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

Cnf1finIIe6 from Erffh Pnne

| delphia on his way to Cambridge, in 1875, that
| las the Sword was the last resort for the preser
xation OF our liberties so it ought to be the first
thing laid aside when those liberties were firmiy
established" And they saw him lay down his
sword at the earliest moment, and retire to the
pursuits of peace, only returning again to public
service at the unanimous call OF his country. to
preside for a limited period over free ConSti-
tutional Republic and then eagerly resuminu
the rank of an American Citizen. That was
the example which changed the ideas of man.
Kind as to what constituted real greatness
ana lor All ages, never TO be forgotten or over
Looked, by him who was born, one hundred and
hfty-three years ago tomorrow, in that primi-
tive little Virginia farmhouse!
am myself a New-Englander by birth, a son
OF Massachusetts,, bound by the strongest ties
of affection and of blood to honor and venerate
the earlier and the later Worthless ofthe old Puri-
tan Commonwealth jealous OF their fair fame,
and ever ready TO assert and vindicate theif
Just renoWn. But turn reverently to the
Old dominion to-day, and salute her as
the mother of the pre-erninent and incon-
and the foremost figure in all merely human his
tory. In the words of our own poet, Lowell
Cast in the massive mould
OF those high-statured ages old
She gave rs this n1bIemisbed rentieraap. TAI lan'
w hat shall we.ive her back but love and praise?"
Virginia has had other noble sons, whom will
not name, but whom l do not forget. When
remember how many they are and how great
they nave been, and how much our country
has owed them, 1 may well exclaim, "Fehr
Iorole vi1una" But. as think of her WashinG-
ton,-Of our Washington, let me rather say-I
am almost ready to add, ''LOeta Deum PaYtui'
A celebrated philosopher of antiquity, who
was nearly contemporary with Christ, but who
could have known nothing of what was going
on in Jud@a. and who, alas did not always
"reck his own rede, wrote thus to a younger
friend as precept for worthy life: ''Some
good man must be singled ont and kept ever
before our eyes, that we may live as if he were
see it,"
Let me borrow the spirit, if not the exact
LETTER h.htr md odd
young men OF my Country: Keep ever in your
mind, and before your minds eye, the loftiest
say, supremacy and unapproachably, in Him
who spake as never man spake. and lived as
never man lived, and who died for the sins of
the world. That character stands apart
and alone. But of merely mortal men the
monument we have dedicated to-day points
out the one for all Americans to study to inli-
t;fte, and, as far as may be, to emulate. Keep
his example and his character ever before your
eyes and in Your hearts, Live and act as if he
were seeing and Judging your personal conduct
ana your public career. Strive to approximate
that lofty standard and measure your integrity
and your patriotism by your nearness to it, or
your departure from it, The prime meridian of
universal longitude on sea or land, may be at
Greenwich, or at Paris, or where you Will But
the prime meridian OF pure. disinterested, pa
tr1otE, exalted human character will be marked
forever by yOnder Washington obeliSkr'
Yes, to the Young Men of America, under
to generation, to shape the destinies of their
COuntrys future-and woe unto them if re-
gardless of the great example which is set be-
fore them, they prove unfaithful to the tremen-
dous responsibilities which rest upon them
1etslet me not seem, even for a moment to
throw off upon the children the rightful share
of those responsibilities which belongs to their
fathers. Upon u.s. upon us, it devOVcs to pro-
vide that the advancing generations shall he
able to comprehend and equal To meet the
demands which thus before them 1t is
ours-it is yours especially, Senators and Repre-
sentatives-to supply them With the means of
that Universal Education which is the crying
want OF our land, and without which any intel
hgent and successful Free Government is i'm
possible.
We are Just entering on new Olvmpiad of
our national histOry,-the twenty-ftth Olym-
pad since Washington first entered on the adj
ministratiOn OF our Constitutional Government.
The will Of the People has already designated
under whom the first century of that Govern
ment is to be closed, and the best hopes and
wishes of every patriot will be with him in the
great responsibilities on which he is about 10
enter No distinction of party or OF section pre-
vents our all feeling alike that our Country bv
WhomSoever governed, is still and always our
Country, to be cherished in all our hearts, to be
upheld and defended by all our hands!
Most happy would it be if the Both of April,
on which the first Inauguration OF WASHINGTON
took place in 1879, could hencefOrth be the
date of all future inauguratiOns,-as il might be
by q slight amendment of the Constitution
giving, as it would, Il much needed extension
to the short sessions of Congress, and letting the
second century of our Constitutional History
begin where the first century began.
But let the date be what ii may, the inSpira-
ton of the Centennial Anniversary OF that first
Would that any words of mine could help us
all. old and young, to resolve that the principles
and character and example OF WASHINGTON as
he came forward to take the Oaths Of office on
that day, shall once more be recognized and
reverenced as the model for all who succeed
him, and that his DISTINGUISHED purity and
patriotism shall be the supreme test and
standard OF American craftsmanship, That
standard can never be taken away from us
The most elaborate and durable monuments
may perish. But neither the forces of nature
any fiendsh crime of man. can ever mar or
mutilate great example of irublic or private
virtue.
Our matches Obelisk stands proudly before
us to-day, and we hail it with the civilizations
of a united and glorious Nation. 1t may or
may not, be proof against the caVils OF critics
but nothing of human construction is proof
against the casualties of time. The storms OF
winter must blow and beat upon it, The action
of the elements must soil and diScOlor ii. The
lightnings of Heaven may scar and blackcn it,
Some mighty tornado. or reSiStleSs cyclone
may rend its massive blocks asunder and huri
huge fragments to the ground. But the charac-
ter which it commentaries and illustrates is
secure. 1t will remain unchanged and I'M
changeable in all its conSumnnate purity and
splendOr, and will more and more command
the homage of succeeding ages in all regions of
the Earth.
GOD BE PRAISED, THAT CHARACTER Is OURS
FOREVER!
After music Hon. John w. Daniel, of Vir-
ginia, was introduced, and delivered an
Grafton.
HON. JOHN w. DANIEL.