The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-22
The Father and The prossrvor.

Such honors Hum to her hero paid,
And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade.
The public observance OF the anniVer'
nary Of the chief Of patriots and the
Father Of his Country is not attended in
these days with the display which char
actsrized It's recurrence in years past. It
is not that his eminent military achieve
ments and civil triumphs, which history
record as second to none, are forgotten,
or that the lustre Of his immortal name
hsa been dimmed by the rising of brighter
Stars OF genius; or that Fame has cut 3
higher niche in her Temple, filed by q
chisftain of the people Of greater patriot
ism and grander hsroism, but that the
earlier aud more extrRvagant tributes to
his worth and honor have relapsed into o
dlguilled reverence.
Il is, psrhapl, like the violent grief Of
tho widow turned into tOnder and loving
recollection Of the departed, or that resig-
nation that tins finally vouchsatea TO
thoue who mourn. So II we do not beat go
mary drums to-day, or II the sun doas
not gIs!en on go many FURNISHED bsyoneta,
it Loes no! follow that his grave has been
neplscted or bis ssoried urn ciumbled into
ruin.
Tho Mount Vernon tomb is 90 much the
Mecca Of all true Amer!cIna as /! ever
was, but the orcs high sounding senu.
mentality which used to shed 60 much
eloquence on the namo and singularly ig'
nored the proper care Of the body, has
given way to more practical homage in
8 more careful preservation OF the maus'
oleum from tslliEg into ruin and decay.
This quiet and substantial recognition cf
his memory into which We have fallen
bears It's own comment, and testiGes as
much to our gratitude IS the annual blRre
Of trumpets and the heavy tread Of
marching columns, knowing full we'll, IS
we do, that the sleep Of centuries will
lesson not his fame nor blur his name
on the great scroll Of immortsls.
AS Washington is bonored by his coun.
try as the instrument which erected the
great American Nation out OF the oppress.
ed and dependent colonies, the thought
arises why not pour out as great a graft
tude for those who preserved the integ-
rity and unity Of tho stateE. Would 1t
not be eminently proper to calender Lin
coins birthday as National holiday
The anxietiss that made the martyr Pres.
ident's nights sleepless when Grant was
hammering at tho gates Of Richmond
were fully as intense 90 those which op.
pressed the Revolutionary commander at
Valley Forge. Washington was permit
ted to return to the sweets Of private life
after fulfilling his duty to his country,
and, like Cincinnstus, resume the peace
full pursuit OF the pillow, which he had
forsnken for the sword, and quietly close
his ewes to earth in the evening Of his lie.
Lincoln, on tho other hand, just as war
was lifting its pail and peace was shining
through the riffs Of tho dark cloud, was
taken away from the scene by the hand
Of an assassin. Washington gave US our
country; Lincoln saved 1t. Why no.
honor the loyalty Of one as well IS the
patriotism Of the otherH
Appropriate to the occasion OF tho ami.
vsrsary Of washington's, birth two thinRs
ara to be found in his Farewell Address
which seem applicable to the present
time. They are injaRctions worth heed.
ing. The first is in relation to the recog.
milton Of God in public rs well as private
affairs. The expression comes with pecu'
liar force in view Of the recent Anarchist
disturbances, the turbulence Of q class
which aims to make this country without
a God, and without an altar. In his I'D.
dress Washington says:
UOt all the dispositions and habits |
which lead 10 political prosperity, religion |
and morality are indispensable supports. |
In vain would that man claim the tribute |
nj pStriotism, who should labor to sub.
vsTt these great pillars Of human hRppl. |
Ma. these Hrmest props oil the duties oil
man and citiEsnS. The mere politician, |
sonally with the pious man, ought to 70.
sIsct and cherish them. Let It simply be
sSTsd. where 10 the security for property,
foy Yeputation, for life, II the sense Of
reiiVious Obligation desert the oath9 which |
aTe the instruments Of investigation in
courts Of iushCeT
Alter some further discussion Of the