Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-24
Mr.. Hunters Address on the 2snd OF
Erhrnary-- EYTRACTl


is one man who, more than al! others, mag
be said to have organized and directed this
great movement of human society, there Is
one name witch, above all others, represents
this mighty epoch N history, and that l. the
name Of George Washington, the : n OF NlT-
GINA, the father of his country, the best and
perhaps the wisest of all who have ruled the
d~estinies Of our race. A name which repre-
sents more of human fame because II has
more deeply affected human d,sriny than
anv other which figures 10 the annals d man.
/, is a duty, zen, which Virginia owes TO
him, to herself, and to posterity to tell the
great story of his lie in all the forms IN
which i; en- reach the hearts and minds OF
men. LIT i, be It'd in The graceful nu mbers
Of the poet; let it be carried down III the
ev everlasting traditions of h story; 1T it be
i,naged forth in the highest inE ersOnntrOns
of the painters and the -culptur's genius
There is n great moral in that story which
ought to he iclt by every human heart, for 1t
is the story Of zoe who alone, Of all the
great rulers Of men, has provei by a corsi3-
tent example, that in the midst OF tempta.
tons and the most seducing opportunities
for the qualification of u selfish ambIuOO, be
preferred the duties OF lIie, To Its pleasure,
It's power, and even 10 life itself. Let, then,
Virginia on this his natal day raise the eth.y
Of her nOblest son before the eyes Of admir-
ing men; and who shall blame her If some
touch Of maternal pride shouts be mingled
with the tears If rinus regard which sha
may SIZED for him who was the words great
paragon for all that Is sublime III pubic VII.
tue and ali that is patient aud brave in tie
human soul! She raises this image not to
refresh the iouutsins of her Z lei, not to
take tribIte from human sympathy tor the
SOULS deep wound, not to express IN" sad
sense of bereavement in whatever form of
utterance may he must enduring; but she
this day eleyates it 10 the face Of tue world
10 consscrate his memory in the best nflec.
tions Of every heart, aud to dedicate his
name to the great cause OF humanity, and
~ a c1mmOn possession to all manEhd.-
This is no lille ceremonial Vi grief wnlch
We celebrate to-day; but Il ; Sale is inaugural
lug with the reverentlal s,rrOw winch such
greatness may inspire IN even a mothers
he.rt, the influence OF perhaps the highest
human example, winch Is to be as wide a.
tbe world III its operation and 10
love and sympathy from every human heart.
Long, then, may yOnder expressive bronze
coLtlnue u speak its lessons OF virtue and
wi-d0m T. each succeeding generation Of
man. LIT the mother bring her BOY hlther
that she may teach him III this pre.ence as
her earliest lesson 80 much vi the great story
of Washington a. be may he able 10 apfre-
ci.te and crmpreheud. Let the aspiring
youth wh sc ambition, like Gears, may
have been fired by the study OF examples ot
early SUCCESSES 80 much greater t1an hls
own, pause t. behold that calm lace and con-
slier It's associated story of pauent toTltude
and noble perseverance. Or should be, IN
his eagerness for tainr, had that he Is III
danger to prefer the prizes OF ambition to
goodness, let him pursue that story II ITS
O inclusion, and learn that II was Washing.
tons unfaltering loyalty to duty ana iaith
in virtac witch endowed him with al almost
surerhuman strength, and made bis name
Immortal among men.
l. It a man vi matGrcr years, who dlsal-
pointed 10 his Aspirations and mlscOnstcucd
10 his test aud mobiles. efforts for his race,
begins to grow weary in the struggle and to
despair OF achieving anything great or even
good, let him Consider bow sreTnlg the great
soul OF which that statue speaks was tried
and with what courage and faith Ii passed
through the fires Of a consuming STRIFE, until
every difficulty was surmOunted and Ii stood
purified aud annealed by the fierce ordeal u
which it bad been exposed. Who amongst
US all might tot gather from his mcdltatl0ns,
10 this calm presence, precious lessons Tor
the guidance and direction Of his future
conduct? Here then Is the genius loci
which should Invite the universal pilgrimage
of man, for all it's Influences are sacred 10 the
great cause Of Humanity itself. Touched
by the Inspired haud Of human ge lus, that
mute bronze pOurs forth It's fall uie OF ll'lng
associations which, ike water from the rock
of llOreb, may refresh the soul OF him whose
hopes and strength arc failing under the toni
some, and it may be, the sad experience oil
his devious journey through lItc.
This statue is not merely a mouumHnt TO
| Washington, but an altar erected to Heroic
Virtue itself, before which the human heart
may purity is own aspirations u der the
chasteLiug Influences OF The great example
of the Father. of his Country, and upon
which it may %sacriti; e every wild or mad d.
sire that may be adverse to tue country
good.
Aud yet this monument itself will pass
away when time, with slow cOrr"dIne tooth,
suall have dis>ipateI, atom br atom, ls con-
secrated dust. BUT wheu all It's particles,
fugitive on the winds, shall have disappear
co from human view, there viii silIl survive
tue monument which Wnshirg'On's own q
mos has erected for itself, FIR there Is a
promise 10 which we all ~contiie, that the
good which men d. shall live alter them
How much OF all that we admire in human
achievement must lose liz Influence in the
end, because it is founded III i'll. The very
process Of its progress dissipateS 1t at last,
for the circles OF its Impulse grow fainter as
they grow broader, until they finally dlsal-
pear altogether on tue face OF the great
ocean of lie. But the good which men do
in this life, and especially such as Washing
ton achieved, shall i've always ~ al ELI lent
cause aud a permanent Influence ~ the pr
press Of human affairs. The foot Ut the
spJilrr may trample down FIR i while what
is best IN the garden of lite, but heaven,
soon or late, will send its rains to wash out
all traces Of the step. Its tempered airs
will visit the terminating seed, It, genial
light " II gui lie the upward growth, unit by
a iull development OF leaf and h'wer, and
fruit aud seed, IT has not only coL!pietei the
course If one charming circle OF existence,
but provide ! for the re-aPpearance Ol anJth
er. The work If BIN who planted the gCod