New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-15
WASHINGTON AS STATESMAN.

"a private letter from Mr.. Gladstone, recently
published forth few words Of eloquent com
ment from I'll, Hon. William VI. Evirts recently elected
United states Senator from Ncwiork We reprint the
Gladstone tribute as proper text for the brief and
wrighty words Of MIR Evarts:
When first read in detail the Life of Washington,
I was pro. 0undy impressed with the moral elcfa-
ton and greatness Of hi character. and found myself
at loss to among the statesmen 81 any age or
In sayins this mean dlsparagcmen to the class OF
politicians the men OF my own crdft ana 'i"h' Wn"'n
worthy than other Of love and OF admir- "a.
to come near him. But will shut out the last
half century from the s%onr1r5D w mpp ens by
history for public characters OF extracr,ii-
nary nobility and purity saw one higher isaa q, a" mann. mc
the ttest occupant for IT, hink my choice a, any '"g
!" "ou'' nv" "7"' 'f' W. T.. GLADsToSE.l
The supremacy of the character and fame of
Washington, which Mr.. Gladstone assigns to him.
has been accorded by the most eminent statesmen
historians and orators of England, from the time OF
his contemporaries to the present day. Indeed the
Judgment of all Europs is scarcely less general or
less exalted in its homage In our own country
| this supremacy Of Washington has been most clear
y demonstrated and illustrated by those most COM
petent to weigh and measure the true clements of
buman greatness and most cOnvcrSant with the
whole public and private conduct of his iliusrons
| life The value to tho history aud parmancnce OF
| our political institutions Of the inmencc influence
of this majestic life cannot be exaggerated Other
nations ready to accept with us. the Impressive
| sentiment of Fisher Ames. that "Washngton
changed mankind's ideas of political greatness"
WILLIAM NJ. EVARTs.
| WASHINGTON AS A FIGURE N HISTORY
| Mr.. Gladstone may well express his exalted estl-
nation of the character Of Washington as portrayed
| in history. but for lib Americans ii ~ like an at
tempt to gild refined gold because Washington Is
and should be first In war, first in peace and first
in the hearts of his countrymen; a sort of demigOd
for worship rather than for criticism OF comparison
| After reading Irvings History of Washington
az sold Ter and a man. have felt sort OF relief
| In Overbauling some Revolutionary papers TO learn
| that be had human nfrmties if not vaniies be-
| cause there is no doubt thath he swore AT Monmouth
aud that while encanped at Valley Forge and Ger
mantown he had many jolly sleigh ride to Phlla-
delphia. w. !. SHERMAN.
WASHING ION AS AN EMANCIPATOR.
| To the eternal honor Of Washington lot it be re-
| membered that century 40 he had clear per-
| ceptlon of the evils of slavery. and welcomed the
formation of tho first Abolition Society, of which
DR.. franklin was President, expressing his desire
that some means might be found for the total ex-
tncton of the evil In his will ne gave his last en-
| phatic testimony against 1T by freeing his Own
| slaves. have always regarded this as one OF the
strongest proofs of his sound judgment and clear
ness of moral vision. Without this evidence of his
wisdom and humanity. his noble character would
have lacked something of due proportion and sym
metrv. The statue is now complete; there is moth
ing to regret or excuse its ajestlo outlines. The
Emancipation Proo!aml alton was only the carrying
into effect of his patriotic conception OF duty.
We may well boIievo that his spirit, # permitted to
recognize human events rejoced to sec the Cons
tuition and the Declaration OF Independence at last
In perfect agreement, aud his beloved country freed
| forever from danger and discord of slavery.
| john G.. WHITTIER.
| Copyright 1855.