New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-22

SATISFACTORILY W iildJ great IuVpoitI'h VI INV ~
hgious public that is anxious only for the
truth than anything would he which the Coun-
Gil could possibly accomplish in its brief ses-
SION Meanwhile Mr. Bcechers challenges to
heaven, earth, and the other place, to bring
forth evidence against him, have called out Il
letter from Francis ID. M0ultoD. Mr. Bowen
has also written Il letter to the Council. Fur
thermOre. there is the sheaf of anonymous let
tiers which Dr. Bacon has received and read
for the Councils odiication. All the com
mittecs Of the Council have reported favorably
to plymouth Church, but final action has only
been taken Oh one report.
SOME THOUGHTS FOR TIE TUENTI-SECOAD
The world has OutgrOwn its habit of apothc-
osis, and no longer loves to make dcmi-gods
of It's heroes and benefactors; or perhaps ii
would be better to say that its gratitude. af-
lection. and even its reverence, have assumed
a more rational expression and familiarity
which breeds no contempt. Ihc Piutarch oi
the new age 10 longer loses himself III the
misty maze of morning tradition. nor, having
to write of modern Caesar or PeIiclcS, does
he begin by writing Of some Thcscus or NuIna.
Our practical British or American history even.
begins with William the COnqucror; and much
as he is admired no miracles are related
of Alfred the Great. 1t is fortunate foi
us, considering the utilitarian phases OF
thought and action to which We have
accommodated ourselves, that in Wash
ington homcbred simplicity of character
and much more than the usual mOdcum OF
common sense, constantly keep down any
4o,do o,, to oric a,-fravoOonco in au estimate
of the man, while at the same time the large
ness of his nature is never concealed hy m'
outward hablimcnts and surroundings. Too
great for familiarity, he was not too great for
the nations love; and those who describe the
dignity of his demcanOr do moi forget TO men
ton the sweetness of his smile. He was by
nature and education stately in his manners,
but every soldier in his ragged regiments
knew how gracefully he could unbcnd. His
was tho true courtesy which lends a charm to
superiority Of station by only seeming to
forget it, In matters Of etiquette no man
could he more punctilious; yet when his
master of ceremonies so arranged the iIeSi'
dents receptions as to throw about him some
thing of the divinity which doth hedge a
king, Washington. not a Little vexcd, forbade
n repetili9n Of details borrowed from royal
drawing-roomS while, nevertheless, lc Is said
TO have almost paIalyzed by a look some III
bred person who for a wager l,miliarly touched
him on his shoulder. No public character Of
his time, hardly of any other, ever and always
so carried into his public hic the private vir-
tues which keep the world sweet and possible
to he lived in.
OF almost every vice he was incapable. lie
could not have told an uniruth to save the
cause which he had so much at heart. He
was scrupulOus TO a faltIing III his money
dealings with the Congress. His natural
temper was exceedingly warm, but he had so
schooled himself that any exhibition OF IL was
rare indeed, and argued strong prOvOcation.
lie had nothing of the Nirsinian habit Of
carclcssncss in his private affairs his hoSpl-
tality was great, but hospitality never plunged
him into insolvency, as il did Jefferson. IL Is
easy and pleasant 10 imagine what his HE
would have been if the cxigcncy OF Virginia
and then Of all the colonies had not sum
mOned him from retirement. high-minded
and intelligent country gentleman, strict yet
kind-hcarted and emincntly just master, an
oblieing nd sociablc neighbor, and a sensible,
useful magistrate, the business OF his days
would have been the administration OF his
nlantatiop. and the events Of his life the Vicis-
strdcs of crops. At his birth this seemed to
he the career in store for him. The peril OF
the colony summoned him first into military
service and prOyidentaly trained him for Il
soldier in the school of martial adversitlcs.
lie had known the bitterness OF defeat; he
had experienced the perils which compel IL
commander to decide instantly and to act
cnergetcaIly; ne had learned the art OF hus-
banding limited resources, and he knew pre-
cisely Of what the American militaman was
capable. He brought the strategy OF surprise,
which was so brilliantly exhibited at Trenton,
from old Indian wars in which he sometimes
conquered and sometimes was beaten.
There was 10 department OF IN army
and no variety of operations offensive
or defensive with which hc had not had some
practical familiarity, from the conduct of n
sege and the ordering OF line of battle
down to The minutie OF suffers and tire trans
actions Of Commissaues The wisdom OF his
selection as commander Of the colonial forces
impresses MS more fOrcibly than almost any
incident Of the Revolution. IL would have
been easy 10 make mistake. There was no
lack in New England and Ncwi Ork OF dis
tnguished military men trained III the french
and Indian wars, of maturcr age and OF larger
experience, and unquestionabIy the selection of
Washington occa.icned not little local ieal-
ousy, which never entirely disappeared, how
ever the result may have amply justified
the decision of Congress More than
the greatness something of the gOodness-oi
Wa,hington's character is demonstrated by the
eqranimity with which he encountered the
miserable intrigues which forever disnaced 10
many OF hs own officers during the progress