Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-03-18

q
the most rational conjecture At the
end Of the nineteenth century if she
proceeds as she seems to promise, what
wondrous spectacle may she not eY-
hibt Who Shall say for what purpose
a mysterious Providence may not have
designed her? Who shall say that when
in It's folIies or its crimes, the old world
may have Inferred all the pride Of its
power, and all the pomp of its civiIiza-
ton, human nature may not fad its des
tined renovation in the new? For my
self, have not the least doubt of it.
have no doubt that when the temples and
the trophies Of The NEST powerful nations
Of Europe shall have mouldered into dust
when the elorics Of their names shah
be but The legend Of tradition, and the
light Of their achievements only live in
songs, philosophy will rise again in the
ky Of cur Franklin, and glory rekiudle
al the Urn Of our Washington Is this
the vision Of romantic fancy? Isiteyen
improbable? is j. half SO improbable as
the events which, within the last centu-
ry, have rolled like successive tides over
The surface OF the European world, each
erasing the Impressions that preceded it.
Thousands upon thousands, sirs, know
there are who will consider this SUPPOSE
ten rs wild and whimsical but they
have dwclt with little reflection upon the
records Of the past. They have but i'll
observed the never-ceasing progress Of
national rise and national ruin. They
form their opinion on thc deceitful sta
Utility Of the present hour, never consid-
oriug the innumerable monarchics and
rerublics in former DAYS. apparently as
palmancnf. their yorv existence become
now the subject Of sracalat,oa-I had
almost said Of sccp.ieism.
Iappeal to History Tlllmo. thou rev
erand chroniclcr of the grave. can all the
Illusions Of ambition realized can all
the wealth of an universal commerce
can all the achievements Of successful he
lroiem. or all the establishments of this
worlds wisdom. secure to any country
I The permancncy Of its possession? Alas
Irov thought So once. vet the land Of
priam lives onlyjn song. Thebos thought
so once. vet The hundred gates have
crumblol, and her very tombs are bat
80 the dust they were yaiuly intended to
: commemorate. So thought Palmyra-
where is she So thought Pcrsepols, and
where is she? So thought the coun-
.'f'es Of Dcmos,ae'es ana ~ spartan
YET Le'ni'as rs tFampled by the timId
Save, ana Athens lhsGlted ny the scrylle,
mindless, ana enoryate Ottoman. FIX
case me Tor TINS 81 gressIon, must direct
your attention again to Washington.
no people can clam, no country can
appropriate hlm me boon OF Providence
70 INC human race, ms tame Is eternity, and
BIS residence creation. Washington was
me oe'eat Oh the british armies and the
disgrace OF her policy | almost bless
me eahE uIs-on IN winch he had ms or
'sln. II the heavens thundered and the
ealtn rocked yet when the storm passed
now pure was the climate 1t cleared ;
how bright IN the brow OF the irmancnt
vas the planet winch 1t revealed to US.
In the production OF W Washington, it docs
really appear as u nature was cndeayor-
J ing 20 improve upon herself. and all the
= virtues OF the ancient world were but so
= many studies preparatory to the patriot
OF the new Individual instances, no
DOUBT there we're; splcndia exempli'i-
p cations OF some single qaaIIiieailon.--
= Caesar was mereltul, SclpIo was conti-
! ncnt, Hannibal was patient; but it was
Z reserved Tor washington to blend them
= all IN one; and ike the lovely chief
i works OF the Grcoian artist, to exhibit
9 IN one glow Of associated beauty, the
] pride OF every model and the perfection
OF every master AS general, he mar
, shaIlod the peasant into veteran, and
. supplied by discipline the 9bsence OF ez-
p perlencei as a statesman, he enlarged
! the policy OF the cabinet into the most
comprehensive system Of general advan-
8 tage; and such was tho wisdom Of bis
2 views, and the philosophy Of his .coun-
sells, that to the soldier and statesman he
J almost added the character Of the sage.
a conqueror, he was untaintcd with The
J crime Of blood; a rey0utiouist, he was
E free from any stain q treason, for 81
erosion commenced the contest and his
country called him to the command
Liberty unsheathcd his sword, necessity
= stained, and victory returned it.
? If he had paused here, history might
have doubted what station to assign him,
d whether at the head Of her citizens or
: her soldiers, her heroes or her patriots.
But the last glorious act crowns bis ca