The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-23
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
HIS BIRTHDAY IS CELEBRATED
In Nearly Every City of the Countrywide
Farewell Address Read in the SENATE.
Grafton at Chicago by ChAuncey De-
psw-In New York and Elsewhere.

Inc 6onBS OF ORnauh gamer Lo-ulKut ~
Farwell Hall, where Judge Grlnnell and
others will speak.
Central Music Hall was packed from top
to bottom with members Of the Union
League, while from heplatiorm Chauncey
NJ. Depew gave his views upon "The
Political Mission Of the United States"
Mr.. Depew said: The political miesion
ofthe United States hiss 80 far been wrought
out by individuals and territorial coudi.
tions. -Four men Of unequal genius have
dominated cur century, and the growth Of
the West has rovolutionlzs I'D the Republic.
The principles which have heretofore con.
trolled the policy Of the country have
mainly owed their force and acceptance
10 Hamilton, Jefferson, Webster and Lin
coin.
The two great creative contests Of Amer
icS we're defensive. They were neither
the struggles OF dynastic ambitions nor OF
democratic revenges. They were calm
and determined efforts for good govern
ment, and closed withoutranCor or the hus.
banding OF resources for retaliation. The
Revolution wGa q war for the preservation
OF wsll.defned constitutional liberties,
but dependent upon them were the indus.
trial freedom necessary for the develop.
mens Of the country, the promotion Of
manufactures, and independence OF for
eign producers.
At this period, in every part Of the
world, the doctrine that the Government
is the source OF power, and that the peo-
pie have only such rights as ths Govern.
ment had given, was practically unques-
toned, and the young Republic began its
existence with the new and dynamic
principle that the people are the sole
source OF authority, and that the Govern.
ment has such powers as they grant TO 1t,
and no others.
The field for the growth and develop
ment OF this sentiment, and for Its prac.
tical application without fear OF conse-
quences, was the great West. Virginia's
gift TO the Union OF the Northwest Terri.
tory, which now constitutes fve egreat States,
and Its prompt dedication to freedom, and
Jei1erson's purchase lIom the First Ma.
poleon OF the vast area now know ga
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louis-
lana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi,
Nebrasks, Dskots, Montana, Wyoming,
and the Indian Territory, were the two
acts Of generosity and consummate states
msnship which definitely outlined the
destiny OF the Republic and ito political
mission.
In the genesis OF nations there is no
parallel with the growth Of the West and
Its influence upon the world.
Hamilton, Jefferson and Webster were
eulogized, and Lincoln's work pronounced
marvel for all time. Mr.. Depew adVo-
Gated q one.term Presidency, saying:
With the growth OF the Republic, the
known and implied powers Of the Presi-
dent become Of increasing value. AS,
with larger and more populous districts,
Congress becomes moro distant and vague,
the people will need and demand an Ex.
ecutive to whom appeal can be immediate,
and whose responsibility is direct. He
should, however, by constitutional prohi.
bition, be made ineligible for second
term. AS the peculisrities OF his position
on retirement from office prevent his par
ticipation in the ordinary business voca.
tions OF the citizen, he should receive an
adequate pension for life, and on the re-
tired list, though still in the service, be
subject to call for any public duty where
his xperieuce, character and ability would
be Of value. ThuB his administration, free
from temptation and the bsser ambitions,
would be imBelled with resolute and un-
flinching endeavor 10 win the plaudits OF
the present and the admiration and graft.
tude Of posterity.
Speaking Of education, he said: The
teachers OF disintegration, destruction Rad
infdelity possess the activity OF propa::
gandists and the aelf-sacriticing spirit OF
martyrs. Their field is ignorance, their
recruiting sergeants distress. Only faith
grounded in knowledge can meet these
dangerous, ceaseless and corrupting influ-
ences. In the midst Of these perils, the
sheet.anchor Of the Ship Of State Is the
common school. Before the era Of great
cities and crowded populations, when 1t
was easy both to earn 9 living and to gain
competence, when the best influences
OF every settlement reached every part Of
it, the State met every requirement in fur
niRhing, free, fair business education.
But now by far the larger part Of our peo-
ole have no common ancestry in the
Revolutionary war, and generation has
come to its majority which knows little OF
the Rebellion and its results. Colonists from
Europe form communities, both in city
and country, where they retain the Ian.
guage, customs and traditions OF the
FatherlRnd, and live and die in the belief
that the Government Ia their enemy. To
meet these conditions, tho State provides
an education which does not educate, and
thu pFison and the poor.house.
Ignorance judges the invisible by the
visible. Turn on thelighLs. Teach, ], first and
last, AmericAnism. Let no youth leave
the school without being thoroughly
grounded in the history, the principles
and the incalculable blessings OF American
Liberty. Let the boys be the trained
soldiers OF constitutional freedom, the
girls the intelligent mothers OF irsemen,
come the bulwarks oi the law.
He defended the protective tariff ably,
and closed eloquently with the words:
Alter all the tTiumphs and Vicisitudes ot
American history, the attention remains
riveted upon one msjsstic character. He
stands the nobest leader who was ever
entrusted with his country's life. His pa.
tience under provoOation, his oalmness in
danger and lofty courage when all others
despaired, his prudent delays when the
Continental Congress was imperative aud
the staff almost insubordinate, and his
Quick and resistleBs blows when action
was possible, his mRgnanimity to his de.
iamers and generosity to his foes, his
ambition for his country aud unsel6sh.
ness for himself, his sole desire the free.
dom and Independence Of America, and
his only wish'to return after victory to
private life and the peaceful pursuits aud
pleasures OF home, have all combined 10
make him, by the unanimous Judgment Of
the world, the foremost figure in history.
Not go abnormslly developed in any d.
rection as to be called q genius, yet he
was the strongest because the best bal.
anced, the fullest rounded, the most even