Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-28
ToR rnx STAR q CHRONICLE.
w A S III I N G Il Q n

by IopRIao of New Berlin.
1t has been q standing reproach agains'
Republics, that they are ungratefnl. "Ar
istides the just" was without good cause
banished from his country. Socrates wa:
condemned to death by those his life had
blessed. Cicero, the watchfulan eloquent
defender of his own land, received for hi
reward an almost public assassination
Who was more deserving of election to the
Presidency of this Union, than Henry
Clay? Yet be was defeated, because the
people suffered themselves to be deluded
BY the Misrepresentation circulated against
him by envious opponents. Wherever We
look, We see men holding positions Of emol-
ument aud influence, from which better
men have been debarred.
However true this maxim may be as a
general rule, the admirers of WASHINGTON
can not complain Of indifference or hostil-
ity to his just merits. Hcnors after honors
we're bestowed upon him during his life /;
a nation wept over bis lifeless form; and
his memory is immortal. Every State has
its Washington county, villages, or town
ships; an immense Territory bears his
name the City of Washington is our Ma
tional Capital; We have our Fort Wash
ington; Mount Washington towers up in
majesty; bodies Of water are linked with bis
fame and there are iunumerable Wash
ington parks, boats, streets, buildings.
engines, patent rights, statues, and other
specimens of the fine arts. The majestic
Mouumentto Washington, at Washington,
is in progress, yet to be matured in plan
and finished. The Mount Vernon AssOci-
alton is projected aud carried bravely for
ward for the sole purpose Of preserving
aud beautifying the estate where rest the
mortal remains Of Washington. Andthus
swells the catalogue Of memorials designed
to perpetuate his glory. If Washington
is not sufficiently appreciated BY his coun
try and by the world, there cau be no
greater incentive to an honorable and active
public life.
And this enthusiastic admiration
amounting at times almost to improper
productive Of good. 1t
arises from respect and love Of the moral
greatness in an illustrious character. 1t
is true, Washington was man, much like
other men, and had blemishes of character,
as every hero bas. Yet few if any men Of
his easy and happy condition in life-his
wealth and hnms comforts-vould have
been willing to undertake to lead an ill-fed,
unpaid, half-disciplined army of "rebels,"
against the well-marshalled hosts of Bri.
for seven long years the
trials and dangers incident to his hazard
Gus position-and,w when victory bad crown-
ed his efforts, resist the crown offered BY
the army which had conquered Indepeu-
deuce. Cesar, it is true, thrice refused
the crown thrice offered to him BY bis
crafty friends on the Supercal, but his was
q sham refusal, while Washington's was
by earnest and conscientious
motives.
These characteristics impart peculiar
glory to bis history. These are the rea-
sons why his natal morn-the 22d Of Feb
ruary-brings with it rejoicings, orations,
bon6res, illuminations, the cannon's roar,
and popular shouts and applause, instead
Of silence and forgetfulness. or efhgies
and execrations. And though his ashes
moulder in bis own quiet tomb BY the
Potomac, yet be speaks to his native land,
and especially to the youthful throng who
must soon measurably control its destinies.
His is q noble example of consistency,
energy, and iutegrity-of sincere, disiu-
.erested, unAiuching, steadfast, unspottcd
if that example shall be
better initiated by the rising generation,
he world will certainly have reason to
hank God for OUR WASHINGTON.
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