatons measure
BY their consequences his with those OF the two
next to him most remarkable in the annals OF the world
Cromwell and Napoleon. For the former the infatuated
obstnacy OF the crown prepared the way. The masses
from despotc instinct Of self preservation and revenge,
had lung themselves the King crushed him to death
driven away his arrogant MOBILES and overturned the
adrs whose ministers had been too willing to oppress
by his arm. But, used to a master, unfit by
faith TO rule themselves they broke up into wild chaos
Of parties aad robbor bands, demagogues eager
after SPOIL preachers blasphemng the Saviour in his
s;nctuarics Of peace with cries for the sword Of
Gideon and gun powder, brawling hypocrites OF fina
tieisms they despised all threatening mutual ard
annhilaol when iron will backed BY brute force
lifted itself above the unut 70 be their protector from
themselves by usurpng sterncr dcspotsm than that
they had thrown oil. Cromwell did rule them, and
with vast ability; holding their factions apart yet com
pellng them to do his bidding yanGushng their enemies
and land vndcatlng their place in Europe, smu
latng their trades enlarging their commerce and filing
their treasury. But Cromwell ruled alone. Their par
hamcnt a mockcry, their councils farce, their
commonwealth a lie, their laws, strong as chains to
them " ere straw to him; nav their very religion be-
seldom artlice Of his bold cunning. There
were many good men in England at that time the Chris
tian church recokons not a few OF them among her
choicest Jewels; there many WISE sound generous
patriots, whose reasopings remain among the finest in
language there still sturdy, uncorrup'ed Saxon
yeomanry. The opportunity and the subordnates
ready for genuine reiormaton-an elevation OF .he
people by ther latent forces But such not his
pan nor M WISH Whatever excuse may be offered ior
him, he was an autocrat lie depressed the poor the
faithful the independent lie taught them no maxms of
reciprocal iusteeno lessons of large religious charity,
What the result All perished with hun. His very
lost its charm when borne by the Son OF his ons
The masses had learned no sef.government-nonc had
learned 10 govern them. The Puritanism, which
so strong against King and Bishop and Pope,
which still held much radical truth of doc
trine and morals, but had exchanged lis spiritual
weapons for carna force and harsh rigor found that
It's trust "a man whose breath was in his nostrs."
and though for twenty had the courts OF law, the
the nation should have saved reverted to prolgacy
OF manners base trucking 10 frivolous monarch and
general degradation almost incredible OF Englishmen
When they next rebclled, II was to lind leader in
ioi eign prince and never again has Britain relied With
supreme confidence on one oi her own blood
The genius OF Napoleon stupcndous, and none
doubt that lie could, had he chosen, have opened for
France Path TO freedom and popular dignity Nor may
deny that he did very much Tor her military progress
and internal economy. But from tho first bent Of bis
ACCOMPLISHMENT. he gladly bartcred for the baube
of . the grandes fame ever within the reach OF
Earopean. lie lived, conquered, governed only for
himself The laurcled wreathcd Code and
Museum, School and Boursc, Library and Tribunal.
lie invoked 1.-THE glory oil France" as he gilded
thh dome OF the lnyalidcs, 10 cajol vain, ncon.
slant people, but the paipabe expression of that
glory, crowned her tal0st column was himself booted
and spurred with cooked hat lifted in
courtesy 10 the multitude Abundant proofs OF his Titanic
strength long remain for the wonder OF the world:
and the magic OF his name has given II second nvcs
turc OF empire in doubtful scion OF his race, more
astutc than he. But the fret Napoleon palsicd long
years before he died, plnng qucrdlous captive; and
how little sterling good lac wrought for the nation that
adcrcd him, IS IN their hasiy Abandonment OF con
stituopal privileges, that they might b, miserable
counterfeit Of free suffrage approved the pcrurcd traitor
who stole 10 sbsoiusm in night burglar thief and
assassin.
II we're ungrateful as untrue 10 make Washington the
sole author OF our national independence and founder
Of republican coniederacy. There were influences
tending 10 both than century old. Never was
there people educated by Providence, or situated so
remotely from bad forms OF government. The peculiar
difficulties Of their agricultural or marine life had
ioughened their snews Of mind and body, while its pri
mitiyc simplicity had purrcd from their thoughts the
,urc and common There had been brave, deep
thinking before the crisis came, preparing by their
solemn voices in the wilderness for the adyentof new
dsucnailon: but. when remorselcss tyranny had
H. dragon teeth in the soil there sprang UP band Of
Iatrios, armed with wisdom courage aud honesty such
ss n specs Providence only could call forth. need
pronounce their uames-they are written deep in our
memories. But, clearly as they shone through the tw
light ot morning there was needed aconiralsun to
lold them IN their orbits; aud Washington arose. his
mild, yet all pctynding influences were radiacd by
heart that lrst good then great Issuing from vr
tue without warp ~ sclnshncss prejudice fear the lines
never crossed because all straight, and there
OBJ cure or notable ignorant or philosophical, but
felt the superior attraction. Whatever Offices Ia
the body God assigned to others, Washington was the
soul and the life OF that soul was truth. Who doubts
that bad he been less true he might have been King be-
loved rs never monarch had been or shall be, and
searcov rcproach been cast upon him. for the world
drt..i uc Of such dsnterestedness until he showed H.
lt he et IA not have n God made him and
gave him to us, himself the type or what republic
shonld be- in all his cle nents, great cycn consistent
eoch vigorous in lis own action vet an held IN harmo
Nous balance by the unity Of a single purpose No
der his work survived him. Survived bimg No. He
stl vos though bis mortal frame has long been dust
tod who gave keep that lie in " for when that spirit
i lOs' when elements revolt from their oneness, and
ike the maniac among the tombs whose devils
LEGION We and ourselves. this far c0nfcdcracy
viii soon hc beneath the heavens the most mangled
oahsome corpse that ever polluted the breath OF hu.
moni,y with ~ pnriacon some of The devils are IN
~ FOR the God ~ our fathers 10 drive them ont
aud down into the deep sen Of an Infamous obi
Wont There a farther bounty OF Cod in h gift OF
Washington. BY a natural habit og sense, fondly
soCaie visible beauty and proportion with spiritual
celence but the effects Of sin have heen deformng
ina, We are often disappointed IN the physical accidents
of those we love vencratc aud We lose much by the
disappointment. II is not 80 with Washington. Ills out
ward form was worthy Of his masnanmous soul. No
ideal of phdias Angelo equals his reality. W. arc
happily 70 familiar with hls person and face, that
moi conceive possible for him 70 have appeared other
me Il not in him the poets words have, Cor the Grs, time
their iulallmcnt-
He was man; take him for all in ALL
We ne er shall look upon his Ike again.--(Cheersl