Daily national Republican., 1863-02-23
Our Outside To-day
Contains interesting reading matter, including
tslsgraphie dispatches.
THE BIRTHDAY OF WARRINGTON.

THE BIRTHDAY OF WARRINGTON.
One hundred and thirty years ago, yester-
day, George Washington was born. In conse-
qusucs Of the anniversary occurring on Sun
day, the celebration will be divided this year
between three days. In many sections It
was observed on Saturday, especially by the
Press. Yesterdayt was generally commemo-
rated by the religious community, from the
Pulpit. To-day 1t will be made the subject for
general holiday In the great commercial
cities, On Change" in the Mart, and In the
world Of Politics. In New York city we OBJ
serve that the Common Council will have q
dinner the Republican Central Committee, a
supper the Light Guard, a ball. the United
Americans, a sermon; the military will parade,
and various other organizations will celebrate
the day, each in It's own way.
The Produce Exchange have voted that they
will not transact business to-day, and other
commercial bodies In the great commercial en-
porium will do the same thing. In Boston and
Philadelphia similar demonstrations will be
made in honor Of the birth OF George Washing
ton.
upon the MAN and the DAY in a manner that
win afford higher satisfaction to our readers,
do more ample justice to the subject and our
own feelings, than by quoting the memorable
words Of WEBSTER on "The Birthday Of Wash
Hgton -
" Tho name Of Washington Is intimately
blended with whatever belongs most essentially
70 the prosperity, the liberty, the free instltu-
HNFH n o. Of
name was Of power to rally nation, In the
hour of lhick-thronglng public disasters and
lGlAmlttes; that name shone, amid the storm of
war, a beacon light, to cheer and suide the
cOuniry's friends; It famed, too, like a meteor,
t0 ropci her foes. That name, in the days Of
peace, was a loadstone, attracting to itself
whole peoples confidence, q whole peoples
love, and the whole worlds respect; that name,
descending with all time, spreading over the
whole earth, and uttered IN oil the languages
helonging TO the tribes and races Of men, will
forever be pronounced with adectionRte graft
Jude by every one in whose breast there shall
arise an aspiration for human rights and human
liberty.
AL experience evinces that human sentiments
are strongly Influenced by associations. The
recurrence Of anniversaries, or Of longer periods
oftime, naturally freshens the recollection and
dseDens The impression of events with which
they arc Historically connected. Renowned
places, also, have power to awaken feeling
which all acknowledge. No American can pass
the fields Of Bunker Hill, Monmouth. or
Camden, as If they were ordinary spots on the
earth's surface. Whoever visit them feels the
'enliment Of love Of country kindllng anew, az
II the spirit that belonged TO the transactions
which have rendered these places distinguished
I'll hovcred round, with power to move and
excite all who in future time may approach
them.
Uug neither ofthese sources OF emotion equals
Co. power with which great moral examples
1anr' the mind. When sublime virtues cease
'H h" distractions, when they become embodied
% human character and eXemplihed In human
conduct, we should be false to our own nature
O. we did not indulge in the spontaneous rtIu-
".Ona Of our gratitude and our admiration, A
iN" lover of the virtue Of patriotism delights
o. contemplate lis pUrest models; and that love
country may be well suspected which affects
- soar Fo high into the regions of sentiment as
- hr lost and absorbed In the abstract feeling
Jld becomes too elevated or too refined 10 glow
"sa lrr'Or IN the COmmcndatiOn or the love of
individual heQeiaCtO,s. All this is unnatural.
a Is as If one shOnld be so enthusiastic lover
Of poetry as to care nothing for Homer or MIL
I0ui so pasRiOnatelv attached TO eloquence as
n be indifferent to TUlly aud Chatham; or such
d devoiee to the arts in such an eCstacy with
the clements ot hesuty, proportion, and express
s1on, as 10 regard the masterpieces of Raphael
and Michael Angelo with GOODNESS or rontcmpt
We may he assured, gentlemen that he who
really loves the thing itself loves lis finest ey-
hibtlons. 4 true friend Of hs country loves
her friends and henelactors, and thinks il no
degradation 70 commend and commemorate
Them, The voluntary OutpourlDg of the public
feeling made to-day, from the North 10 the
south and from the East TO the West proves
'...s scnImcnttO be both just and natural. In
me cites and IN the villages, in the public tenn
pies and in the family circles, among all ages
and sexes, gladdened voices to-day bespeak
grateful hearts and freshened recollectl n Of
tne virtues of the Father of his Country. And
II Will he so, In all time TO come, so long as
public virtue is itself an object Of regard. The
Ingenious youth Of America will hold up 10
'lem elves tho bright model of Washington's
ellmplc, and study 10 he what thev behold:
they will contemplate his character, ill all ltS
virtues Bpreld out and display themselves 10
'EeIr delighted vision; as the earliest astrono-
mers, tue shepherds on the plains Of Babylon,
Eaze1 at the stars till they saw them form into
clusters aud consultations, overpowerlug at
leugtL the eyes Of the beholders with the united
blaze Of thousand lights"