Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21

glory OF Columbus by the size OF the little feet
with which he ventured 50 heroically upon the
pers OF mighty unknown deep. There are
some circumstances which cannot occur twice;
some occasions OF which there can be no repeti-
ton; some names which will always assert their
individual pre-eminence, and viii admit of no
rivalry or comparison. The glory OF Columbus
never be eclipSed, never apprnached TIL
our New World shall require a fresh discovery;
and the glory OF Washington win remain undue
and peerless until American Independence shall
require to be again achieved, or the foundations
of Constitutional Liberty To be laid anew.
Think not that am claiming an immaculate
perfection for any mortal man. One Being only
has ever walked this earth OF ours without sin.
Washington had his infirmities and his pas
sions like the rest OF US; he would have been
more, or less. than human had be never been
overcome by them. There were young officers
around him, i'm camp and elsewhere, not un-
likely 20 have thrown temptations iu his path,
whether he ever yielded 10 them or not There
were treacherous men, too whose words in
council, or conduct in battle or secret piottings
behind his back, aroused his righteous lndigna-
ton. and gave occasion for memorable bursts of
anger. Now and then there was disaster, like
that OF St Clairs expedition against the Indians
in 1871, the first tidngs OF which stirred the
very depths Of his soul and betrayed him into
a momentary outbreak OF mingled grief and
rage which proved how violent were the emo
tions he was 50 generally able 10 control
He made no boast of virtue or Of Naior, and nc
amount OF fiattery ever led him 10 be otherwise
than distrustful OF his own ability and merits
As early az 1907, when only twenty-five wears
OF age, he wrote Ia Governor Dinwiddie: THAT
have foibleS, and perhaps many OF them.
snaiI nor deny. 4 should esteem myself, as the
world also would, vain and empty were l &c
arrogate perfection ON accepting the com.
mand OF the Army of the Revolution, In lTs6
he said To Congress: Il beg IL may be Temem.
hered by every gentleman I'm the room, that
this day declare. with the utmost sincerity, I dc
not think myself equal 10 the command am
honored with" And, in 11.7, when informed
that anonymous accusations against him hac
been sent Ia Laurens, then President OF Con,
gress. he wrote privately 10 beg that the paper
might at once be submitted 20 the body t<
which IL was addressed. adding these frank and
noble words: Nv hy should / be EXEMPT from
cenSure,-the unfaiiing lot OF an elevated sta,
tions Merit and talents which / cannot pre-
tend 10 rival have ever been subject TO IL. Nv
heart tells me IL has been my unremitted aim
10 do the best which circumstances would per-
nit; yet may have been very often mistaken
i'm my judgment Of the means aud may in
many instances, deserve the imputation OF err
ror.' And when, at last. he was contemplating
final retirement from the Presidency, and, In
one Of the drafts of his Farewell Address had
written that he withdrew with "A pure heart
and underied hands," or words 10 that effect
he suppressed the passage and all other simila.
expressions. lest as he suggested, he should
seem To claim for himself measure of perfec.
ton which all the world now unites in accord
ing To him. For L hazard little in ASSERTING
that all the world does now accord to Washing
ton a tribute which has the Endorsement OF the
Encyclopedia Britannica, that, 'of all men that
have ever lived, he was the greatest of good
men, and the best of great men" Or, let me
borrow the same idea from a great English poet,
who gave his young life and brilliant genius TO
the cause of Liberty in modern Greece.
Nv here wrote Byron,-