The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-05

a
condemned His private friendships were re-
fined and he found his chief delight in the society
of the true, the pure and the elevated. He dis
cerned character with the precision of a seer
His great subordinates are in proof His chief
associates in the affairs of state are illustrations
And the marvel of the ages will be that through
a long and responsible public career he was so
seldom deceived when on the highest authority
it is said Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light TO deceive the very elect. 1t has
been the i'll fortune of the best and wisest of men,
from Moses to David, from David to. Paul, from
Paul to Luther to be deceived by pretended
friends. Caesar had his Brutus. Washington had
his Arnold. Christ had his Judas.
And the world mistakes the character of our
ilustrious countryman in supposing that he was
without sef-appreciation. He knew his power,
and realized his strength His humility was not
born of self-ignorance. His selfabnegation was
not inspired by contempt for the reward of noble
deeds lie was not Indifferent to the approba-
ton of his fellovmen, his deaf to
the voice OF praise He loved fame but he did
not seek it, he loved power but he did not aspire
to It; he loved wealth, but he did not covet it.
He was man with all the passions and appetites
OF human nature; and to make him other than a
we'll poised, sef-mastered man, would be an
injustice to his memory. But he was wiser than
his celebrated contemporaries in that he would
not suffer himself to be unnamed by popular
applause or the exercise of power, or the POS
session of wealth, crushed by misfortune, or
disheartened by suffering. In this he was
greater than the great of his own age.
He loved life and enjoyed it, he loved children
and caressed them; he loved his family and
found therein his chief delight. He had not
taste for music. but he had melody in his heart
He despised pretense and show but admired the
real and beautiful. He was not fond of books
yet by carefulness of observation. by thorough
ness of reflection, by attentveness to the con-
versatiOn of the we'll informed. by extensive
travels in many lands. by the daily study of cur
| rent events, he was the most intelligent citizen
| in our republic. He was the most diligent news
| paper reader in the land He living ency-
| clopedla of facts, figures and men, and his forth
| coming memoirs will astonish the reader with
his accurate estimate of persons, the keenness Of
| his observations and the vastness of his infor-
nation.
| Gut of his great character came the purest
motives effect follows cause. He abandoned
himself to his life mission, with the hope of no
other reward than the consciousness of duty
done. Duty to his conscience, his country and
his God was his standard of successful manhood
With him true greatness was that in
great actions our only care should be
to perform well our part, and let glory
follow virtue. He placed his fame in the
service of the State He was never tempted by
| false glory. He acted for effect He
| acted because he could not help it, His action
was spontaneous. Ambition could not corrupt
| his patriotism; calumnieS could not lessen it;
| dscouragements could not subdue it. It was
not sudden outburSt of the Imagination, but an
| intelligent conviction, He committed ali to the
| great struggle to save mis- country. There was
| time when ne preferred that his military genius
| should suffer mOmentary depreciation than
| hazard the cause of the Union by revealing the
vastness of his plans, which required time to
! unfold Who does not recall the time when an
ardent patriotic people became inpatient, ex-
| acting, ciamorous for Immediate results. But
he had the energy of silence. His selfcontrol
was equal to the self control of the Nation How
| calm and unrufsied was he. He knew that time
was an essential element in so vast and
complicated. He could wait. He did wait.
| And a grateful OeOnle HESS nd
| here to-day, in the presence Of the dead, with a
Nation redeemed, peaceful and prosperous,
who does not regret the cloud cast him
| at Plttsbnrg Landing, at Nicksburg and in
| the Wilderness! He made reply He
spoke no word of complaint. He offered no self
| vlndcation. He knew his plans and felt assured
| Of success. Oh! great soul, forgive our impa-
! tience; forget orr lack of confidence blot from
| thy memory our cruel censures. Thou vert
wiser and kndler and better than me- We did
| 1t in the ard0r of our patriotism and in our love
| of liberty. And from the serene heavens into
which thou hast gone, join our song as we praise
| that God who gave thee the victory and a
redeemed Nation
The martyrs of one age are the prophets of
the next Fame succeeds defamation. Time
changes all things. Washington endured like
ordeal His neutrality proclamation touching
the war between France and England and his
treaty with Englar gave mortal offence. His
action was denounced in Philadelphia, New
| York and Boston. His mock funeral was en-
acted in Philadelphia: The treaty burned
| In public squares. His character was aspersed.
He was declared destitute of merit as a states
man. He was charged with having violated the
Constitutions with having drawn from the public
| treasury for his private use, and his impeach-
ment was publicly suggested. Time has changed
the verdict of the people He is now enthroned
in the hearts of his countrymen; and so shall his
lluStrlouS successor forever dwell In the grateful
affections of the American people.
If to day we lay upon the altar of his memory,
as our votive Offering our liberties wealth
and our homes, let us learn to be cautious in our
decisions on the acts of our public servants, and
| slow in our censures upon those whom time may
| prove our greatest benefactors
And where, in ali the annals Of our national
lfe shall we find another save the sage Of
| Mount Vernon, who was so truly a typical
American Is it true9hat his personal qualities
| were not brilliant; that his salient points were
not conspicuous; that in running parallels be-
| tween him and other men of fame feeling Of
| disappointment is experienced because there is
| not the surface some prodgious element of
! power and greatness! Yet he had this double
| advantage all this worlds heroes-he pos
| sessed the solid virtues of true greatness in a
| larger degree than other men Of reGown, and
! possessed them in greater harmony of proper
| tions. Some heroes have been men of singular
| virtue, in particular lines of conduct. Cyrus,
| the son Of Cambyses, was distinguished for his
moderation ana courage. Aristldes the Just
| scorned the bribeS offered by Mardonius. The
! patriotism of Leondas proof against the
| temptation of uncounted gold. Regulus was the
| soul of Roman honor, and accepted exile and
death to infamy. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
gave his royal fortune to relieve the poor OF
his empire. Peter the Great was illustrious for
his pride of country, and laid the foundations of
Hussias present greatness. Frederick of Prus-
sia a soldier prince. the renown of which
history has preserved q memorial. But this
foremost American possessed all these and other
virtues in happy combina;on-not like single
gems, brilliant by isolation, but like jewels in
crown of glory, united by the golden band of
1ata oh 'hot itv
admiration; what meekness amid such provoca-
ton; what fidelity amid such temptation; what
contentment amid such adversely. what sincerity
amid such deception; what Faith Hope and
Charity amid such suffering. Temperate with
out austerity cautious without fear, brave with.
| out rashress serious without melancholy, he >