The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-03-02

the hearts of his countrymcn," and to his
memory mot that twill be made more
glorious thereby let me add few words
and Gull few thoughts, as a token of our
fidelity of the man the purity of whose
character and whose unselfish patriot
ism and devotion to pure Democratic
principles entitle him to be the climax
of Americas boast.
1t is but an oft repeated thought when
1 say that each student of history, nay,
each school-boy, knows that every nation
and every age claims its hero. The
monuments of Egyptian glory looking
down in sullen pride from forgotten CEN
turies, while the dust of their crumbling
heights mingle with the sands of the des-
ert as the wild and furious simeon heaps
it around their base, may awake the
memory of her proud Pharaohs. The
Tun,ulus of a Narration, or the celebrated
pass of Thermopylae, may call to mind a
Miltiatles and Leonidas, the vanished
glory of Greece. Rome, once the proud
mistress of the world, may make spas
modic wall for the stern patriotism of a
Brutus or for the virtues of her Cincin-
natus. Boastful England's Lion may
reyerherate to earth's remotest corners
the chivalry of the Duke of Marlborough
or the deeds of her Wellington. Volup-
tuous France may rise in all her fiery
spleen and martial pride to disclose the
meteor-like flash Of Napoleon's genius,
but all these must do homage to the Sir-
tues of Americas chieftain. Like the
midday sun at whose glory and bright
ness moon, stars and nebule sink back
into the shades of night, so the names of
earth's heroes disappear when the charac-
ter of Washington rises in its meridian
grandeur.
But 1 will not monopolize your time
in speaking of him as boy, whom the
gods had especially favored with uncom-
mon precocity; nor will 1 march with
him in imagination through summers
heat or over frozen SHOWS now with an
army hopelessly dismayed; now defeated,
yet unconquered; now routing an enemy,
and in turn being routed rallying again
until finally triumphal success crowns
the victor's brow. And then as Presi-
dent of the first Congress, with its mex
perience and whimsical prejudices, be-
sides clamorous dissatisfactions, arising
throughout the length and breadth of our
country; for it seems this would be SUI
pererogation on my part, and therefore 1
Shall direct your attention more particu-
larly to the consummation of some of his
great deeds suggested by immortal prin-
ciple. In the gloomy days of American
history, when the souls of men were tried
when every heart was almost ready to
give up in despair; when furious storms
Of passion gathered thick and FAST and
muttering thunders of discord shook the
very foundations of our political fabric,
then the eyes of the nation turned to the
Father of his Country, who, with bold
heart, an eyo quick to perceive, an arm
stronger than triple steel, with a heaven
born will that would dare execute, he
seized the helm Of the ship of State, and
safely, amid the breakers and quicksands
and whirlpools of passion and discord,
which threatened to engulph on every
hand, stccred her into the port of peace.
An eminent writer has said, Gas war
rior he may be surpassed, but as a COM
plete man he is without a parellel.
Equal to any crisis, successful in all he
undertakes, superior to temptation, faith
full in every trial and without spot on
his name, the history of the race cannot
match him. Calm and strong in council,
untiring in effort, wise in policy, terrible
as storm in battle, unconquered in de-
. feat and incorruptible in virtue, he rises
in moral grandeur so far above the Alex
anders and Caesars and Napoleons of the
world that even comparisons seems injus-
tice." Now, suppose all the demagogues,
intriguers, corruptionists, carpet-baggers
and scalawags in this age of politics,
were to pause in their downward course
and contemplate this grand symmetrical
character, would not their unheroic blood
, mount to their cheeks in shame and con-
fusion? Is it hardly .presumable that
the conscience Of "bloody shirt" Morton
is so scared that he could not blush were
the patriotism and virtues of Washington
mentioned as rebuke to his vileness
And the ungenerous Blaine! would he
not march by the cold marble statnte OF
the old hero and arch-rebel with down
cast eyes while seeking qualified amnes-
ty? Is not the name of Washington one
of the grandest and most eloquent re-
Dukes to Ulysses S. Grant that ever NOR
tai shall face in politics, and yet he is SC
lost to all modesty and virtue he dares
} face it. Let me draw brief parellel be.
tween the two. Washington was clothed
with the attributes of unassumed modes
ty. Grant is so immodest and so puffed
up with crooked whisky, insolence and
pride he had the check to inform the
world that it was q sacrifice, (?) nay, a
condesccnsion, ~ for him to be Presi-
dent, thereby insulting tho whole Ameri-
! can people. But iuasmuch as he is the
sine aua non, forsooth he will be Prcsi-
dent But how strikingly different is the
. character of the other as it stands out In
bold relief. The purity of his life, pub,
, lie or private, presided over by the guar
dian genius of heavens greatest blessing
to man-a pure woman-is so entirely
consistent with the man that it stands
living rebuke to unscrupulous politicians
, Always regarded just, sincere and faith
full; never misleading nor allowing him
self to be lnisled or overawed by the
caprice or treachery of others; never suf'
fering himself to be deluded, betrayed Oh
, impetuously hurried away by his OWL
prejudices, fears or weaknesses, or by the
,, subtle fattcries or seductive arts Of
others never disheartcned, but graphing
with and surmounting each difficulty
, rising to oppose never! bestowing al
the fat offices, or having them created tc
, bestow, upon poor beggarly relations Of
whining pets never accepting mol
courting gifts Of bull-pups and fast horses
} to create sensation at public watering
places; never! rolling in case and luxu,
ry heaped up from misappropriatlons o.
public money; never! Wanting to don :
regal crown when offered, and even hac
it in his grasp, still less stoop to be mill
tary dictator to carry party elections
never! wanting to hold over as Presi
dent. whether the American people