New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-23
FLASHING TONS BIETHDAY.

One hundred ana 1OTty-elRnt years dSo u man
was born who earned the name OF Father OF
his Country by his extraordinary public SER
vices, and whose grand example Is to this day
deserving of constant study. 1t was in the
power of George Washington, beloved ana
revered "a he was, and intIenched in the conf
dence of people of all parties, to command
reelection to the Presidency as long as he
lived. There was such a general sense OF the
need of his services, and the foreign affairs OF
the young Republic were in such threatening
condition, that Washington was called to the
organization and command OF the Army
within two years after be had retired from
the Presidency. If there was ever time
in the history of the country when II
might have been thought that it was aoso-
lutely necessary to the welfare of the Nation
that one man should be retained in charge OF
affairs, that time was in 1886, and the man
was the one who had twice been elected to the
Presidency unanimously. But it did not seem
to Washington that the Republic would gam
IN dignity, in the confidence OF It's citizens, or
in permanent adaptation to their needs, II 1t
should be made TO appear that any one man
was necessary to the life of the Republic On he
contrary, it seemed to him that the country
had better run much risk by the selection OF Il
new and untried Executive, than to make
public confession that the stability or useful
ness Of self-gOvernment IN this land de-
pended upon the virtue or wisdom OF any
one person. In this spirit Washington refused
to he a candidate for election to third term,
and thus set an example which has been dis
regarded to this dag by not one of his success
ors and which has been respected by the peo-
ple rs part of the uhwlitten law of the Re-
public.
Has the character of the people so
changed that the third election of one
man has now become necessary to the
maintenance of self-ROyernment Is 1t so,
that the Republic can no longer hope
to stand surely and safely unless one citizen
continues to live and can be persuaded to
WELD Executive poweri Probably no one
will seriously claim that things have reached
that pass But if there is no commanding
necessity tor departure from the rule
which Washington established by his ex-
ample, and which has been observed from
that day to this. is it well to east
that.reproach upon self-gOvcnment which a
disregard of that rule would now inyOvef If
at the outset, when example had not been set,
and when custom had not crystallizcd
into law. there was good reason
for refusing to make the Republic
seem 10 depend upon the life, the virtue, or
the wisdom Of one who was ndisputlbly
" first in war, first in peace, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen." must there not
be far greater reason now for adhering to the
same rule
1t cannot now be said as it was said in
1896, that the foreign relations of the Re-
pubic make 1t necessary to hold Ia the Exec
utive Office a victorious commander of the
armies. It cannot now be sad. as 1t was
said with some truth in 1896 that one man
only possesses in such degree the confidence
of the whole people that partisan strife
can be averted 10y proposing his name. 1t
cannot be said, indeed. that there is bat one
man, representing those who have sup
pressed the rebellion and upheld the
Union. who can be elected. Neither can
it be any longer said that there is
such an overwhelming popular preference
for the third-term candidate as to render his
selection expedent. edly that pop
Mar preference existed in Pennsylvania, if
anywhere.
While we pay respect to the memory of
Washington by observing as n National hol-
iday the anniversary of his birth. it is not well
TO forget his patriotic example, or the strong
nnbic reasons which lie gave for the course
nursued