Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-23

solid and real as It was, would not ac-
count for his success The forced evacu-
alton OF Boston by TIE British was the
smaller part of his triumph. His great
character, his single minded patriotism
had won greater victory, for from that
day he became the trusted leader of the
New England men as If he had been
born among them. They forgot that he
was Virginian in learning TO love him
because he was an American. No better
proof of his greatness need be sought
than that be rose above all proYincialism
and appreciated the condition of every
one of the states as if no one of them had
any special claim on him. Here lies the
secret, that whilst other men were great
Yirginians or great Pennsylyanians, he
was the Father of his Country.
The broad Americanism that we so rev.
erently admire IN Washington is thus
stincts to be something we should culti-
yate with eaFnestness.
do not picture Washington as phil
osopher, but as patriot His widening
affection completely overstepped the
limits of state and province and en-
braced his whole people. Further than
that it is doubtful if human nature was
then or is now able TO go in the breaking
down of barriers between men and ma
tions. Among civilized races, the En-
glish stock is the only one which has de-
veloped the hereditary qualities essential
to stable liberty The American branch
of that race is the only one which has
succeeded in adapting democratic institu-
tons to the circumstances of a great ma
ton.
Other peoples may greatly excel us in
many things, but here we are on our own
ground. For a thousand years the
French were the leaders of the world in
civilization and enlightenment. In the
arts and Iii the sciences, in war, in let
tiers and in diplomacy, the rest of Europe
was content to follow. The French Ian
guage became the court language OF the
world, and the example of France was
willingly followed in matters of states
manship and progress. But to-day, at
ter q century of fitful experiments in
self-rule, the world stands expectant TO
see another French republic fall before
another IMAM of destiny - Their he
redltary lack of patience under defeat,
and of faith i'll methods that lead through
long-suffering up to victory, makes them
ready for revolutions when they ought to
be consolidating all the republican ele-
ments into an 'old guard that will die
before surrendering.
There Is no escape from the logical con-
clusion that the perpetuity Of our free
dom must depend upon assimilating TO the
native American type the new elements
which immigration adds to cur popula-
ton.
Your anarchist outbreak in Chicago was
simply an outburst of European methods
among men who lacked the qualities
which make an American citizen. If
they had absorbed the American way of
obeying existing laws and waiting for
public opinion, there would have been
no harm done.
1t is the national and hereditary char
acteristics of the American born people
which make self-government possible on
the continent. If the foreign element did
not assimiIate to the native SO that in a
generation or two it takes on the native
type, it would be an element of political
danger OF the gravest possible kind.
wAsHINGToNIAN PRINCIPLES OF ADMINS
TRATIoN.
Washington IS conduct as president was
the natural and simple result Of his
character. A thoroughly genuine man
is ruled by such well-grounded ideas of
right and wrong that he is often saved
the need of much debate as to his duty.
Washington IS prompt Judgment in every
thing which belonged to the moral side of
public duty removed him at once from
the region of personal intrigue and
political self-seeking. With him public
office was the most sacred of public
trusts, to be administered for the good of
the whole people with earnest, industri-
Gus, whole-souled devotion to the com
mon good. He had nothing but con-
domination and contempt for the man
who could let his personal interests or
ambitions take precedence of the public
service.
1t is universally admitted in party plat
forms and in the perfunctory statements
of party leaders that the civil service
needs reform. 1t is thus taken ont Of the
list of party questions, apparently, and
put among the common aims which all
parties profess. There is no doubt that
moderate and thoughtful men of all par
ties are convinced of the reality of great
evils and greater dangers which demand
the reform; yet the fact remains that
after twenty years of apparent unanimity
i'll party professions the work is still far
from completion. Why is this? 1 think
we must answer that education in de-
moralizing ways is only TO be corrected by
patient and progressive education to-
ward higher and better standard. We
must havea revival of the Washingtonian
spirit before we can have a return to the
Washingtonian practice.
The principle is one Of honor and duty.
Let us see how Washington applied it.
The duty in his mind was the faithful
service of the whole people. In all adj
ministrative or ministerial things he re-
garded with horror the idea that the Off
Ger was to serve party instead of his
country. Political questions, to him,
were either for the legislative body or
confined to a few high executive and
diplomatic officers. In the army, the
navy, the revenue, the postoffice, the
judiciary, the public servant had no
right to know party friends or foes.
Honesty and capacity were to be the only
tests for subordinate positions. In such
places the tenure of Office was practically
during good behavior 1t was held to be
insulting and dishonorable TO inquire how
a subordinate officer cast his vote, or
whether he voted at all. We know as n
historical fact that this continued to be-
the practice for forty wears Then came