National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-23

celebrate tho memorial occasion the compile
ton OF the monument to the memory of the
first president OF the United states u is not
only u memorial but an inspiration that shall
live through all tho generations OF Our pos
teTity, Hswo may hope, and which we this day
inaugtrntc and celebrate by ceremonies which
have bcon ordered by the Two houses
Prayer was thon offered by tho Rev. s.
A. Wallis, Of Pohick Church, near Mt.
Vernon, Va, Mt tho conclusion Of which
tho Marine band, stationed in the mom-
bers lobby, played Hail Columbia" ahd
then Mr.. Edmunds, expressing his rogret
that Mr.. winthrop was necessarily absent,
introduced REPRESENTATIVE John ID. Long,
Of Massachusetts,. who, having been loudly
applaudud, proceeded to read Mr.. Win
tbrOps oration.
Mr.. Long spoke from the clerks desk
in AN impressive manner and in u voice
which, though not loud. was so clear as to
reach every corner of the chamber. The
eloquent passages Of the speech were do
liyorcd with forvor which elected fire.
quont bursts Of applause, and rs Mr., Long
road tho pororation tho multitude broke
into storm Of applause.
On the right of the speaker were seated
the chaplains of the senate and house and
the Rev. Mr.. Wallis, while on his loft sat
tho Hon. John w. Daniol of Virginia,
T
congressional joint commission.
The address detailed tho origin of
| tho Monument society, tho struggles of
that body TO secure funds. tho laying Of
the cornerstone, tho erection Of the FIRST
$50 feet, aud then tho long wait and the
vain oudcaver to obtain additional con.
tributions. Then the assumption Of tho
work by the government was referred to
and high complement paid TO the ongi-
| necr who has bad charge Of tho construc-
tion. A graphic sketch of the life Of
! Washington was given and his great ser
| vices to his country both on tho battle.
field and rs its chief magistrate wero
eloquently depicted. The peroration was
as follows:
lam myself New Englander by birth, a
son Of Massachusetts, bound by the strongest
ties Of affection aud OF blood TO hondrtnd
yeuerAto the earlier and the later NOrthics OF
the old Puritan commonwealth, jealous Of
| their fair illme aud ever ready 10 assert aud
yindlcate their Just renOwn. But turn revor-
emily to the Old Dominion to-day and salute
her rs the mother of the pre- eminent and In.
comparable American, the Father of His cOuu.
try, and the foremost figure in all merely
| human history. In the words OF our own poet
| Lowell,
! Virginia gave us this imperial man,
! Cast In the massive mold
| OF those high-statured ages old
Which into grander forms our mortal metal
ran
She gave us this unblemished gentleman:
| What shall we give her back but love and
praisoY
| Virginia has had other noble sons, whom
| will not name, but whom | do not forget.
/ When ! remember how many they arc aud
how great they have been, and how much our
| country has owed them, may well exclaim,
! "FtIir pr0ic rirluR." But, as | think of her
| Neutrality-suspicious. Washington, let me rather
] Sny-l almost rpQ1N To add ~ I4Iu ITum
| pdNWr
4 celebrated philosopher of antiquity. who
! was nearly contemporary with Christ, but who
| could have known nothing of what was going
on in Judea, and who, alas did not alwayl
! ''rcck his own rcdc," wrote thus to younger
friend, as precept for worthy life! "Somc
good man must be singled ont and kept oyel
before our eyes, that VIC may live as II he werC
looking on, and do everything as If ho could
| see it,"
Let me borrow the spirit, IL not the exact
letter, of that precept, and address 1t to the
young men of my country: Keep ever In
| your mind, and before your minds eye, the
| lOfttest standard OF character. You have It, ]
need not say, supremely and unapproachably,
| in Him who spake as never man spakc, aud
lived as never man lived and who died foi
the sins OF the world. That character stand,
apart and alone, But of merely mortal man
the monument we have dedicated to-day
| points out the one for all Americans to study
to initiate, and as far as may be, to emulate
Keep his example and his character ever be
fore your eyes and in your hearts. Live and
act as If he were seeing aud Judging your per
sOnal conduct and your public career Strive
10 approximate that lofty standard, aud moa
sure your integrity and your patriotism by
| your nearnoss to II, or your departure from 1t
The prime meridian of universal longitude, on
sea or land, may be Mt Greenwich, or at Paris
or whore you Will But the prime meridian oi
\ pure, disinterested, patriotic, exalted human
character will bc marked forever by yondel
| Washington Obelisk "
Npg rho M M Arnnpinn ttpHai
God, II remains, as they rise up from genera
tlon to generation, to shape the destinies 0
their country iuture-and woe unto them II
regardless Of tho great example which is Sc
before them, they prove unfaithful to the tire
mendous responsibilities which rest upor
| them
Yet let me not seem, even for moment, Il
throw off upon the children the rightful shart
Of those responsibilities which belong TO thei
fathers. Upon us, upon us, 1t devolves to pro
vide that the advancing generations shall be
able tO comprehend, aud equal to meet, the
demands which are thus before them IL IL
ours-it is yours especially; senators and rep.
resentatives-to supply them with the mean!
Of that universal education which is the cry
ing want of our land, and without which any
intelligent and successful free government Ii
impossible.
We are just entering on a new olympiad o
our national history, the twenty-hfth Olym
administration Of our Constitutional Govern
ment The will of the People has alread
designated under whom the first century o
that Government Is to be closed, and the bes
hopes and wishes of every patriot will be will
him In the great responsibilities OH which n
is about TO enter. No distinction of party or o
section prevents our oil feeling alike that on
country, by whomsoeYer governed, Is still an,
always our country, to be cherished In all on
hearts, to be upheld and defended by all on
hands.
Most happy would 1t be IL the Goth Of April
on which the first Inauguration of Washington
took place in l7Sg could henceforth be tn
date Of all future inaugurations, 1t nigh
be by q slight amendment of the constitution
giving, as II would, much needed exte1
sion TO the short sessions Of congress, and lei
ting the second century OF our constitutions
history begin where the first century began
but let tho date be what II may, the inspire
ton of the centennial anniversary of that fir,
great Inauguration must not be lost upon III
Would that any words of mine could help u