Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-22
MORNING LEADER.
Theodore Parker ON George washingron,

inc the head of THEoDoRE PARKER, we fully be-
ieve he would be found entirely deficient in the
organ of Veneration II seems to be his pleas
ure to push from their elevated pedestals all
whom the world worship as heroes. 1t is his
great delight to point out spots on the sun-to
notice the defects in the private or public char
acter of those who have dazzled the eyes of the
world. He is no herO-wOrshipper-nOt he.
Edward Everett is man OF different mental
habit. He looks only on the bright side Of
mems characters, and, when he limns them,
dips his pencil only in the most roseate hues.-
His lecture on WASHINGTON, so often repeated,
is of this nature. Under his pen, Washington
becomes the hero of the universe, standing above
and beyond all praise, with no faults to cast a
shadow over the suPerabundant brightness of
his entire career
Parker thinks differently. He has been late
! ly delivering an address in Boston on The Cha
racter Of Washington, IN which the peculiar
trains of thought and processes of Investigation
of the lecturer appear in full relief He thus
commences the life of his hero, and thus eulo.
gizes him:
He first saw the light in rude farmhouse
steep rooted, with broad caves, one story high,
with four rooms on the floor, and some in the
attic, d large chimney at each end, carried up
on the outside of the house. 1t was old and
rickety then not trace of it now remains but
blue stone with the inscription, "The Birth
Place of Washington" Descended from the
common class Virginia farmers, the boy has be-
come great man. No ruler of Anglo-Saxon
stock has SO great reputation for the higher
qualities ofhuman virtue For more than thou
sand years no man has left name so much to
be coveted, none become SO dear to thoughtful
mankind. In the long line Of Kings Generals
and Emperors, from the first monarch to the
last President or Pope, none rank so high for
the prime excellencies of heroic virtue His
name is the watchword of liberty, his example
and character are held up for the model of all
men in authority. So much is he estimated at
home, that the most selfish and deceitfuI of
politicians use his name as a stalking horse which
they creep behind when they would deceive and
exploiter the people. He is one of the great
authorities of American politicians. All parties
appeal to him, sometime for good, most COM
monty for i'll. Let US look at this newborn
Saturdays child, and see what he did, what he
suffered, and what he at last thereby became and
was. rr..
He forms the following estimate of his orig
nal character and worth
It is not difficult to understand character
which is so plain, the feature so distinct and
strongly marked Look at his intellect. He
had no great reason-the phiIosophic power
which loves universal laws and scientific truth,
resting upon them for ends. He was not spec
ulative man: he did not turn his thoughts to
ideas. He had no tendency to science; did not
look for causes, modes of operation, general
laws-only for facts. He was concerned with
measures, not with principles. He had not
much imagination, that poetic power which
rests in ideal beauty for its ends. There was
little of the ideal element in him. He took no
notice of the handsome things in nature, art or
Mr.. Parker observes that he wrote a great
deal, though most of his great state papers were
written by others. His style is conventional,
tame and dull" 1t is "pIain, business.like,
without fancy or figure of speech, or even Of
wrath. 1t is not grass that you pick up by hand
fuls growing in the fields, but hay which you
pull down from the NOW in the barn, ready for
use'' ->l-. --- '-=--
He had not much imagination. He had a
great understanding, and uncommon common
sense; that admirable balance Of faculties which
we call good Judgment power OF seeing the
most expedient way of doing what must be
done; quality find more rare than what we
call genius. Yet his understanding was not of
wide range, but limited to few principles that
pertain to practical affairs. Although thus
gifted, he was not great originator. I think
he invented nothing, discovered nothing-in
| politics, war or agriculture. He was a soldier
sixteen years. l do not find that he advanced
anything new in military affairs. He sat in the
Virginia Assembly of Burghesses, in the Con-
tinental Congress, and in the Convention to
frame the Constitution /; but do not find that
\ he brought forward any new idea, or even pro-
posed new measure He was eight years
| President and left behind him no more marks
of originating inventive talent. -
He had a mastery talent for laying his hands
on great men and setting them to do their prop
er work, and of knowing when it was well done.
He did not invent, but found out who could in
vent, and knew when be discovered the right
thing. His great talent was that of Admins
tration. He had that rare combination of judg-
ment, capacity and courage which made him
able to manage all things well. He was fond
of details; no little thing was too minute for his
delicate eye. .---. -.--..4
Of his character as a military man, Mr.
Parker says: r-r-r..
He was not brilliant commander. He never
fought brilliant campaign, and only one bril-
liant battle-that of Trenton. But do not
think that Alexander or Cesar. that Napoleon,
or even Hannibal had more administrative skill,
save only in this-he lacked the power of max
ing rapid concentrations upon the field Of bat
tie. He must think It all over, draw It on pa
per, and plan his movements, and flx the places
for his troops. Hence he was successful only
in attacks, and not equally able when the assault
was made on him. He had far.sighted judg-
ment; in much time he prepared and wrought
for much time, He had military talent, not
genius for war.
But, says Mr.. Parker:
But the superiority of Washington was not
in intellect. He was always surrounded by
men who were greatly his superior in mental
force. His excellence was moral He had that
admirable balance Of the moral powers which
is to virtue what good sense is to intellect
One OF the most cautious of men, he was not
morally enthusiastic or transcendental. There
was no "mOonshine" in his moral more than
his military character His virtue was not
TOO fair and good
For human natures daily food"
In speaking of WashihgtOn's faults, the Leo
turer remarked
| be hsd great power Of wrath. Inheriting
the high, quick temper of his mother, in youth
he was sudden and quick in QUARREL - in mid