Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22

demands n uniform vigilance TO prevent
its bursting into flame, lest, instead OF
warming. il should consume ~
Still, again, terser legends from the
same prolific source salute our eager
gaze: "Cherish public credit; sob
serve good faith and justice toward all
nations; cultivate peace and harmony
with all ~; promote, as an object OF
primary Importance, institutions for the
general diffusion Of knowledge. In pro-
portion MS the structure Of a govern
mept gives force TO public opinion, it is
essential that public opinion should be
enlightened"
And, above ala thousand-fold more
precious than all the rest--there will
come streaming down from time 10 time,
to many an eager and longing eye, from
the very point where its tiny aluminium
apex reaches nearest TO the skies-and
shining forth with radiance which no
vision Of Constantine, no Labarum for
his lcgions, could ever have eclipsed-
some of those solemnly reiterated de-
claratiOns and counselS. which might al
most be called the Confession and Creed
of Washington, and which can never
be forgotten by any Christian Patriot:
when | contemplate the interposi-
ton of Providence, as it was visibly
manifest in guiding us through the Re-
yolution, in preparing US for the recep-
ton of the General Government, and in
conciliating the goodwill Of the people
Of America toward one another after its
adoption, feel myself oppressed and
almost overwhelmed with a sense of
Divine munifcence. | feel that nothing
is due to my personal agency in all
those wonderful and complicated
events, except what can be attributed
to an honest zeal for the good Of my
country"
" No people can be bound to acknOw-
ledge and adore an Invisible Hand
which conducts the affairs Of men more
than the people of the United States.
Every step by which they have advanced
to the character Of an independent nation
seems to have been distinguished by
some token of proyidential agency"
OF all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity, Re-
ligion and Morality are indispensable
supports. In vain would that man
claim the tribute Of patriotism who
should labor to subvert these great pill
lars of human happiness, these firmest
props of the duties of men and Of citi-
Gems"
THE UNION IN ANY EVENT.
And thus on all those seemingly
blank and empty sides will be seen, from
time to time, in his own unequalled Ian
guage, the grand precepts and princi-
Piles of peace, justice, education, mo-
rality. and religion. which he Strove to
inculcatc. while encircling and illumi-
mating them all, and enycloping the
whole monument, from cornerstone to
capStone, will be read with rapture by
every patriotic eye and be echoed by
every patriotic heart, The Union, the
Union at any event -
But what are all the noble words
which Washington wrote or uttered,
what are all the incidents of his birth
and death. what are all the details of
his marvellous career from its com
mencemcnt TO its close, in comparison
with his own exalted character rs
man? Rarely was Webster more i'm
presSiye than when. on the completion
of the monument at Bunker Hill. in
describing what our country had &C
compliShed for the welfare of mankind,
he gave utterancc with his characteristic
terSeneSs and in his inimitablc tones to
the simple assertion: America has
furnished the character Of Washing
ton !" And well did he add that "if
our American institutions mad done
nothing else. that alone would have en-
titled them to the respect OF mankind"
The character of Washington Who
can delineate it worthily? Who can
describe that priceless gift Of America
to the world in terms which may do it
any sort Of justice or afford any degree
Of satisfaction to his hearers or to him
self?
Modest. disintercsted. generous, Just
(of clean hands and pure heart, self
denying and self-sacrihcing, seeking
nothing for himself. declining all remit
neration beyond the reimbursement of
. his OUTLAWS, Scrupulous to far
thing in keeping his accounts, Of spot
less integrity, scorning gifts, chart
table to the needy, forgiving inju-
ries and injuStices, brave, fearless,
heroic, with a prudence ever gov
erning his impulses snd wisdom ever
guiding his valor--true to his friends,
true to his whole country, true to him
self-iearing God, believing in Christ,
no stranger to private devotion or pub
lie worship, or to the hottest offices Of
the Church to which he belonged, but
ever gratefully recognizing a divine aid
and direction in all that he attempted
and in all that he accomplishments
epithet, what attribute, could be added
10 tildl NollSulAHldtt 'lldid vi w 'Oih-
mend it as an example above all other
characters in merely human history
NEVER SOUGHT OFFICE.
From first to last he never solicited
or sought an office, military or civil.
Every office stood candidate for him.
and was ennobled by his acceptance Of
it. IIonOrs clustered around him a. if
By the force of " first mteRtion." Re-
SponsibilitieS heaped themselves OH his
shoulders as if by the law Of grayIta-
ton. They could rest safely nowhere
else, and they found him ever ready to
bear them all. ever equal to discharge
them all To what is called per-
sonal magnetism he could have
had little pretcnsion. \ VEN
Of dignified reserve, which liou-
don and Stuart have rightly made his
peculiar characteristic in marble and
on canvas. rcpressed all tamiliarities
with him. His magnetism was that Of
merit superior. surprising merit--;he
merit Of spotless integrity, of recog-
nized ability. and of unwearied willing
ness to spend and be spent in the ser
vice of his country. That was suiii-