The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-16

ton. He had neither precedent nor
predecessor. His work was original
and constructive and has successfully
stood the severest tests.
He selected the site for the capital
Of the Republic he founded and gave II
the name Of the Federal City. but the
commission substituted the name OF
Washington as the more fitting, and to
be perpetual recognition Of the ser.
vices Of the commander in chief Of the
Continental Army. the president Of the
convention which framed the Con-
stitution and the first President Of the
Republic. More than seventy millions
OF people acknowledge allegiance to the
flag which he made triumphant. The
nation is his best eulogist and his
noblest monument.
CONTEMPORARY SENTIMENTS.
II have beea deeply interested and
touched by the sentiments Of his con-
temporaries, uttered hundred years
ago on the occasion Of his death.
= THE Rev. Walter King, OF Norwich.
Conn, in the course Of an eloquent
eulogy delivered in that city on jan
uary 3, 1860. said in part: BY one
mighty effort Of manly resolution we
were born anew and declared our inde-
pendence Now commenced the bloody
contest for everything we held dear.
The same Almighty Being by whose
guidance we were hitherto conducted
beheld us with compassion and saw
what we needed-a pilot, leader in
the perilous enterprise we had under
taken He called for Washington, al
ready prepared. anointed him as His
servant with regal dignity and put into
his hands the control Of all oar defens-
i've operations.
80 But here admiration suppresses
utterauce. Your own minds must fill
ont the active character Of the man. A
description Of the warlike skill. the
profound wisdom, the prudence, the
heroism and integrity which he dis
played in the character Of the com.
mander in. chief would suffer materially
in hands like mine. But this / may
say-the eyes Of all our American Israel
were placed upon him as their saviour
under the direction OF Heaven, and they
were not disappointed.
The Rev. Nathan Strong. pastor OF
the North Presbyterian Church, in
Hartford, spoke as follows on Decem.
Der q, 1893.
AN ANGEL OF PEACE AND WAR.
HE was as much the angel Of
peace as OF war, as much respected. as
deeply reverenced in the political cabi'
net for q luminous GOODNESS OF dispo.
sition, whereby party jealousy became
enlightened and ashamed Of itself, as
he was for q GOODNESS Of command In
the dreadful moment when empires
hung suspended on the fate OF battle.
His opinions became the opinions OF
the public body. and every man was
pleased with himself when he found he
thought like Washington. Under
the auspices Of this great war.
rior, who was formed by the
providence of God to defend his coun-
try, the war was ended and America
ranked among the nations. He who
might have been a monarch retired to
his own Vernon, unclothed Of all au-
thority, to enjoy the bliss Of being
free private Citizen. This was strange
sight, and gave a new triumph to hu.
man virtue-a triumph that hath never
been exceeded In the history Of the
world, except 1t was by his second re-
cess, which was from the Presidency
Of the United States.
"And on the day preceding, Decem'
Der 90, 1899. in the course Of his mem.
orable funeral grafton before both
houses Of Congress, Major General Lee,
then q Representative from the State
Of Virginia. gave utterance to the noble
sentiment as forceful today as in those
early years Of our national life
"To the horrid din Of battle sweet
peace succeeded, and our virtuous
chief, mindful only Of the common
good, in moment tempting personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, hushed the discomfort
of growing sedition and, surrendering
his power into the hands from which
he had received 1t, converted his sword
into a plowshare, teaching an admiring
world that to he truly great you must
be truly good
HIS WISE EXAMPLE NEEDED.
while strong with his own genera
ton he is stronger even in the judgment
OF the generations which have followed.
After lapse Of century he Is better
appreciated. more perfectly understood.
more thoroughly venerated and loved
than when he lived. He remains an
ever increasing influence for good in
evey part and sphere OF action Of the
Republic. He is recognized as not
only the most farsighted statesman Of
his generation. bat as having had al.
most prophetic vision. He built not
alone for his own time. but for the
great future, and pointed the rightful
solution OF many Of the problems which
were to arise In years to come.
John Adams. the immediate success
sor Of Washington. said Of him in an
address to the Senate on the 2Sd OF
December, $780,