The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-27

! Mount Vernon, and from that Sc
cluded retreat heard, with modest
surprise, the first faint shouts OF that
fame which has since filled the world.
But time does not permit. The sub
jrct is too vast for this occasion.
Neither shall | attempt to analSse
the character of Washington. That
has often been done by those
much more competent to the task
than the humble person who stands
before you to-day. Characters which
are imperfect, d%i<i"inted, or une-
quail, and for that very reason
remarkable for striking points and
ccceutricitleS, are easily Skctcltd
and made to stand out Enthusiastically
upon the living canvass. But the task
is not so easy where there is no upper
lection. no irrcSuIarity, no conflict of
contradictions, but where all the quail
tiles of head and heart are so we'll
blended and in such perfect unison ms
to make II grand symmetrical whole.
This very simplicity and completeness
this perfect cquipoise which with
the vulgar and superficial might pass
for mediocrity-did i'm fact constitute
the true greatness of Washington, and
gave him that graceful dignity and
power of command which made him
the peer of any man that ever lived.
He had strong passions. but no PREF IT,
diceS. He was popular, but he sccrli-
ed the character of u demagogue. lie
was not ba>ty in counsel. but was firm
and unwarcring in action. lie was
not extreme in his views, but mOder-
ate, considerable, and essentially con-
sentative. He was a patriot, tried in
the furnace seven times heated. He
loved his country ardently, but it Was
the whole country; aud much of his
life was spent during the war and af-
:, forwards in soothing local, party, ana
sectional pre- JUDGES and animositics.
1t would be vain to attempt u palleg-
vric upon Washington ; it would DC
like the wasteful and ridiculous excess
of gliding refined gold or painting the
lily. Assuredly the measure of his
glory is full. l shall not venture upon
the subject, but with Difference and
pride adopt the splendid and discrim-
mating eulogium passed upon him by
Il distinguished statesman of that coun-
try against which he successfully di-
rected the great work of his life. with
;as much generosity lis truth and elo-
uuencc, Lord John Russell says:
"George Washington, without hegcn-
ius of Julius Caesar or Napoleon Bona
parte, has q far purer fame, as his am
bition was OF q higher and llOlier na-
turc. Instead of seeking to raise his
own name or seize supreme power, he
devoted his whole talents, military
land civil, to the establishment of the
independence and the perpetuity of
the liberty Of his OWL country. In
modern history no man has done such
great things without the soil of selfish
ness, or the stain of a grovelling ambi-
ton. Caesar, Cromwell, Napoleon,
attained Il higher elevation, but the
love of dominion was the spur that
drove them on. John Hampden, Will
liam Russell, A%lgcrnon Sydney, may
have had motives as pure and III am
hition rs sustained but they fell. 10
/ George Washington alone, in modern
times. has it been given to accomplish
4 wonderful revolution and yet to re-
main to all future times the theme or
4 peoples gratitude and an example OF
virtuous and beneficent power"
Such and so great was our W WASH
ington who, vouclisafed to us at The
appointed time, fulfilled his mission
rs the libcrator of his country and,
that accomplished, in the last month
of the last year Of the expiring eight.
eenth century, which his life and
achievements had made memorable,
quietly sank to rest in the bosom of his
liberated country, with the appropriate
and eloquent though perhaps uncon-
scious comment on his 0wn career
upon his dying lips, and expressed in
! his last words, ut is WE'LL"
1.-THE CONTEST BETWEEN TIE STATES.
This great American festival fur
nishes a good halting-place in Il ca
reer,-a station, as it were, for rest and
reflection. 1t is al elevated stand
point from which we can survey tire
past and learn lessons Of wisdom, OH
slider the present with all its duties
and responsibilities, and consult the
o~racles, cast the horoscope, and as far
us it is permitted, read the stars about
our future destiny.
In takinga retrospect, the first mat
ter of Importance in the recent past
which irresistablv arrests u attention
is the great struggle between the
!, States with its consequences. We
can not fail to be impressed in contcm-
J plating Il conflict in which we were
!, deeply involved, which c%onvulsed the
continent, and will be remarkable in
all time for its severity, for the quail
ties it developed, and for it's momen
tous consequences. ] know OF no one
in history which caused greater sacri.
fees of blood and treasure, inflicted
more toll and suffering, or exhibited
more devotion to country, more fortl-
tude, endurance, and dazzling heroism.
1t was Il conflict between the country
men Of Washington. 1t is n recent
event, its memories yet green and ten-
der, and l approach its consideration
Isolemnly, certainly not in the spirit
of the partisan, nor with a desire to
stimulate or perpetuate animosltles
for that would he to abuse this holiday
which belongs to the whole country
and is dedicated to good feeling. This
day at least should be- free from the
bitterness of party spirit, which in
these latter times, like the harpics OF
Virgil, devours or befouls and be-
smcars everything it touches. My
object is precisely the contrary,-to i'll
woke in the name of Washington on
this his natal day the spirit of justice,
harmony, and peace.
THE CAUSES.
In all governments where the pco-
pie rule, and places of honor, trust,
and enlolument are elective, there
will he parties; and the violence with
which party contests are waged will
depend largely upon the nature and
importance OF the issues at stake.
From the formation of our govern
ment-even in the days Of Washing
ton-difierent views were taken in
different parts Of the country rs to the
proper construction of the Constitu-
ton, and of the rights of the States.
This difference was intensified at the
South by the fact that the peculiar in
stitution of African slavery existed
here, and not in other sections. 1t
was here without any agency of ours.
1t had descended to us, and had be-
come so dove-tniled and interviewer
with the very fabric of our society that
it could not be abolished without CHI
failing enormous losses, and rroCuc-
ing social and political chaos. This
conflict of opinion, of vital interest 10
the South, famed by constantly recur-