The Portland daily press., 1883-10-23

WIG OchsoAulhI S6l5pIot Va VAC A4S
missal OF the Army of the Revolution at
Newburg. N. z, Oct. II, 1888.
From the Address of Senator Thomas F. Bayardl
How can the influence OF the example set by
washington and his associates be overrated in CIV
ing a tone OF unselAsh devotion and clean haHded
integrity IN public service? Do you remember his
words 10 Congress in his first address as President
of the United Statesq--
when was first honored with call into the
service OF my country, then ON the eve of an ar
duous struggle for its liberties the light in which
contemplated my duty required that / should re-
resolution have in no instance departed and be
ing still under the impression which nroduced it,
must decline as inappicable to myself any share in
the personal emoluments which may be indispensa-
by included in permanent provision for the execu
tive department, and must accordingly pray that
the pecuniary estimates of the station in which l
am placed may during my continuance In it be lin
tied to such actual expenditure as the public good
may be thought to require.
How high and clearly cut against the sky of his
tory rises the column of the personal character of
these patriot sires crowned with strict honesty and
clean handed integrity; not one of whom ever grew
rich in Office or attempted to fatten at the public
cost, but many of whom became poor by devoting
themselves to the advancement Of their country
Washngton's personal expenditures as commander
in-chef of the forces, filed by him at the close of
the war In the Department of State; marves of
honest precision and models in characterl Scan
closely the personal characters of the counselors
he selected for his cabinet The first, General Hen
~ Knox, Secretary of War; next Alexander Ham
iIton, Secretary of the Treasury; then, Edmund
Randolph Attorney General; and Thomas Jetfer
son Secretary of State; For the Supreme Court, he
selected John Jay, the chief Justice and Rut-
ledge, Wilson, Cushing, Blair and Iredel as associ
ate Justices; every is lusrous with virtue and
talants upon the character of none rests the slight
est cloud. Each of these upright and patriotic men
accepted the creed of Burke:
aty 81 true PGtes are those Of NOR
followed ratifying and approving his choice II
connseilors Such men are the proper deposi,orles
OF public power at all times and uuder any orm Of
government; and well is it for people When such
men occupy their highest stations.
BY such nominations Washingte.. was as putting IN
of III m e mao written on june
9Th. i783, from these Aeadquarters
to our Feders, government as will enable it to
answer tbs ends of its institution; or this may be
the iihfa5ed moment for relaxing the power of the
son and anninila'ins the cement OF the '0nfsder
And then he continues in such words of patriotic
counsel thatIyou must permit me to recall them and
ask you to engrave them on your memories:
'Four things essential to the well-being
and existence of the United States as an Indepen-
First, The indissoluble Union of the states under
one federal head
Third The adoption of proper peace establish
ment.
Fourth. The prevalence of that pacific and
friendly disposition among the people of the United
States which will induce them to forget their local
prejudces and politics, to make those mutual con
cessons which are requisite to the general prosperi
~, and in some instances, to sacrifice their admit
ted advantages for the interest of the community,
These are pillars on which that glorious fabric of
our independence and national character must be
supported. Liberty is the basis and whoever W ,uld
dare to sap the foundation overthrow the struc-
ture, under whatever specious pretext he may at
tempt 1t, will merit the bitterest execraton and SCI
verest punishment which can be inflicted by his in
1ured country
future, his patriotic eye discerned the essentials
upon which his country must rely for its safety and
progress. His counses wise and true then are
equally SO and as valuable to-oay and 1t is we'll for
us, in considering the safety and well being of the
vast superstructure of population, wealth. and va.
ried human interests which has been built upon the
foundation laid by .shington and his associai es
century ago, to remember from what materials its
strength derived and to what principles it owes
its permanence and must depend for its future
safety.
from the Grafton of Hon. William M. Evarts
The interest. the reverence that we feel as we re.
call those great transactions as we stand upon the
spot where they enacted, center upon Washing
tor. Great everywhere and at all times, the part
played upon this field was not less conspicuous NOR
complete in its greatness than any manifestation of
his fe Had these events closed his public service,
had he then forever retired from the great theatre
of action and renown, had he never filled out our
admiration and our gratitude by the eight years of
private life and the eight years of the chief mags
tracy which followed the surrender of his military
command-if his great presence in the franz
ing OF the constitution and in the guidance of the
nation by high craftsmanship and pure admiration
If all this had been wanting to the full splendor
OF his fame,f he stood to his countrymen in their
memory, as he stood upon this very spot 100 years
ago, his face would have shown to all this people
as did the face of oses to the children of Israel
when he delivered the tables of the law.
And now after 100 years of marvellous fortunes
and crowded experiences. we confront the DAYS and
the works and the men of the first age of the repub
lie. Three wars have broken the peace here pro-
claimed. The war for neutrality to complete our
independence, by establishing our right to be at
their wars. The war for boundary. which pushed
our limits to the Pacific and rounded our territory
The war of the constitution, which estabshe for
this people that, for them and forever Iberty and
Union are one and inseparable - These rolling
years have shown growth, forever growth, and
strength, increasing strength, and wealth and num-
art, culture and religion have pervaded and enno-
bled all this material greatness. Wide, however,
are not the limits to the name the fame me power of
the life and the character of Washington. If it
could be imagined that this nation rent by disas
trous feuds broken nits unity. should ever present
the miserable spectacle of the undeled garments of
his fame parted among his ceuntrymen, while for
the seamless vesture of his virtue they cast lots-f
this unutterable shame if this Unreasonable crime
should oyertake this land and this people, be sure
that no spot in the wide world is nhosptabe to his
glory. and no Peep in it but rejoices in the in
huence of his power and his virtue.
II the great statesman and orator, Mr.. Fox could
in the British Parliament, exalt the character of
Washington as that Industrious man. deriving hon
or less from the splendor of his situation than from
the dignity of his mind; before whom ali borrowed
greatness sinks into insignicance and all the DO
tentates of Europe become little and contemptible'
If the famous eloquence of Erskine could speak of
him ''as the only human being r whom he felt an
awful reverence if the political philosophy of
an and sage of all nations let occasion pass of
COMMUNICATING this illustrious man. if he asserted
that until time shall be more will test of the
progress which our race has made in wisdom and
virtue he derived from the generation paid to the
immortal name of Washington if our own great
statesmen and orators join in this acclaim,
Nil orturum alias, nil Drum, tale fatentes,
let his countrymen with one voice accept and cher
ish this splendid possession aud exalt and perpetu
ate it, now and forever