St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-22
The Birthday of Washington.

Mr.. Choate (1799.1S59) was perhaps,
next after Webster, the greatest Ameri-
can lawyer. He, too, was patriot.
He studied at Dartmouth College, the
same institution from which Webster
had graduated, and, later, took law
course at Cambridge. He was for time
in the law office OF the celebrated William
Writ. When Mr.. Webster was made sec
rotary OF state, and resigned from the
senate, Mr.. Choate was elected senator
in his place. Prior to this he had served
two terms in the house of representa-
tives.
The following selection shows how
Mr.. Choate, like all true Americans, ad-
mired Washington, the "Father OF his
Country"
The birthday of the "Father Of his
Country! May it ever be freshly re-
membered by American hearts May it
ever reawaken in them flial veneration
OF his memory; ever rekindle the fires of
patriotic regard to the country which he
loved so well; to which he gave his
youthful vgor and his youthful energy
during the perilous period Of the early
| Indian warfare; to which he devoted
his life, in the maturity of his powers, in
| the field; to which he again offered the
counsels of his wisdom and his exper-
fence, as president of the convention
| that framed our Constitution; which he
guided and directed with the chair of
state, and for which the last prayer of
his earthly supplcation was offered up
when it came the moment for him so
WE'LL and so grandy, and so calmly, to
die! He was the first man of the time
in which he grew. His memory is first
and most sacred in our love; and ever
hereafter till the last drop of blood shall
freeze in the last American heart, his
name shall be spell of power and of
might.
Yes, gentlemen, there is one personal,
one vast, felicity which no man can share
with him. 1t was the daily beauty and
towering, matchess glory Of his life
which enabled him to create his country,
and, at the same time, secure an undying
love and regard from the whole Ameri-
can people "The first in the hearts of
his countrymen Yes, first! Undoubt-
eddy there were brave and wise and good
men before his day, in every colony. But
the American nation, as nation, do
not reckon to have begun before 1874.
And the first love of that young America
was Washington. The first word she
isped was his name. Her earliest breath
spoke it. 1t is still her proud ejacula-
ton; and it will be the last gasp of her
expiring life
Yes. Others of our great men have been
appreciated, many admired by all. But
him we love. Him we all love. About
and around him we call up no dissentient
and discordant and dissatisfied elements,
no sectional prejudice nor bias, no party,
no creed no dogma of politics. None of
these shall assai him. Yes When the
storm OF battle blows darkest and RACES
highest, the name of Washington shall
nerve every American arm, and cheer
every American heart. 1t shall re-lume
that Promethean fire.. that sublime fire
of patriotism, that devoted love OF coun-
try, which his words have commended,
which his example has consecrated. In
the words OF Lord Byron
Where may the weared eye repose
When gazing on the great,
Where neither guilty glory CLOVIS
Nor despicable state?
Yes.-one, the first, the last. the best,
The Cincinnatus of the West,
Whom envy dared not hate,
Bequeathed the name of Washington.
| To make man blush, there was but one"