The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-08-13
FACTS ABOUT KING ALFRED.


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 irrevO-
cably pronounced. And yet, when we
come to contemplate the character of
Alfred, If objection be freedom from
faults, we might cencede that 1t pretty
thoroughly realizes it. 1t is true we
do not know 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 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
when we remember how praise and
blame are commingled In the records
of other soverelgns Of those days Of
whom we know as little or as much as
we do of him.
The commemoration Of the one thou
sandth anniversary of his death, which
was conducted in England, would
doubtless have received much more at
tention 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
tinetion, 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 great thing to found
the English nation. 1t was a great
thing to found English literature. II
was a 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 sufficient to In
sure for him everlasting and grateful
remembrance. To have done all -four
places him upon an eminence Of great
ness not easily to be rivaled.
These achievements are titles tc
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 nation was primarily and chiefly
of English origin. and 1t owes such drig
in to the achievements of Alfred which
we have named. It sprung, In both the
New England and the virginlan colo
nies. from that English nation which
Alfred founded. through the exercise
of that sea power which also had its be
ginnings from him. 1t was organized
upon, and even yet largely retains, thu
English legal and constitutional sys
tens which date from him. and 1t use'
the English language and lnherits thu
English literature. to the world-com
pelling greatness of which he gave thu
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-speakint
world. owe a debt of much grateful re
membranee to the lllustriOus sovereign
who was able to say Of himself will
truth: $50 long as have lived. hav,
striven to live worthily, and after m,
death to leave to my descendants m!
memory In good works. New Yorl
Trihi1ne