The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-05
george s. Iriilard on washington.

George 8. Hillard, the accomplished scnCiar ~nu
conservative, heightened politician. spoke as foi-
lows OF banquet in Boston on the 22d ult., CON-
memorative Of washinston's birthday;
Mr.. HiIlsrd said 1t would be surprising II be dld
not feel Somewhat oppressed with sense OF the
magnitude of the task laid upon him. He was re-
minded Of an anecdote which had come Gown
from antiquity, that when II was proposed 20
pronounce eulogy upon Hercuies, opar.An
observed: "Whoever said anything against ner
eulesg, TApplause.1 Washington in his NE |
time had enemies and detractors. but who since
his death has named him but to praise! what
American is ignorant OF his life, hia deeds, ms
transcendant services, his inesuma0le virtues |
The speaker could not be expected to say any
thing now, and yet it might not be without prom
10 dwell upon what was old and familiar. VI All
men that ever lived in the field OF action, WASP.
ipQton's fame il the parest. He was the greatest
among good men, aud the beat among great men,
TAppisnse.l BE is OF all men that ever lived, the
one that rendered the most important services
TO the greatest number OF men and whose image
is sustained in the greatest number OF hearts
And vet in estimating his powers and faculties
which did 30 much, we are struck Win me iAct
that Washington was deficient 10 many OF tncse
faculties which usually win fame and admiration.
He had no wit or humor, no imagination or fancy,
no eloouence.- His style is simple, manly aad
direct but has 10 particular grace or power. he
Was not learned man, but bis attainments were
of the most moderate kind. He was not scholar
or q speaker. he never IL his lie SAID Drilhant
thing nay, more, be was not man Of what IL
called ideas. He dWeIt contentedly In the
present. he had not the power OF coming his ex-
perience into truth. We look 10 his writings IN
vain for any OF those profound, pregnant, ger
mibating remarks on government, politics and hn-
mainly found In the wutings OF Burke, who was
born inst two years before him, and died two years
before him. Turning to the positive side, What
was there remarkable about washington. IL Is
not so much the possession Of or two faculties
as In the exquisite combination and balance of
various faculties which worked harmonionsly
toward common end. His most remark
able intellectual strength was an unerring
good sense, refined by experience into the
most consummate wisdom, and connected with
this was bis inevitable knowledge OF men. He
never made mistake in the selection OF an on
Ger or subordinate. The delicate moral instinct
OF Washington detected the presence OF moral
evil Locking at his qualities of temperament his
remarkable trait was his coustancy or purpose.
He never was elated by success, he never was
depressed by adversely. In the darkest period OF
the revolution, be always maintained serene
front always kept up the spirits OF himself and
his friends. Another quality he had OF the utmost
importance In the government OF men The K1ft OF
raiience. He bore himself always with The most
| infexible self-command, always saying and al
WAYS doing Just the right thing. But after all, the
great thing that distinguished him above al other
| men was, that he was from the beginning TO the
| end of his days, the servant OF duty. Dlty and
law were the two things that solve the enigma OF
! his life. he had no seiishness. He had no law
| less ambition. Bonsparte, from beginning to
end, vss thoroughly selfish. His heart was
| as hard and cold as a canon ball bat
| Of self sacrifice and Of self devotion.
Another thing significant 10 times like these
| Washington was prominently gentleman. LOOK
| at everything about hiu-the decorum, the pro-
nrietv. The dne sense of decency, the abstinence
| from scurrous language underprovocaiion. Look
at the dsily beauty Of his life. Another point 10
| Washington's characterize was wholly free from
| fsnaticism. (Cheers.) Do not misunderstand me
| q .tf ar ffofcu IA
| the conduct of affairs. 1t 10 not ltisan impor-
tant agency In history. but its agency is like that
of eunpowder--it is excellent thing 10 destroy.
| If you have got an old institution that you want
| to blow TO Fragments il you have got to make
your way as Hannibal did through the rocks OF
the Alps, it is very powerful instrument, and OF
| great value in judcious hands. Bot fansticism 10
always destructive; il snever constructive. APP.
! plausel Fanaticism destroys what Is bad, but
It don't build up what IL good. e. That's SOD
That is the experience of the past. We are trying
! the experiment in our country to-day to see
| whether that experience IL sound or not, and We
shall soon find oet Now iooS ~ "ah masn, !,
ington did. Look at the simple dignity OF
bis character. Washington was not without GER
tain ambition. Theepeaker believed that he knew
in bis heart Of hearts just well IS anybody else
that he was best fitted for the Office of comman-
der.in-chief and yet had the lot fallen upon any
other man, no man would have served that other
man in unfortunate station with more loyalty TO
duty than Washington. One Of the most remark
| LDtSct
singular moral beauty Of his nature, was that a
man OF such capacity and energies IS the revolu.
ton showed him TO possess, lived from the age OF
twenty-seven TO forty -three, the most active and
turbulent part of mans life, the life OF simple
country gentleman on the banks Of the Potomac,
perfectly happy. perfectly contented, seeking
| but the daily discharge Of the simple duties OF a
magistrate. farmer, and . father Of family.
GApplause.] / have said that Wsshingtons fame
was the purest Of AL great men in history. An
other thing may be said or all great men be
was the most fortunate. How often in reading
the lives Of great and good men. are We filed
| with overwhelming sadness. LOOK at Hamden
dying on the field of battle in early manhood
Look at Sydney and Russell dying by the
hand Of the execuHoner. Look at Kos
ciusko, look OF the number Of the friend:
of liberty and friends Of truth that have died
broken-heerted and in exile. But to Washington
Was given double glory and double crown. AT
the head of an army he successfully brought to
close o long war, which resulted in the indepen
dencs Of his country. (Applsuse.) And more
After that Was done, he laid the foundations OF 8
civil poliiy, which has endured from that time Ill
| this. He Was one Of those c0ndltOres iDlperii
those builders of empire, OF whom Bacon s9yl
that they are entitled TO stand at the top OF tn
| list Of all men who have done service 10 mankind
And how fortunate he WAS 10 all the events o
his life. He lived long enough to survive all de
traction and calumny. He lived long enough I
he regarded with something like worship. TIL
eye that ssw him blessed him, the ear that hear
gift for him, and that was shown in the manner o
his death. He led him TO the borders Of oil
age, and then BY no fiery throobng pain
no cold ersdatOns OF decay, death broke q
once the vital chsiD, aud ct one bound releases
the soul. This was not 90 much death "a
trapslation passing at one bound from the duties
the sinful pleasures, the natural eDjoyments OF liz
10 a radiant immortality. IApplaase.l Mr.. Presi
dent and gentlemen, Is it not good for u to Lift o.
our thoughts in the stormy present and to lool
back upon that sugust and serene image? We ar
fallen upon grave times. The ship Of state
abOrrg in the trough OF the sea, but anxious a.
we may be about the present, troubled as we ma
be about the future, let not forget the pas
That which we have had can never be taken fror
us. Some Of You may have seen the sun at tn
close of day Of summer or autumn setti0g tran
gully over vide expAnse Of calm sea. You hsv
: seen that bright and gttering path Of glory tina
leads from your point 10 where the decliDin
luminary Is just sinking beloE The hesi1sa
Such an nncouded path OF light aud fplenic
Z was the history Of our country from 1883 {
1 le60-Geventy years Of peace with but two briG
=