The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-08-18
Washington.

The following extract is from Edward
Everetts remarks on Washington, on the
9Th 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 ana bis patriotic
assnd ties "hose prudence patriotism, pro.
hl'y and disInterestedness conducted our
rev".ut''u 20 an auspicious and honorable
result
But II Is of course at home that We must
look Tor au adequate appreciation Of our
Wash'ngtoa's name and worth. lie is
the friend OF other countries; he is the
father of his own. own, Mr.. Mayor.
that 1t has been to me a source of mex.
pressib!e satisfaction to find, midst all the
bitter dissensions Of the day, that this one
great sentiment-yeneration for the name
Of Washington-is planted down. in the
very depth OF the American heart II has
been my privilege, within the last Two
years, to hold it up to the reverened con-
temptation of my countrymen, from the
banks Of the Penobscot to the banks of
the Savannah, from New York to ST..
Louis, from Chesapeake Bay TO Lake
Michigan, and the same sentiments, OK.
pressed in the same words, have every
where touched the same sympathetic
chord in the American heart.
To that central attraction have been
delighted to find the thoughts, the affec.
tons, the memories OF the people, in what.
ever part Of country-from the ocean 10
the prairies Of the West; from the land
OF granite and ice TO the land Of the pal.
metto and the magnolia --instjnctiveI
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 him
AS in the starry heavens, with the circinp
OF the seasons, the pointers 60 round the
shere, but their direction is ever towards
tho pole. They may point from the East
they may point from the West, but they
will point to the Northern star Ii is not
the brightest star in the heavens, as men
account brightness, but it is always in its
place. The meteor, kindled into momsn.
tary blase from the rank vapors Of the
lower sky, is brighter. The comet is
brighter that streams across the firma.
ment,
"And from bis horrid hair,
Shake pestilence and war
But the meteor eYplodes; the comet
rushes back to the depths Of the heaven !;
while the load-stsr shines steady at the
pole, alike in summer and in winter, in
seed time and in harvest, at the equinon
and the soils ice. II shone for Columbus
at tho discovery Of America it sbone for
the pioneers Of settlement, the pilgrims Of
faith and hope, at jamestown and Ply
mouth; it will shine for ths mariner who
shall enter your harbor TO night; i. will
shine for the navies which shall bear the
sleeping thunders Of your power while
the flag OF the Union shall brave the bat:
tie and the breeze. So, too, tho cbarac.
ter, the counseIs, the example Of our
Washington, Of which you bid me speak;
he guided our fathers through the storms
Of the revolution; he will guide us through
the doubts and difficulties that besei US
he will guide our children and chiIdren's
children in the paths Of prosperity and
peace, while America shall hold her place
in the family o. nations,