The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-10
Hvasbi1sgton,s. Birthday.

WasbiIsgtOn's Birthday.
How many paraded and kept hoNda,
in celebration Of Washington's hirthdav
who have no true appreciation of his
character and no desire to share in hi
yirtuesI That great and good man
would have refused to sit at the table
with many Of the successful politicians
who drank wine and made speeches in
pretended honor ot his natal day.
He was not a smart man, notplOquent,
not brilliant. He became commander in
chief simply because he was the chief
the one man whose life and character,
circumstances and qualifications, marked
him for the place.
. So exalted was his courage, 50 calm
and steadfast was his soul, that success
and triumph could not excite nor defeat
and danger depreSs him His majestic
presenceand gracious manners impressed
the French officers as something almost
8uperhuman ~
When victory and peace had crowned
his la6or8, it is not wonderful that our
forefathers regarded him as an especial
fayOrite Of Heaven, and began to ratJriu-
ute to him imaginary virtues and an 6x.-
cephon from all human fraiIties-whicb y
lis to be regretted, as it afforded SOME
small humorsts Of a later time in opr
portunity to exercise their wits in a way
which tended to bewilder the young, In
burlesquing an imaginary WUshingtonY
they diverted attention from what wa5
truly great and admirable in The real
man.
But neither the fulsome praise Of piOuB
biographers who fairly delcd him, nor
the trayestics Of their wonderful anec+
dotes written by the wouId-be wits Of
our own time; neither the passionate
euIogiums Of those who caught their I'M
spiration from the tongues oE his sur
viying compatriots, norrhc empty. hcan-
less eIoquenceo Of modern political 0rators
and statesmen, can adI to y detract
from the glory Of Washington
lie stands alone; peerless, without
rivalry. There have been greater gen.
erals, wiser statesmen, more acute ,aud
far seeing politicians. lie was moi bril-.
liant, nov &ashing, nor mametir* be.
was not learned, not quirk-wjt..d. nor
proiauud-he was surrounded 10y really
great Inen-yet.in the minds Of I:- ".n-,
temporaries, in history and in Un H"-
agiuation8 Of the writer's and thj0a~~
of our own time. he towers aIoI, TIE
central figure, the godIike man, around
whom the heroes and statesmen If "e
revolution cluster, looking up TO Jllm tor
support and encouragement, as 10
superior Icing never known TO fail or.
grow weak.-I4yes Valley Advertised
4 Philadelphia woman invited -ale3-
girls form the stores to jim her r."-5 ID |
Sunday school, and number Of them
did 50. At the close Of the regular
services, the superintendent announced .
that a season of prayer would follow
"The young ladies' meeting will b9 Ae.a
AZ usual. in the ante-room on the .e,. .
| he said, "and that Of the shop 2iT'S "
. the right" The woman lost her l'
pupils Immediately.
| The meeting Of the State fed2.',4
| of Labor Organizations in hai7" N' I
was q grand success, and it lst0 '1 "oI .n-,
THAT the industrial classes vi" "..2 l%2
under the banner raised at .ha09~2 c'''' .y, +
and stand united and make a Do'' .a, +
against the endroachment OF ."''-9f ,t,n.
lists. We haveEthe power ana .'i' '' tbs !
ber8 to reclaim the country lr0In r. "a