Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-15

men. His fair fame, secure in its
Immortality, shall shine thro' count
less ages with undiminished luster."
The struggling republic for which
Washington was willing to give his life
and for which he ever freely spent his
fortune and which at all times was
the object of his most earnest solicit
tude, has steadily and wonderfully de-
veloped along the lines which his sa-
gacity and foresight carefully planned.
1t has stood every trial and at the dawn
of a new century is stronger than ever
to carry forward it's mission Of liberty.
During all the intervening years it
has been true, forever true, to the pre-
cepts Of the constitution which he had
his illustrious colleagues framed for its
guidance and government He was the
national architect, says Bancroft, the
historian, and bc for him the nation
could not have achieved its independ-
ence, could not have formed its union,
could not have put the Federal gov
eminent INFO operation. He had Meth
er 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
it the name of the. Federal city. but
the commission substituted the name of
Washington as the more fitting, and to
be a perpetual recognition of the SER
vices of the commander-in-chief of the
continental army, the president of the
convention which framed the constitu-
ton and the first President of the re-
public.
1 have been deeply interested ard
touched by the sentiments of his con
temporaries, uttered a 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 January 5,
1900, said in part: by one mighty
effort of manly resolution we were
born anew, and declared u independ-
ence. Now commenced the bloody con-
test for everything we held dear. The
same Almighty Being, by whose guild
ance we were hitherto conducted, be-
held us with compassion, and saw what
we needed-a pilot, a leader in the per-
ilous enterprise we had undertaken.
He called for Washington, already pre-
pared, anointed him as his servant
with regal dignity. and put into his
hands the control of all our opera
TONS"
The Rev. Nathan Strong, pastor of the
North Presbyterian church in Hartford,
spoke as follows on December q, 1888:
He was as much the angel of peace as
of war, as much respected, as deeply re-
verenced in the political cabinet for a UNI
GOODNESS of disposition whereby party
jealousy became enlightened and ashamed
Of itself as he was for a GOODNESS of COM
mand in the dreadful moment when em-
pires hung suspended on the fate of bat
tie. His opinions became the opinions of
the public body and every man was pleas
ed with himself when he found himself he
thought like Washington. n the aus
piees of the great warrior who was form
by the providence of Goo to defend his
country, the war was ended and America
ranked among the nations. He who might
been a monarch retired to his own
Vernon, unclothed of all authority, to en-
joy the bliss of being a free private citizen.
This was a strange sight, and gave a new
triumph to human virtue-a triumph that
hath never been exceeded in the history of
the world, except it was by his second
recess, which was from the Presidency Of
the United States"
And on the day preceding. December &c,
1893, in the course Of his memorable fun
eral Grafton before both houses of Con-
gress, Maj. Gen. Lee, then a representa-
tive from the State Of Virginia, gave Ut
terance to the noble sentiment as force
ful to-day as in those early years Of our
life: ITO the horrid din Of bat
tie sweet peace succeeded and our virtu-
Gus chief, mindful only Of the common
good, in a moment tempting personal ag-
grandizement, hushed the discomfort OF
NV Las OL1hAAtAs GAAAs AAA Ar
power into the hands from which he a
received it, converted his sword into .
p~lowshare, teaching an admiring world
to be truly great, you must be truly
While strong with his own generation.
he is stronger even in the judgment of
the generations which have followed. Al
ter a lapse of a century he Is better sp-
preciated. more perfectly understood.
more thoroughly venerated and loved
than when he lived He remains an ever
increasing influence for good In every part
sphere OF action Of the republic. He
is recognized as not only the most far
statesman OF his generation, but
as having had prophetic vision He built
alone for his own time, but for the
great future, and pointed the Hght1ul So
luton of many Of the problems which
were 10 arise in the years to come.
The nation needs at this moment the
help of his wise example. In dealing with
vast responsibilities We turn TO him.
We invoke the counsel of his life and
character and courage We summon his
precepts. that we may keep his pledges
to maintain justice and law. education and
morality, and civil and religious liberty IN
every part Of our country, the new as well
as the Old