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

Nhethcf cittacttT UT hsnttsc"t"s "e
regarded, the riches before US only cx-
pose the poverty OF praise. So clear
was he in his great Office that no ideal |
Of the Ceader or Ruler can be formed |
that does not shrink by the side Of the
reality. And so has he impressed him
self upon the minds Of men that no man
can justly aspire to be the chief Of a
great free people who does not adopt his
principles and emulate his example.
Drawing his sword from patriotic
impulse, without ambition and without
malice, he welded it without yindic-
tiveness and sheathed it without re-
proach. All that humanity could con-
ceiye he did to suppress the craelticS OF
war and soothe its sorrows. He never
struck towards blow. To him age.
infancy, and helplessness we're ever
sacred. lie tolerated no extremity I'M
less to curb the excuses of his enemy,
and he never poisoned the sting of de-
feat by the exultation of the con-
qucror.
Peace he welcomed aS the heaven
sent herald of friendship and no coun-
try has given him greater honor than
that which he defeated, for England has
been glad to claim him as the scion Of
her blood proud, like our sister Amerl-
can States. to divide with Virginia the
honor of producing him.
Fascinated by the perfection Of the
man. we are 10th to break the mirror
of admiration into the fragments of
analysis. But, 10. as we attempt it
every fragment becomes the miniature
of such sublimity and beauty that the
destructive hand can only multiply the
forms of immortality.
Grand and manifold as were its
phases. there is yet no difficulty IN
understanding the character Of Wash
ingtOn. lie was no yelled prophet. lie
never acted a part. Simple. natural,
and unaffected. his life lies before us
a fair and open manuscript. lie dis
dained the arts which wrap power in
mystery in order to magnify it. He
practiced the profound diplomacy of
truthful speech-the cOnsummate tact
of direct attention. Looking ever
to the All-WiSe Disposer of events,
he relied on that Providence
which helps men. by giving them high
hearts and hopes, to help themselves
with the means which their Creator has
put at their service. There was no ill.,
| trinity in his conduct over which Char
ity must fling its veil no faint of sell
hshncsS from which Purity averts her
gaze no dark recess of intrigue that
must be lit up with cOlorcd panegyric
no subterranean passage TO be trod IN
trembling lest there he stirred the ghost
of buried crime.
4 true son of nature was George
WaShingtOE-of nature in her brightest
intelligence and nobleSt mould: and
difficulty. if such there be in comprc-
hcnding him, is only that of reviewing
from a single standpoint the vast pro-
cesSion Of those civil and military
achievements which filled nearly half q
century of his life. and in realizing tho
magnitude of those qualities whict
were requisite to their performance
the difficulty of faShioning in on
mind, pedestal broad enough
TO bear the towering ilgur
whose greatness is diminished b.
nothing but the perfection of It's pro
portions. If his cxterior-n calm
grave. and rcSolute reposC-ayer I'm
pressed the casual observer ~ auSter
and cold, it was only because he dl
not reflect that no great heart like III
could have lived unbroken unless boun
by IRON nerves in an iron frame. Tn
commander of armies. the chief of
p people. the hope Of nations, could no
wear his heart upon his sleeve
and yet his sternest will coui
not conceal its high and war;
; pulsationS. Under the enemy, guns q
Boston he did not forget to instruct ii
= AGENT to administer gencrousl y OF char
: ty to his needy nclghbors at home. III
Snllerings of women and children
thrown adrilt by war, and of his blccC
ing comrades. pierced his soul. An
; the moist eye and trembling voice Wit
| which he babe farewell to his veteran
70 bespoke the underlying tenderness
his nature. even as the >torm-wln
. makes music in its undcr-tOnc,.
, INTEREST IN EDUCATION.
l Di,intcrcSted patriot, ne would II
! cciyc no pay for his military service
Refusing gifts. he was glad TO guide IN
, benclacton of grateful state to cdl
cate the children Of his fallen braves
: the institution at Lexington which "
i bear, his name. Without any Of Il
blcmi,hcs that mark the tyrant' he al
d pcaled 80 loftily to the yirtuouS ell
l. mont in man that he almost or
e atcd the qualities Of which h
L country needed the exercise; al
J. vet he was 50 magnanlmOuN N
; iorbcariug to the weaknesses
other, that he often oblitcrated d
Is vice of which he feared the cons
Il nencc. But hi, virtue was more tn
+ this. II was of that daring, lntrep
il kind that. Scizing principle with
: Giants grasp, assumes responsibility
! any hazard, suffers sacrifice wltho
u pretencc of martyrdom, bears caluml
d without reply, imposes superior VIII al
Il understanding on all around 1t, capt.
III latcs to 10 unworthy triumph. b
C. must carry all things at the pont
clear and blamcless conscience.
III Invested with the powers OF duct
'e tor. the country be,towing them felt
70 Ii,,ru,t of his integrity he recclyi
IT, them, gave assurance that, aS the Swo
ne was the last resort Of liberty. 50
l. should be the first thing laid asI
= when liberty was won. And keep
st the faith in all things. he left manSl
IL bcwildered whether to admire HIM M
III for what he was or what he would L
y be. Over and above all his virtues W
III Che matchlcsS manhood ofpcrSonal hon'
IT. towhich Confidence gave in safety the 4
ia Of every treasure on which Iemp
II ton dared not smile. on which SuS
: cion never cast a irown. And "
hc prolong the catalogue: "it you
III presented with medals Of C@sar,
ne Trajan, or Alexander. on examInl