Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-01
SRlRrtiuua.
Washington.

The following extract is from Edward
Everett's remarks on Washington, the 5th
July last at the dinner given by the city
authorities of Boston:
How different would have been the fate
of Spain, of Naples, of Greece, Of Mexico,
and the South American Republics, had
their recent revolutions been conducted by
men like Washington and his patriotic as
sociates whose prudence, patriotism, pro-
bity and disinterestedness conducted our
revolution to an auspicious and honorable
result!
But it is of course at home that we must
look for an adequate appreciation of our
Washington's name and worth. He is the
friend of other countries (; he is the father
lof his own. own, Mr.. Mayor, that il has
been to me source of inexpressible salts
faction to find, midst all the bitter dissen-
sions of the day, that this one great senti-
ment-veneration for the name of Wash
ington-is planted down in the very depth
of the American heart. 1t has been my
privilege, within the last two years, to hold
it up to the revered contemplation of my
countrymen, from the banks of the Penob-
scot to the banks of the Savannah, from
New York to St. Louis, from Chesapeake
Bay to Lake Michigan, and the same SEN
timents, expressed in the same words, have
everywhere touched the same sympathetic
chord in the American heart.
To that central attraction | have been
delighted to find the thoughts, the afec-
tons, the memories of the people, in what
ever part of country--from the ocean tc
the prairies of the West; from the land ot
the palmetto and the magnolla-instinc.
lively turn. They have their sectional
loves and hatreds, but before the dear name
Of Washington they are absorbed and for
gotten. In whatever region of the coun
try, the heart Of patriotism warns to hin
as in the starry heavens, with the circlins
of the seasons, the pointers go round tn
sphere, but this direction is ever toward
the pole. They may point from the Eas
they may point from the West, but the
will point to the Northern star 1t is no
tle brightest star in the heavens, as me
account brightness, but it is always in il
place. The meteor, kindled into momen
tary blaze from the rank vapors of th
lower sky, is brighter. The comet
brighter that streams across the frm
ment,
" And from his horrid hair, .
Shakes pestilence and war" ...-
But the meteor explodes; the com
rushes back to the depths of the heaven
while the load-star shines steady at the pol
alike in summer and in winter, in SCI
time and in harvest, at the equinon al
the solistice. 1t shone for Columbus at Il
discovery of America; it shone for the pi
neers of settlement, the pilgrims of fai
and hope, at jamestown and Plymouth
will shine for the mariner who shall ent
your harbor to night it will shine for Il
nayies which shall bear the sleeping thu
ders Of your power while the flag of Il
Union shall brave the battle and the breez
So, too, the character, the counsels, Il
example Of our Washington, of which "
bid me speak; he guided ourfathers throus
the storms of the revolution; he will gui,
us through the doubts and difficulties tn
beset US; he will guide our children al
children's children in the paths of prospC
ity and peace, while America shall he
her place in the family of nations.