Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-18
Extract.a From the Grafton
OF THE
Hon. John w. Daniel,
of Virginia.

DELIVERED IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF
REPREsEN rATIyEs AT WASHINGTON, ON
THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION
OF THE WASHINGTON MoNU-
MENT, SATURDAY, FEB
RuARY 21sT,. 1885.
M. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
mission, americans, my Countrymen::
Solitary and alone in its grandeur stands
forth the character of Washington in his
tory; solitary and alone, like some peak
that has no fellow in the mountain range
of greatness.
"Washington," says Guizot. s'Wash-
gton old the two greatest things which in
politics it is permitted to man to attempt
He maintained by Peace the Independence
of his country, which he had conquered by
| War. He founded free government in
the name of the principles of order, and
by re-establishing their sway"
Washington did, indeed, do these things.
But he did more Out of disconnected
fragments, he moulded whole and made
it country. He achieved his country S
independence by the sword. He main
tanned that independence by peace, as by
war. He finally established both his coun-
try and its freedom in an enduring frame
of constitutional government, fashioned to
make Liberty and Union one and insepa-
rable. These four things together consti-
tute the unexampled achievement Of Wash
ington.
| The world has ratified the profound re-
mark of Fisher Ames that che changed
mankind's ideas of political greatness J"
1t has approved the opinion of Edward
Everett that she was the greatest of good
men, and the best of great men, 1t has
felt for him with Erskine Gan awful rever-
ence" 1t has attested the declaration OF
Brougham that she was the greatest man
of his own or of any age" 1t is matter of
fact to-day as when General Hamilton. an
voice of praise W, uld in vain to endeavor
| to exalt a name unrivaled on the lists of true
glory" America still pro laims him, as
did General Henry Lee on the floor of the
House of Representatives,, "The man
first in peac-, first in war, and first in the
hearts Of his countrymen." And from be-
yond the sea the voice of Alfieri, breathing
the soul of all lands and people, still pro-
nounces the blessing: "Happy are you who
have for the sublime and permanent basis
of your glory the love of country demon
s rated by deeds.''
Tell me, ye who have unrolled the scroll
that tell the tale of th rise and fail of nations;
before whose eyes has moved the panorama
of mans struggles, achievements, and pro-
gression, find you anywhere the story of
one whose lfework is more than frag-
ment of that which in his life is set before
you? ConquerOrs, who have street he'd
your scepters over bOundless territories;
| founders of empires, who have held your
dominions In the rel ~ OF law: reformers,
who have cried aloud in the wilderness of
oppression; teachers, who have striven with
reason to cast down ia Sc doctrine. heresy,
and schism; statesmen, whose brains have
| throbbed with mighty plans for the ameli-
Grafton of human society; scar crowned
| Vikings of the sea; illustrious heroes of
the lid, who have borne the standards of
siege and battle-come forth in bright ar
ray from your glorious fan sand would
ye be measured by the measure of his
stature? Behold you not in h III higher,
nobler, more venerable presence?
Statesman, Soldier, Patriot, Sage, Re-
former of Creeds, Teacher of Truth and
Justice, Achiever and Preserver of Liberty,
the First of Men, Founder and Savior of
his Country, Father of his People-this is
He, solitary and unapproachable in his
gave to America OUR WASHINGTON!
THE MONUMENT
High scars into the sky to-day-h. CHER
than the Pyramids or the dome of St.
Pau. IS or St. Peters, the loftiest and most
imposing structure that man has ever rear
ed-high scars into the sky to where
"Ei,th highest yetrns TO IN set star "
the monument which ''We, the people of
the United States," have erected to his
memory.
1t is fitting monument, more fitting
than any statue; for his image could only
disply him in some one phase of his varied
character-as the Commander, the States
man, the Planter of Mt. Vernon, the
Chief Magistrate Of his country. So art
has fifty typifed his exulted life in yon
plain, lofty shaft. Such is his greatness
that only by symbol cou d it be repre-
sented. As Justice must be blind in order
to be whole in contemplation. so History
must be silent that by this mighty sign she
may unfold the amplitude of her story.
VIRGINIA.
1t has seemed fitting to you, Mr.. Chair
man and gentlemen of the Commission,
that a citizen of the State which was the
birthplace and the home of Washington
whose House of Bnrgesses-of which he
was member-made the first burst of op-
| p ,sitiun against he Stump Act although
less pecunlariiy interested therein than
tn, ir New England brethren, and was the
first representative body to recommend a
General Congress of the Colonies; of the