Connecticut western news., 1883-10-24
THE CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.
What is Thought Of It Aitef Lapse of
 One Hundred Years.

The address of Wm. M. Eva-ts at the Newburg Centennial concluded with the following impressive words
 ''The interest, the reverence, that we feel as we recall these great transac- tions, as we stand upon the spot where they were enacted, centre upon Wash ington. Great everywhere and at all times, the part played upon this field in these closing months of the Revolution was not less conspicuous nor complete ill it's greatness than any manifestation of his life. Had these events closed his public service, had he then forever re- tired from the great theatre of action and renown, had he never filled out our admiration and gratitude by the eight years of private life and the eight years of the Chief Magistry which followed the surrender of his military commando his great presence in the framing of the Constitution and ill the guidance of the nation by high statesmanship and pure administration-f all this had been wanting to the full splendor of his fame if he stood to his countrymen in their memory as he stood upon this very spot one hundred years ago, his face would have shone to all this people as did the face Of Moses to the children of Israel when he delivered the tables of the law.
 "And now, after hundred years of marvellous fortunes and crowded experi- ences, we confront the days and the works and the men of tke first age of the Republic. Three wars have broken the peace here proclaimed. The war for neutrality to complete our independence, by establishing our right to be at peace, though other Powers sought to draw us into their wars. The war for boundary, | which pushed our limits to the Pacific and rounded our territory. The war of the constitution, which established for this people that, for them and forever, Liberty and Union are one and insepar- able.' These rolling years have shown growth, forever growth, and strength, increasing strength, and wealth and numbers, ever expanding, while intelli- gence, freedom, art, culture and religion have pervaded and ennobled all this material greatness. Wide, however, as Is our land and vast our population to- name, the fame, the power, of the life and character of Washington. If it could ! be imagined that this nation, rent by disastrous feuds, broken in it's unity, should ever present the miserable spec tacle of the undefiled garments of his fame parted among his countrymen, while for the seamless vestures of his virtue they cast lots-if this unuttera- ble shame, if this immeasurable crime should overtake this land and this peo- pie, be sure that no spot in the wide world is inhospitable to his glory, and no people in it but rejoices in the in fuence of his power and his virtue.
 elf the great statesman and orator MT. Fox could, in the British Parlia- ment, exalt the character of Washington as that 'illustrious man deriving honor less from the splendor of his situation than from the dignity of his mind, be- fore whom all borrowed greatness sinks into insignifcance, and all the poten tates of Europe become little and con temtible;;' if the famous eloquence O Erskine would speak of him sas the only human being for whom he felt an awful reverence;' if the political philosophy o Brougham prescribed it as the duty o the historian and sage of all nations t. let no occasion pass of commemoratin. this illustrious man;' if he asserted tha
 until time shall be no more will a tes of the progress which our race has mad
 In wisdom and virtue be derived iron the veneration paid to the immorta name of Washington;' if our own grea statesmen and orators join ir this ac claim,
 Nil oriturum alias, nil ortum tale fatentes.
 let his countrymen with one voice accep and cherish the splendid possession, an, exalt and perpetuate it now and forever.