Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-22
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
How it will be Celebrated in
this City.


To-day will be celebrated very quietly in
this city, No prepa ations have been made
for parades or other events which are usual
on such occasions, and the citizens and
members of the different organizations will
feel themselves TT liberty to stay at home
or take short excursions to the surrounding &
towns. The schools will be closed, ana
both teacher and scholar may enjoy them
selves as they please. Business ht fuses will
also remain closed, and the Gle ks and
other employees can join the mu titude and
rest. The cJurts anu other governmt nj
offices will not open, and il will be a real
no iday in many senses. During the after
noon there Will be races and q balloon as
cention ut Agricultural Park, aud without
doubt many viii seek amusement within
i,s boundaries. The minstrels also give an
afternoon performance at the Grand 'Ope u
II ouse.
In reference to the celebration of the day
the 10 Glowing has been handed in to this
office:
To. day is worthy of special honor, being
consecrated to he memory OF a most illus
trious man, whose life work was marked by
an unusual devotion to the duties which
good men believe they owe to their God,
their country aud their fellowmen.
The twenty y-second day of February is OBJ
served because in honoling the name OF
george Washington: we at the same time
render necessary tribute to those virtues
OF truth, integrity ana unseltish patr nism
so universally recognized as the necessary
basis Oi all social or national good. When the
Virginia patriot rebeIled in common with
the majority of his countrymen, he did not
stop to count either the cost or the or advan-
tages to himself likely to result from his
adoption OF such course The trivial taxes
levied upon the colonies by the British Gov
ernment were resisted upon high
grounds OF principal. To have paid
the sums demanded would have been
fDn thnncp1t6 Nv
than resisting the pa ment by resort to
arms. In this regard Washington shares
equally the honor of courage and exalted
patriotism with thousands of his country
men. But after the long struggle was over,
and when victory had perched upon the
banner of the revolutionist, came the mo-
ment of supreme trial. 1t was then that a
new system Of government was to be pro-
iu-chief could, perhaps, have b en- turned
into k'ngly scepter Able and int rested
parties tried every means to corrupt his
heart by the offer to support him in such a
| cause He knew that his countrymen had
fought for liberty, and not a change; they
could not have prevented the army from
crowning him, they would have felt that
they were betrayed and cheated.
washington had rare opportunity to
display his subimely noble character He
gave up his commend and retired to his
| modest home on the bank of the Potomac.
From this moment dates his title to imper-
ishable glory. Myraids OF men have re-
belled against oppression and staked their
all upon the chances of success; but how
few are the names of those who have proven
the possession of such q degree of real un-
selfish virtue that they could spurn the Of
| fer of a crown, and turning their backs upon
baubles of power and pomp, retire to pri-
vate life, and mingle upon even terms with
their nelghbors. This bright and peerless
example OF the man who was first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of h Is
countrymen," is q light which ought to
forever guide the future generation of
Americans in their efforts to preserve and
perpetuate the blessings of liberty SO proudly
won and SO nobly bequeathed to US as an
inheritance. The glory Of our own Wash
ington shines more brightly when con-
trasted with the conduct of other great
men who had opportunities to make SINH
lar personal sacrifices, and who did not EN-.
brace them. What, for instance, would not
FranceOwe to the 6 'eat Napoleon had he con-
tented himself as first consul with defeat
ing the enemies Of his country; assisting to
reform her laws and provide for her defense
and development, and returning to private
station to share in the benefits his efforts
had produced for his country"