The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-26
Tuesday. February &c. 1878.
The Presidents Special Message to the
Youth Of this Country.

Whatever may be thought or said OF the
mode and means by which Gov. Hayes
became the incumbent of the Executive
Chair of the nation, the message which he
sends forthYto the youth of this country
through the medium of the Philadelphia
Sunday School Times is one which may be
read with pleasure and profit.
The present condition of the country,
the greed for Office, and the decadence of
political virtue, as well as the peculiar
steps and the unsavory allegations of gigan-
tic fraud, Of bargains and sale, which have
constantly adhered to the incoming OF the
present administration, mako wildly ap.
parent, if nothing more, the marked con-
trast there is between THE incumbency Of
the First President Of the United States
and his Centennial successor. The illus
trious military and civic life of Washington
is tainted with no suspicion of fraud or
illegitimacy, and needs no establishment
of language to brighten the simple gran.
deur of its characteristics, or to illustrate
its exalted purity.
We present to our youthful readers Mr..
Hayes tribute to Washington's greatness
and perennial fame, more because it is
fitting and proper that all Americans, Old
and young. should honor and revere his
name and initiate his virtues, than on
account merely of its being the testimonial
of living President.
This much, even amidst the bitterness
of partizan strife and the angry invectives
of party contests, may at all times be hon.
estly said, that whatever may be thought
of the fitness, the personal qualifications, OF
the legitimate right of any occupant Of
that high station, the American people
all proudly do honor to the Office.
WASHINGTON February 16, 1878.
To the Editor of the Sunday school Times:
The only American whose birthday j,
generally known aud widely celebrated is
Washington. The Father of his Country
is remembered and honored throughout
the world for what he did and what he
was. None of my young friends who read
the Sunday School Times are likely to
have an opportunity to do such great deeds
as were done by Washington. But all Of
them have an opportunity to be like hin
in character. They can have his love Of
country, his integrity, and bis frmness il
doing the right, To have such a charac-
ter is better than rank, or wealth, or fame
1t isa possession which cannot be taken
away. AS Webster said so impressively
of sense Of duty: 1T will be with Vi
through this life, will be with US at it
close, and in that scene Of unconceiysblt
solemnity which lies yet farther onward
it will be with US. Sincerely,
r. B. HAYES,
In addition to the above from Mr.
Hayes, the Sunday School Times ais,
contains articles in regard to Washington
from all the governors of the origina
thirteen states. These representative
Of the cold thirteen" are Cows. Prescott o
New Hampshire, Rice of Massachusetts
Van Zandt of Rhode Island, Hubbard O
Connecticut, Robinson of New Yorl
Mcclellan of New Jersy, Hartranft g
Pennsylvania, Cochran Of Delaware, Cal
roll Of Maryland, Holiday of Virgins
Vance Of North Carolina, Hampton {
South Carolina, aud Colquit of Georgl
Some Of the governors write at coDside
able length,