Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-02-12
FACTS ABOUT KING ALFRED.
Character of Founder of English Legal
and Constitutional System.

Character of Founder of English Legal
and Constitutional System.
1t was Freeman, we believe, who pro-
nounced Alfred the Great to be the
most perfect character in history" The
declaration was a particularly sweep
ing generality, which a less positive
writer might hesitate to make. Ger
tainly there are other characters in his
tory, sacred and profane, deserving of
careful consideration before the judg-
ment of supreme excellence is irreyo-
cably pronounced. And yet. when we
come to contemplate the character of
Alfred If objection be freedom from
faults, we might concede that it pretty
thoroughly realizes it. 1t is true we
do not know much about him. But it is
also true that all we do know is good
Whether or not it is because he was Sc
largely the historian 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 were
flawless. This is the more significant
when we remember how praise and
blame are cOmmingled in the records
of other soyereigns of those days of
whom we know as little or as much as
we do of him.
The commel loration of the one thou
sandth anniversary of his death. which
was conducted in England. would
doubtless have received much more at.
| tentlon here had it not been eclipsed by
an appalling national tragedy. Certain.
| ly the occasion was and even is yet
well worthy of our notice. That may
be said for the reason already express.
| ed. A man whom so high an authority
as 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 he sufficient to in
sure for him everlasting and grateful
remembrance. To have done all four
places him upon an eminence of great
mess not easily to be rivaled.
These achievements are titles to
world wide fame, But they peculiarly
commend Alfred to our grateful mem
ory. For. with all credit to other ra-
cial elements which have largely en-.
tered into the making of its greatness,
this milton was primarily and chiefly
of English origin, and il owes such orig
in TO the achievements of Alfred which
we have named. 1t sprung. in both the
New England and the Virg' ian colo.
MES, from that English nation which
Alfred founded. through the exercise
of that sea p0wc which also had its be
sinuings from him. 1t was organized
upon. aud even vet largely retains, the
English legal and constitutional sys
TENS which date from him, and it uses
the English language and inherits The
English literature. to the world-com
pelllng greatness of which he gave tn,
first impetus. The United states doe:
not owe much to many kings, But i
does. IN common with all the Anglo
Saxon and all the English Speakn.
. world. owe debt OF much grateful re
J membranes to the jlluStrious severe q
who was able to say of himself Will
truth. $50 long rs have lived. hay,
. striven to live worthily, aud after m,
death to leave TO my descendants m,
memory In good works. New Yorl
: Tribune.