Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-30

The Peroration Of George william
Nurtiss Evacuation Day Address,

Tho PerOration OF George Win,
Nurtiss Evacuation Day Address.
| The task upon which Washington entere
here was infinitely greater than that which
he undertook, when, II years before, h
drew his sword under the elm a. Cambridg,
as commander in-chief Of tn; continents
army. To lead a people in revolution wise
" and successfully, wirhpu, amb,i N and
without \ crime, dcm ,nis, IN ICED, lofty genius
and unbendins vi,tue. Bat to bu,ld their
State, amid the angry counict Of passion and
prejudice, and unreasonable apprehension
The incrdlty OF many, AMI the grave doubt
OF all, to organize for them aud peacefully I'll
inaugura,e complete md sali factory gov
ernmcnt, is the greatest s"rvce that
man can render 10 mankind But this,
also, IS the glory OF Washington. The
power Of his personal character, his
penctra'ing foresight, AMI the wisdom Of his
judgment, 10 composing the. myriad elements
that threat ned to overwhclm the mighty
und, rtaking, arc unparalleled. "Nolhipg
but harmony, honesty, Industry and frugali-
ty, lie suidto Lafayette, ''are necessary to
make u' a great and happy people" Blu,
&c was no, man of phrases nor did he sup
pose that government could b. established or
maintainod by lofty professions of virtue.
No mans perception 81 tic iudlsptnsability
OF great principles to the successful conduct
| OF great affairs was ever more uncouded than
his, but no man had ever learned by more
| prolonged or arduous experience that infinite
patience, sagacity, forbearancc and wise
| concession must attend inlexiGlc principle,
| IL great affairs are to be greatly administer
ed. His conntrymen arc charged with fond
idola,ry Of his memory, aud his greatness Is
| pleasantly deprecated as Hydrologic exag-
| geration. But no church ever canouized
| saint moro wcrthly than he is canonlzcd by
the national affection, and TO no ancient
hero, benefactor or law giver, were divine
honors so justly decreed n. to Washington
the homage of the world.
With the sure sagacity Of a leader of men,
he selected at once, for tie highest and most
responsible stations, the three chief Amcri-
| cans who represented the three forces in The
Nation which alone could command success /
| in the institution Of the government. Ham
| ilton was the head, Jefferson was the heart,
and John Jay was the conscience. WASH
| ington's just and serene ascendency was the
| lambert flame in which these benchcent pow
| ers were fused and nothing les, than that
ascendeEcy could have ridden the whirl-
| wind and directed the storm that burst around
him. Party spirit blazei into fury.
John Jay was hung in eiiigY. Hamilton
| was stoned. resurrection raised its
head in the west. Washington himself
was denounced and suddenly the French
revolution, the ghastly spectre rising from
| delirium and despair, the avenging fury Of
| intolerable oppression at once hopeful aud
heart.rendinr, seized modern civilization,
shook Europe TO the ceuter, divided ~
sympathy of Americl, and. as The child
liberty, appealed TO Washington. But I
great soul amidst battle and defeat and Ion
retreat. and the sinking heart Of peopley
undismsyed, was not appalled, by the con-
vu,jon Of the world. Amidst the uprosr
Of Chrslendom he knew liberty too well to
be deludeG by its mad pretense Without a
beacon, without chart, but with un-
wavcrng eye aud steady hand, he guided
his country safe through darkness and
| through Storm In the angry shock OF
domestic piltes, There is but char
acrer when keeps them in awe" wrote
| Ednun! Randolph "ine fOuDda' IONS ~ The
~ raj "Orli," sad a wise teacher il Oxford
UNIVERSITY, hi iding snung En snm -, mark
til" mttchtss man, 'lhr foundation pf tina
moral world We're shaken, but not the UNDER
sta ding Ut Wash nLtOI" He he'd his stead
fast way. Ike the sun scriss he flrmament
giving ME. and. health. ami strength, to the
new nation; aud upon searching survey of
his administration. which established The
fundamental principles If American policy
in every department, there is NJ great act
which his country W uld annu', no word
or oxen, no line written, M deed done by
him, which Justice would reverse or wisdom
deplure.
Fellow citizens, the so'emn dedication OF
Washington to this august and triumphant
task is the event which this statue will COM
memorate to unborn generations. Else
where, in bronze AMI marble, and upon glow
ing canvas genius has delighted TO invest
with the immortality of art the best beloved
and most familiar of American figures. Tho
engineer of the Virginia wilderness, the lead
er OF the revolution, the president, the man,
are known to all men; they are everywhere
bcheld and revered. But here, at las, upon the
scene OF the browning event of his life,
and of his countr,'s lifc-here, in the throhbing
heart of the great city, where it will be daily
seen by countless thousands, here in the
presence of the President of the United
States, of the governor Of New York, OF
tine official authorities Of other States, OF tho
organized b dy of New York merchants.
who, as in other years, they have led the city
IN 80 many patriotic deeds upon this
spot, lead now in this commemoration
OF the greatest, and finally, Of this vast aud
approving concourse of American citizens,
we raise this calm and admonishing form.
lis majestic repose shall charm and subduo
the mutitudnous life that heaves aad muir
murs around it, and as the moon draws the
swaying tides Of ocean, its lofty serenity
shall lift the hurryiug crowd to unseldsh
thoughts, to generous patriotism to nobler
life. Here descended upon our fathers the
bcncdiction of the personal presence OF
Washington. Here may the moral grandeur
| of his character ard his life !nspire our
childrcn's children forever,
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