Wichita eagle., 1888-02-23
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
Several Gatherings in Memory Of the Great
ReyOlutiOnist

CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-Central Music hall
this afternoon contained $500 people, to
listen to Chauncey NJ, Depew, of New
York, who was invited TO address the
Union League club of this city at theiI
celebration of Washington's birthday.
The platform of the hall was handsomely
decorated with American flags, in the
center being hung an original painting
of Washington, owned by a prominent
citizen of the city. A noticeable feature
of the meeting was the large attend
ance of ladies. Fully one-third of the
listeners were of the gentler sex. Refer
ences made to the solidity of the union,
Abraham Lincoln and the settlement OF
the animosities between the north and the
south were heartily applauded.
Mr.. Depew began his Grafton by state
ment of the important part played in the
shaping of the destiny of this country by
Hamilton, jefferson, Webster and
Liacoln. Proceeding, on the sub
ject of the dangers OF too
strongly centralized government with the
power of the chief magistrate so largely
increased he advocated a one term presl-
dency in the following words: The best
of presidents have lowered the standard OF
administration when seeking a second
term. The present executive is an
officer highly esteemed for singular
honesty and directnesS of purpose,
and remarkable for ineXperience III the
duties of government ana Tor Ignorance on
the great issues before the country With
perfect frankness and honest intention to
carry out his pledges he defied the ira
ditions of his party in his bold utterances
for civil service reform. He both under
stood what he was promising and believed
he had the courage and the power to make
good his word. The best sentiment of the
country is overwhelmingly behind
him on this question of questions.
And yet, as the canvass of 1888 opens
the tremendous advantages of an auxiliary
force of 100, 900 faithful workers has rele
gated Roman virtue TO the rear and
brought the spoilS system to the front.
Methods have changed, and the borrowed
nomen clatuie of reform means the old
practices with the familiar result of the
constant substitution of the partisan re-
cruit for the vetran official. With the
growth of the republic, the known
and implied powers OF the presi-
dent become of increasing value
He should, by constitutional prohibition,
be made ineligible for a second term. AS
the peculiarities of his position Oh his
retirement from office prevent his partici-
patton in the ordinary business avocations
of the citizen, he should receive an ade-
Guate pension for life and on the retired
list, though still in the service, be sub ject
to call for any public duty, where
his experience, character and ,a abll-
his administration, free from temptations
and the baser ambitions would be impelled
with resolute ana untlinching endeayor to
win the plaudits of the present and the ad-
miration and gratitude of posterty.
On the subject OF immigration and an
archists Mr.. Depew advocated education
as corrective rec voutb me2 Iasya say tHs
school without being thoroughly grounded
incalculable blessings of American liberty
and the sons of the anarchists will become
the bulwarks of the law" The speaker
also advised more rigid inspection of i'm
migrants and further test before natural
ization, of his knowledge of citizenship
and his cordial acceptance of both its limi-
tationS and its privileges.
Mr.. Depew then turned his attention to
the tariff question and made a strong ar
gument in behalf of the protective system
inaugurated 10y Washington and supported
by Hamilton. The conclusion of the ora
ton began by the lines: Westward the
course of the Empire takes its way" and
continued as follows: The scenes of the
fifth act of the grand drama are changing,
with the world as its stage, and all
races and tongues the audience. And
Yet, as it eliminates in power and grandeur
and absorbing interest, the attention re
mains riveted upon one majestic character.
He stands the noblest leader who was ever
intrusted with his country's life. His
patience under provocation, his calmness
in danger, and lofty courage when all
others despaired, his prudent delays
when the continental congress was
imperative and the staff almost insubordi-
nate, and his quick and resistless blows
when action was possible, his magnanimity
TO his defamers and generosity TO his foes,
his ambition for his country and unSeltish-
mess to 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 pur-
suits and pleasures of home, have all
combined to make him, by the unanimous
Judgment of the world, the foremost figure
in history. Not SO abnormally developed
in any direction as to he called a genius,
Vet he was the strongest because the best
balanced, the fullest rounded. the most
even and most selt-masterful of men--the
incarcation of common sense and moral
purity, of action and repose. The republic
will live so long as ii reveres the memory
and emulates the virtues of George Wash
lugton.
THE MJruJIkN CITp