The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-03-09
Character of WASHINGTON.

Character Of Washington.
Address Delivered in Seaside Grange Hall
Feb. "a, 1905, by E. C. bow of Belfast
and Published by Request.
l approach the subject with feeling
of reverence and awe, for | realize that
the topic is greater than the man who
speaks upon it. This would still hold
true whoever the speaker might be, for
in all the world today there can be
found no man who approaches in great
ness anywhere near to the character of
Washington, as that character lives,
idealized, in the hearts of the Ameri-
can people.
1t is an easy matter to speak about
mans life as it stands revealed to the
world through the history of the times
in which he lived. To deal with mans
reputation is to repeat what other men
have said of him. But, as understand
it, character is something more and
greater than reputation. It is the sum
total of those qualities which underlie
and produce the acts of the man. 1t is
not simply an attribute of the person,
but it is part-and a great part too
of the soul life. Reputation may be
defined as being what men say we are;
character is not connected with the out
ward life SO closely but that it may be
wholly different from the reputation.
1t is the real, vital, living essence of
our being-it is the real ego, the man.
Hence, | speak to you tonight, not of
what Washington did, but of what he
was; not of his life, but of the man him.
self. l can not hope to tell you any
thing new: but trust that | may sue
coed in clothing old truths in new gar
ments and set them before you in such
a way as to more deeply impress upon
your minds the divine sublimity of the
character of "The father of his coun-
try" What are the Distinguishing quail
ties of Washington's life as he really
lived it? What are the soul attributes
of the man as they have been revealed
to US through the work he did on earth?
What sets him on a pedestal of honor
far above all other men and makes him
the highest ideal of American citizen
ship today?
place truth first. We believe in the
truthfulness of Washington. We know
that he could never have held his place
in the hearts of his countrymen during
all the past life of this nation, if he had
|
cherry tree and hatchet may be a ere
alton of the imagination, it we'll repre-
sents the ideal as it exists in our minds
today; for we believe that Washington
was truth personiied-that he not only
did not, but could not, lie.
The world loves Washington because
it believes in his truthfulneSS. Say what
we may, the fact remains, that we all
stand with bowed and reverent heads in
the presence of truth. We love truth
almost unconsciously; we love Wash
!; ington because in him truth lived and
was pure. AS he was truthful, so was
he honest.
The world has never doubted Wash
ington's motives. 1t has never attribu-
ted to him anything that was in any
manner base, low or vicious. Common
belief is often at fault. But it has
placed a just estimate upon the hon
esty and singleness of purpose of Wash
ington. Today, we feel, and believe,
that all he did for this young nation
was done for the country's good, with
out thought of personal, gain. He did
not ask with regard to any act, or duty,
how will it affect me: he asked only,
how will it affect the cause of right.
If it be true, that an honest man is
the nobest work of God. then God
never did more noble deed than when
: he created Washington. For, though
others may aspire to equal his honesty,
none can ever hope to surpass it.
With his truth and honesty there was
linked the best kind of courage The
courage of the man who has calmness,
fearlessneSS and self control. | doubt
not that he was brave, as men are brave
with the courage of the brute; but he
was more than this. His courage was
; of the kind which makes men forget
} self and gain, and work only that right
may win. What men call moral cour-
age is bravery in its best and highest
form This Washington possessed. He
could endure hardship and toll, suffer
ing and anguish, calumny and defeat.
= without complaint But other men
have done as much and then fallen
victims to cowardlce. Others have toll
ed and suffered and prayed, as Wash
ington toiled and suffered and prayed,
for their country's good, and then
: proved traitors to the nations cause.
! They could endure physical pain even
= unto death: they could not withstand
, evil with the courage that belongs only
to men of great moral character. Wash
ington was Godlike in his courage mas
; much as he could not be tempted of
evil; neither tempted he any man with
evil
l commend the courage of this great
man and say to you, my brothers, that
l it is divine in its greatness and possible
of attainment only by men who, like
Washington, are morally strong and
clean.
: | can not take time to talk to you
, about everything which made this il.
lustrious man great and, therefore, will
pass over some small and ordinary
qualities, which are possessed in com
mon by all men, and speak about the
strongest and greatest, as we'll as best,
quality that forms a part of his char
acter. The essential part, without