New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-19
THE ALFRED NILLENART.

After the present the past. After the ccle-
bration Of the latest Of British soverclgns the
celebration of one of the earliest, perhaps the
earliest worthy of serious notice June. 1877,
marked the sixticth anniversary Of the ac'
cessiOn Of Victoria. October. 1901. Will marx
the onc-thousandth anniversary Of the death Of
Alfred. The day of n mans death Is not the
usual ono selected for celebration. But per-
haps it is best in this case, because II Is more
certainly fixed than any other in his chrono
Ogy Even IT is not certainly established
though Hollnshed's date. October 2S. is gener
ally accepted In default Of any more certain
date. it may well be adopted for the coming
celebration. and in it be united COMMUNICATION
of his birth in $40 his accession in SIl, the
victory OF Ellington in SIS, the recovery OF Lon
don in $50 the conquest OF Northumbra in
500. and all other known achievements Of his
reign. The end crowns the work. and the date
of the end Of a mans lIfework may we'll be
observed in memory of all that nc has done.
What general celebration of this interesting
anniversary the British Nation will make is not
yet determined Winchester Is taking the lead
in preparations for it, however, and will have
IN imposing local celebration. If nothing more.
That il emlnently fitting. Winchester was the
minIstered his government and pursued his
studies There he wrote his books and codifcd
the laws which for ten centuries have formed
the basis OF the common law OF all English
speaking lands. There he founded IN abbey,
and there he died and was buried. winchester
is entitled to be the centre of all the homage
the whole empire may pay to the memory or
the first King Of united England, the real
% tI,n wi
such homage. indeed, al branches of the Anglo
Saxon stock. however remote. may properly
joip. Is il not well that even the most Anglo
phobc lingo should pay some tribute to the
lllustrous Jurist who gave to this Nation the
common law which forms the basis OF It's legal
practice and civil rights?
II the dates Of Afred's birth and death are
matters Of uncertainty, 1t is not strange that
history has played some FRANKS with the record
of his dolngs We must dismiss as myths the
story Of his founding the University of oxford
and that OF his having established trial by
iuIy Neither Is ii true that he divided Eng
land into countcs and hundreds. The tale Of
the burnt cakes in the peasants cottage may
be- authentic What is unqucstlonable Is that
as a soldier and legislator he was the greatest
European sovereign for several centuries after
Charemagne and ut the same time one of the
greatest scholars and authors Of his age. He
freed England from foreign domination ana
made il n united kingdom. He founded schools
and began the intellectual life Of the English
people. lie introduced into England the system
If accurate measurement Of time. He founded
the foreign commerce OF England He founded
English literature He gave the Englishspeak-
Ing world It's common law. He fought ffty-six
battles by sea and land. He rcigned for thirty
years as not only the King Of England. but IA
the guide philosopher and friend Of the Eng
llsh people. holding UP great Hight In II dark
age and doing great work for civilization
amid m ignorant and barharous people and he
died leaving private name and n public record
,Insulled and nnstalned, but luminous with such
glory as few monarchs IN any land or age have
won or meritcd. The millcnary Of such man
Is one la IGNORING which the human race Will
do itself high honor.