And although these elements of character have never rendered an
entire nation illustrious, yet may we find them centering in a single
individual. I present our own unequalled WASHINGTON as an example
of the character in individual isolation. And I would present him
as the MODEL from which a nation of his kind might be moulded. And
when you imagine a nation of such men as Washington you have the
character in its completeness, so far as human character may be called
complete. And you have it in the beauty of its practical operation.
And a proud day will it be for this world of ours, when a nation of
such men as Washington shall exist. And the thing is not impossible.
Such may be the case when the model is understood and imitated. In
Washington were combined the qualities which exhibit man in the true
nobility of his nature,――the noblest workmanship of Heaven. And a
nation of such men might arise upon this, our American territory, if
the proper means were used to bring about the consummation. And how
is this important work to be effected? It may be done by having the
model held up in the analysis of its substance, showing the elements
of which it is composed; defining thoroughly its relations, and so
simplifying them, that they might be readily apprehended and understood
when presented to the nation’s mind. If in such analysis, the model
of American character were held up before the American youth, it
could not fail to be imitated. And to render the work effectual, the
holding up of the model should be attended with the communication of
such instruction, and in such manner, as might encourage the youth to
embrace the character in its simple elements, and to emulate it in
the model which the combination of these elements may furnish. This
would be to teach character to the subject who was expected to adopt
it. And, knowing what the character is, and how to act it out, the
adoption and practice of it would be an easy task. And the mind of
the nation must be directed towards the character, or the character
may never be developed in the nation; however, it may sometimes be
seen in the individual. The model of the Greek was the patriot in the
civil council:――the model of the Roman was the patriot in the field.
And while the nation of the one was pre-eminent in the number of her
statesmen, the nation of the other was pre-eminent in the number of
her generals. While Greece was distinguished for her orators, and
was called a nation of letters, Rome was most distinguished for her
soldiers, and was termed a warlike nation.