The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-16
Essf; THREE.

We read that Moses, the chosen and ac-
ceptcd leader of an oppressed and strug-
Cling people, was taken to the top of
Pisgah, afforded view of the promised
land, thereby receiving the assurance that
his life's work was happily accomplished,
and was then, all being well with his
people, called home. Such. in the prov-
dence of God, has been the fortune of three
of our American leaders and statesmen.
Washington, after leading the armies of the
colonies successfully through the war for
independence having aided in forming our
frame of organic law, and, rs chief ex-
ecutive, given his great powers to the
establishment of the government thereun-
der, gave up his life just as the new nation
was Starting out upon career of uneX-
ampled growth, power and prosperity.
Abraham Lincoln, almost unknown, was
called to the helm in troublesome times.
To him, it was given to organize armies,
to provide navies and evoke the real slnews
of war-moncY-on scale, hitherto I'M
dreamed of in modern times. To him was
committed the momentous issue of the life
or death Of the nation and the freedom of
whole race. He lived only long enough to
see nation saved and all residents on
American soil free, without being permitted
to behold the results of his labors. Charles
Sumner passed his life in cndeavors to up
lift the down-trodden, nationalize freedom,
to enfranchise the slave and see them in
the enjoyment of the same rights, under
the constitution, that are enjoyed by those
of US whom God has endowed with a
lighter skin. He lived to see that day, but
died before the complete fruition thereof.
In this similarity between the lives and
deaths of three eminent American citizens,
there is something for every true American
to learn and treasure up, especially when
he considers the means used-or, rather,
not used-for the accomplishment of their
great purposes. we doubt, if in our whole
history, three other men can be found who
labored so long in their country's service,
who so successfully accomplished the work
to which they had set themselves, and who.
in the end, received the universal plaudits
Of their countrymen. Nor can others be
found dying in the course of an unfinished
public lfe-for Washington, in one sense,
may have been said to have been then in
public life, having recently accepted the
position Of commander-in-chief of our
army in view of a war with France, one of
the most embittered political strifes in
ouf hlstory-whosc loss caused such uni
versal and sincere grief and mourning
There is reason for this Success alone
could not win these plaudts, or cause such
sincere mourning. Other men have been
successful. Other great events have occur
red in our history, upon the success of
which depended the veal OF woe, the pros
perlty or adversely of the country. Great
men have wrought for their success and
their labors have been to the great adyan-
tage of the country. Their fame. however.
has been temporary, and their deaths have
had but local effect We might, in this
connection refer to Webster as an instance.
lie had worked long and faithfully for his
country, and there were times when his
services would have been indispensable.
We all, however, recall the mournful oc-
casion of his death, and how little It affect
cd the great popular heart. He stands not
alone. The lives and deaths of the major
ity OF our statesmen were like his. Why
then were Washington and Lincoln, and
Sumner so universally, 80 deeply, and so
sincerely mourned? The answer is simple,
and would that every American pay heed
thereto, lay it to heart, and be governed
thereby. They were true to principle.
Their every step and action was governed
thereby. They loved their country with
too pure devotion to believe that her in
terests could be subserved by unworthy
motives and actions. They had faith in
theintelIgence of the people, and addressed
their arguments to their understanding and