Washington the Model of Character for American Youth / An Address Delivered to the Boys of the Public Schools

by J. N. M'Jilton

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.

[THE AMERICAN CHARACTER IN ITS TRUE GREATNESS.]

And here a very important and necessary question, which you may ask, is, in what does this exalted character consist, which neither the Greek nor the Roman possessed in all its proportions, and which the world has never yet seen in a national developement? I will answer you this question, by saying that it is the character which I have presented you as a model, in the person of our venerated Washington. And now you desire that this model character shall be analyzed, in order that you may see into it, and comprehend it. In an address like the present, I can give but a very imperfect analysis of this character, and must express it in general terms. It would require a volume to analyze it fully, and to exhibit its particular portions properly. You desire that I shall present you the man combining the elements of character in their proper proportions, qualifying him for life in its different departments. Such a man I would state to be one who is prepared to take his place in the domestic circle; who can act his part in the various departments of professional life; and who is educated for the honor and service of his God. You see in this man, the social character, the patriot, and the Christian. More than this it would be difficult for man to be. And fully must he come up to the standard, or fall short of the character which the American should aim at. And to be eminent, and to shine in these departments of life, the social, the professional, and the Christian, the American youth must of necessity be educated. To this should the instruction of the fire-side have reference; to this should all scholastic studies be directed. And with the model character constantly in view, and in the use of such instructions as would unfold it thoroughly, a successful result might be attained. And in such result the youth would be properly moulded into the man, and the man sent forth, in the excellence of his character, a social being, a patriot, and a Christian.

[THE AMERICAN CHARACTER IN WASHINGTON ITS MODEL.]

I hold this character up as American, for good and sufficient reasons; first, because American institutions are those which encourage its developement and demand its exercise; secondly, because America has produced its model in a greater degree than any other nation that now exists, or that ever has existed. I have said that in this model of American character, man is presented in his excellence as a social character, as a patriot, and as a Christian. And here I ought to say that in its entire perfection this character may never be exhibited in imperfect human nature. But I may speak of the character in its perfection, and I may hold it up in its beauty before the American youth for their imitation. Let perfection be the model, and perfection the aim of the youthful mind, and then labor for success in the application of your motto: “Let him wear the palm who wins it.”

My young friends, you appear before me to-day as a representative portion of the American youth; and as such I would hold up the model character to your view. And I would that I could hold it up, in its proper light, before the youth of every part of our country. I would that I could so present it that the American boy might see it in its beauty, and be encouraged to pursue it as the highest object of his ambition. I present for your consideration, for your study, and for your imitation,

MAN IN THE DOMESTIC CIRCLE, A SOCIAL BEING;

MAN IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL LIFE, A PATRIOT;

AND MAN, IN THE SERVICE OF HIS GOD, A CHRISTIAN.

And it is in regard to this social and religious character especially that I spoke of the Greeks and Romans as being deficient. The domestic altar, and the altar of religion among those renowned nations having been absorbed in the altar of patriotism, of course, like every thing else, they were tributary to it. And therefore almost their entire character, certainly their character in its efficiency, was developed in the exhibition of the patriot.