Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-02

The Centennial Over.

Wei, IL IL ali over. and the public will
now have the opportunity to make up their
minds as 10 what the centennial ceremonies in
New York indicated or were intended to
typiiy or celebrate. The most suggestive
article we have read on the subject is In the
Central Presbyterian OF this week. We
quote il in fu
"No wonder the whole country IL stirred
10 its depths by the centennial celebration
IN memory OF Washington. There was
msn-every inch Of him-sns gentleman
20 boot. No one like him has appeared IN
these modern times except Robert T.. Lee.
They were OF the Sir Philip Sidney stamp;
adding the solid virtue OF the Puritan.
You have in your Marlborough end your
WaIlensteins your rampant Gothic architec-
ture and YOUR Renaissance But here we
have the ParthenOn IN Its classic severity and
purity.
"Some OF our northern papers make c
mistake in assocsting the name OF Lincoln
with that Of Washington. Liscoln was
good man and a sens bic man. ana we have
very great respect and admiration for him,
but 70 pu. him Ia the same frame with Wash
isgton is like associaIiDg ShaIDgar VINO slew
600 men wltk an ox-goad with The bgure OF
King David. They are different animals, and
move in different spheres.
1.-TWO typical men were produced in the
Revomton-one was George Washington
and one was BENJAMIN Franklin. One was
born In Virginia, the other was born IN
Massachusetts, The Franklin type has sur
yiVed. II was the survival OF the httest-
under the environment.
"It would have added 10 the glory OF the
centennial II Virginia could have been there
in her ancient hsbilimeits and in her colo
NAL pride. As 1t was, she was present as q
side-show-like a representative from Gaul
or Britain at Roman holiday"
The last paragraph above quoted reminds
us that Dixie" wss prescribed at the GEN.
tennial-ths very piece OF all others which
our northern brethren ought to have ex-
ulted to hear. II Is pieco OF simple, harm
less music. Mr.. LINCOLN liked it, II was
suited to bis uncultyated ear, Is it is suited
even to-day 10 the southern heart. To think
that "Dixie" was "forbidden fruit" at the
centennial because 1t was associsted with
the "rebellion," and 10 recollect that WASH
ISGToN was the greatest and most successful
rebel that ever lived, is enough TO excite
strange emotions In the breasts Of the souths
ern people. But that is not all. Northern
papers and northern speeches have abounded
in references 10 Mr.. LINCOLN a. the msn
who broke the shackes of the southern
slaves. And yet this grand Vrginian
GEORGE WASHINGTON before whom all the
North was bowling down day or two ago
was aslavehoIder And, truth 10 say, hr.
LINCOLN. pending the "rebellion," de-
clsred that be WAS willing either to free the
negroes or 10 leave them in bonds, which
ever would "restore the Union"
WASHINGTON had held commission from
King GEORGE, aud served in the British
army before he went into rebellion. LEE
had served in the United States army before
be went into rebellion. But che men who
In New York this week lauded WASHINGTON
TO the skies would not allow ''Dixie" 10 be
played because LEES soldiers claimed it as
9 southern song:
ain Dixle's land Wen take our stani.
And live and die In Dixie!
WASHINGTON and FRANKLIN were typical
men, says the Presbyterian. "The FRANKLIN
type has survived" 1t says; and then 1t
adds with biting irony: alt was the sur
yival OF the dttest-under the enuir0n.
meRt.'