Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-09-28
KING ALFRED.
Character of the Founder of the Eng
Iish Legal and Constitutional System.

Character of the Founder of the Eng
Iish Legal and Constitutional System.
From the New York Tribune.
1t was Freeman, we believe, who pro-
nounced Alfred the Great to be 'the most
perfect character in history" The declara-
ton was a particularly sweeping general
ity, which a less positive writer might hest
tate to make. Certainly there are other
characters in history, sacred and profane,
deserving of careful consideration before
the judgment of supreme excellence is ir-
reyocably pronounced. And yet, when we
come to contemplate the character of AL
fred, If perfection be freedom from faults,
we must concede that it pretty thoroughly
realizes it. 1t is true, We do not kaow
much about him. But 1t is also true that
all we do know is good. Whether or not
it is because he was so largely the his
torian of his own times, there is nothing
recorded of him to his discredit. So far as
our knowledge of him goes, his character
and career We're hawless. This is the more
significant when remember how praise
and blame are commingled in the records
of other sovereigns of those days of whom
we know as little or as much we do of
him.
The commemoration of the one thous-
andth anniversary of his death, which was
conducted in England, would doubtless
have received much more attention here
had 1t not been eclipSed by an appalling
national tragedy. Certainly the occasion
was and even yet is we'll worthy of our
notice. That may be said for the reason
already expressed. A man whom so high
an authority Freeman declared to be
the most perfect character in all history
and who has so strong claim to that dis
tinction, is certainly worthy of the whole
worlds study. We have said that we know
little of him. But all that we do know is
both good and great. 1t was a great thing
to found the English nation. 1t was a
great thing to found English literature.
1t was great thing to found the sea
power of England. 1t was a great thing to
found the English legal and constitutional
system. And these things Alfred did To
have done any one of them would be suffi-
Gent to insure for him everlasting and
grateful remembrance. To have done all
four places him upon an emineuce of great.
ness not easily to be rivaled
These achievements are titles to world
wide fame But they peculiarly commend
Alfred to our grateful memory. For, with
all credit to other racial elements which
have largely entered into the making of it's
greatness, this nation was primarily and
cnleny OF English origin, and it owes such
origin to the achievements Of Alfred which
we have named. 1t sprung, in both the
New England and the Virginian colonies
from that English nation which Alfred
power which also had it's beginnings from
him. 1t was organized upon and even
yet largely retains, the English legal and
constitutional systems which date from
him, and 1t uses the English language and
inherits the English literature. To the
worid-compelling greatness Of which he
gave the first impetus. The United States
does not owe much to many kings But It
does, IN common with all the Anglo-Saxon
and all the English-speaking world owe a
debt of much grateful remembrance to the
illustrious sovereign who was able to saw
OF himself with truth: $50 long as have
nVed, L nave striven to live worthily and
after my death to leave to nv descend-
ants my memory in good works.