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species of moral beauty; it contained everything great and elevated, but it had no 

 false and tinsel ornament; it was not the model cried up by fashion and circum 

 stance; its excellence was adapted to the true and just moral taste, incapable of 

 change from the varying accidents of manners and opinions. 



General WASHINGTON is not the Idol of a day, but the Hero of ages! Placed in 

 circumstances of the most trying difficulty at the beginning of the American contest, 

 he accepted that situation which was pre-eminent in danger and responsibility. 

 His perseverance overcame every obstacle, conciliated every opposition; his genius 

 supplied every resource. His enlarged views could plan, revise, and improve every 

 branch of civil and military operation. He had the superior courage which can act, 

 or forbear to act. as true policy dictates, careless of the reproaches of ignorance, 

 either in power, or out of power. He knew how to conquer by waiting in spite of 

 obloquy, for the moment of victory, and he merited true praise by despising 

 unmerited censure. 



In the most arduous movements of the contest, his prudent firmness proved the 

 salvation of the cause which he supported. His conduct was on all occasions 

 guided by the most pure disinterestedness. Far superior to low and grovelling 

 motives, he seemed even to be uninfluenced by that ambition which has justly been 

 called, the instinct of great souls. He acted ever as if his country s welfare, and 

 that alone, was the moving spring. His excellent mind needed not even the stimulus 

 of ambition, or the prospect of fame. Glory was but a secondary consideration. 

 He performed great actions, he persevered in a course of laborious utility, with an 

 equanimity that neither sought distinction, nor was flattered by it ; his reward was 

 in the consciousness of his rectitude, and in the success of his patriotic efforts. 



