The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-28

v ~
General to the United States. Here
Jefferson was selected by Congress q
Minister to France, and here Secre
tary Jay, with the same equablo
mind and clear comprehension ant
unbending integrity that afterward'
illustrated the first exercise of the ju
dicial power of the Union, directed
the foreign affairs of the ~confodera
ton. Here, also, when the confed
GRAFTON disappeared, the first Congress
OF the Union assembled. Indeed, w
are enveloped by inspiring memories
and kindling local associations
| Yoader, almost within sound OF my
voice, still stands the ancient anC
famous inn wherethe C0mmander.in
| Chief tenderly parted with his OH
| GERS, and there, over the way, where
over the way, where ono q modest
mansion stood, the Fsder0last wa
chiefly written. The very air about
this hallowed spot is the air Of Amer
oan patriotism. To breathe it
! CHARGED with such memories, Is to bt
! inspired with the loftiest human pur
pose and the noblest endeavor. BY
the most impressive associations, by
/ the most dignified and important
| historic events was this place dedi'
| Gated to the ~illustriOus TRANSACTION
which we commemorate to-day.
But the majesty of the event was
| not its circumstance, it was Its i'm.
/ port. A people whose courage and
! endurance in the field, and whose ca.
pacity of local self-government, had
been amply I. sted, was here to take
its place as a united republic beside
the ancient and powerful monarchlee
of Christend0m. 1t was to do this
amid the seOrnful distrust Of the
world, and involved in domestic jeal'
ousies, and vast and obscure internal
perils. The hope of success lay ap-
parently in one man, revered and be-
loved as no other man had ever been,
and upon the successful issue of the
trust to which he was here solemnly
devoted. What scene in human his
tory transcends the grandeur and
significance of that conservation ?
Gazing upon this sculptured form,
and remembering that this was. the
very hour and this the place of the
sublime event; that here, under the
benignant arch of heaven, Washing
ton appeared to take the oath of his
great office,-the air Is hushed. even
the joyous tumult of this glad day is
stilied, the familiar scene fades from
before our eyes, and Our awed hearts
whisper within us: Put off thy
shoes from off thy feet, for the place
on which thou standest is holy
groand.".
The streets, the windows, the roofs,
were thronged with people, and,
drowning my feeble voice, surely you
can hear the vastand prolonged shout
that saluted the hero. Touched to the
heart by the a~ffectionate greeting, he
advanced to the railing, and placing
his hand upon his breast, he bowed
low, and for a moment, overwhelmed
by emotion, he stepped back amid a
sudden and solemn silence. Then he
arose, and coming forward, his ma
jestic and commanding frame stood
upon the identical stone upon which
T stand at this moment. and which,
fixed fast here beneath the statue,
will remain, In the eyes of all men,
an imperishable memorial of the
Near Washington stood John
Adams, Alexander Hamilton. Roger
Sherman, Chancellor Livingston.
General Knox. General Sinclair,
Baron Steuben, and other famous
men. Tie Chancellor. in his robes,
recited the words of the
oath. The Secretary of the Senate
raised the Bible, Washington bent
low, and audiblv saying, II swear, SO
help me God! r%everently kissed the
book. 1T is done," cried the Chan
cellor, "Long live George Washing
ton, President of the United States!"
"Long live George Washington"
shouted the people in one resembling
cry of exultation. "Long live George
Washington !" rang all the bells and
roared all the cannon of a continent.
"Long live George Washington"
echoed every heart and voice in the
world that pleaded and beat for lib
erty. Almost hundred years have
passed, but more reverently, more
universally, more gratefully, now
than ever, In all civilized lands in
which the greatness of his example
has exalted the estimate of human
and the standard of human
conduct, every people fervently pro-
the prayer, ''Long live George
Washington !"
The task upon which he entered
here was infinitely greater than that
which he undertook when, fourteen
years before, he drew his sword under
the elan at Cambridge as Commander
of the Continental army. To
lead q people in revolution wisely and
successfully, without ambition and
without q crime, demands, indeed,
genius and unbending virtue.
But to build their State.-amid the
angry conflict of passion and preiu- |
dice, and unreasonable apprehension, |
the incredulitY of many, and the |
grave doubt of all, to organize for |
hem and peacefully to inaugurate a
complete and satisfactory govern
nent, is the greatest service that a
nan car render to mankind. But
his, also, is the glory Of Washington.
The power of his personal character,
lis penetrating foresight, and the
wisdom of his judgment, in compos-
ng The myriad elements that threat
med to overwhelm the mighty un-
are all unparalleled.
Nothing but harmony, honesty, in
and frugality,n he said to
"are necessary to make US
great and happy people," But he
vas not a man of phrases nor did he
oppose that government could be es-
.bllshed OF maintained by lofty pro-
essions of virtue. No mans pe1cep-
ion of the indispensibility Of great
to the successful conduct
+ great affairs was ever more un-
louded than his, but no man had
YER learned by a more prolonged or
rduous experience that infinite pa
fence, sagacity, ~forbearance and wise
.oncession must attend infexible
if great affairs are to be
realty administered. His country
zen are charged with fond idolatry
f his memory, and his greatness is
deprecated as a mythology
, exaggeration. hut no church ever
anoniZed a saint more worthily than
g is uanoniZed by the national af-
Qnd tn M onoioof horo hama l.,