Year: 1876

liberty in 1776 First, 1t opened the way
to the present condition Of France; sec


ODd, it brought about q perfect security
for liberty on the high and narrow seas


third, it led the way IN sbolishing the
slave trade, which, in its turn, prompted


the abolition Of slavery itself by Great


Britain, France, Russia, and, last of all,


by our own country. Standing now


upon this vantage ground, gained


from this source in the struggle OF the


past, the inquiry naturally presents


itself: What have we left? To which


We will frankly answer-much. It is


no part Of my dispc even on the


brightest o. our festival days, to deal in
indiscriminate laUiation or even cast a
timsy veil over the less favorable as
poets Of our national position. l will
not deny that many OF the events that
have happened since our escape from
the last great peril Indicate more forci-
bly, than care to admit, some decline
from that high standard Of moral and
political purity for whIo1 We have ever
before been distinguished. The occs-
sion OF Msmmon, described by the poet
Rs the least erect spirit that fell from
heaven, for even in heaven his looks
and thoughts were always downward,
has done something to impair the glory
earned by all our preceding sacrifices.
For myself, whilst sincerely mourning
the mere possibility of the stain touching
our garments, feel not the less certain.
ly that the heaIt Of the people remains
rs sound ss ever, one of the strongest
monuments TO save Us from all harm
1t gives me pride to remind you, espe.
cially on this day, OF the example OF
Washington. Whatever misfortune
may betide Us, of one thing we may bs
sure-that the study OF that model by
the rising youth of the land can never
fail to create q ssncti7e force po-
tent enough to counteract every poison
GUS element in politics. Permit me for
few moments to dwell on this topic,
for l regard it as closely intertwined
with much of the success we have hith-
erto enjoyed as an Independent people.
Far be 1t from me to raise up q
visionary idol. have lived too long to
trust in mere psnegyric or fulsome
eulogY. Ind ,riminate laudation is
equivalent to falsehOod. Washington,
as understand him. was gifted with
nothing ordinarily def1nsd az genius,
and he had not had great advantages Of
education. His intellectual powers were
clear, but not much above the average
men OF his time. What knowledge he
posses sad had been gained from ass0cia-
ton with other in his long public
career rather than by secluded study.
As an actor he scarcely distinguished
himself by more thsu one brilliant
stroke. As writer, the greater part Of
his corresponds dlsc,Oses nothing
more than average natural good sense,
and on ths field of battle his powers
pale before the splendid strategy Cf Ma.
poleOn; yet Notwithstanding all these
deductions, the thread of his life, from
youth to age, displays maturity of judg-
ment, consistency of principle, stead
mess Of action, discriminating wisdom
and purity Of purpose hardly found
united to the anne extent in any other
instance. can recall the history OF his
entire Gisinterestedness ia all his pecu-
mary relations with the p5bllc. 1t is
needless for me to speak more than that
of all and above all, he was always
master OF himself. II there be one
faculty more than another, which may
exercise useful control over the men Of
the present hour, 1t is the total disregard
Of self when in the most elevated posi-.
tions for influence and examples
In order more fully to illustrate my po.
sition, let me for ore moment cOnir lst
his course with that Of the great militia
~ chief 1 have already named. The
star of Napoleon was just rising to its
zenith as that Of Washington passed
away. In point of genius n Napoleon had
probably equaled, if he did not exceed,
any person known in history. In regard
to the direction of the interest of a na-
tion he may have occupied very high
place. He Inspired an energy and vigor
In the veins of the French people which
they sadly needed after the dsmoraliz-
ing sway OF centuries of the Bourbon
kings. With even q small mOnioum of
the wisdom so prominent in Washing
ton he, too, might have left people TO
honor his memory down to the latest
times; but it was not to be. Do you
want the reason? 1t is this:
His motives Of action were
centered in SELF His
example gives a warning, but not q
guide; for, when selfishness animates 8
ruler, there is no cause OF surprise il he
sacrifices without scrupie an entire gen.
erationo men es holocaust to the great
principle Of evil, merely to maintain CT
extend his sway. Had Napole n copied
the example of Washington, he would
have been the idol Of the latter genera
tion In France. For Washin ton to have
copied the example of Napoleon would
have been simply impossible. Let Us,
then, discarding al, internal strif., hold
up to our children the example of Wash
in gton as symbol not merely Of
wisdom, but Of purity and truth. Let US
labor continually to keep advancing in
civilization, as 1t becomes US to do aitsr
the struggles Of the past, 50 that al
the right to life, liberty and pursuit of
happiness, which we have hOnOTaOjy Sc
cured, may be firmly entailed on every
generation mankind And what is it,
/ pray you tell me, that has brought us
to the 9lebration Of this most IneWOra-
BILE day? Put not the steady cry Of ''Ex-
celsior" up to the most elevated regions
of political purity, secured to US by the
memory Of those who have passed before
US, and consecrate the very ground Oc.
cupied by their ashes. Gloriously in
deed may it be said Of 1t in the words Of
the poet:


"What is ha,lowed ground?


'Fis what gives birth to sacred thoughts in


souls of worth;


Peace, independence, truth go forth, earth's


compass round,


And your high priesthood shall make earth


all hallowed ground"


Oar kilograms from all parts Of the
Union, north and south, crowded out
for lack OF space, indicate unusual en-
thusissm and display in the Observance
of the day,