Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-28

shall seek in vain for anything compar-
able with it in lofty wisdom, devoted
patriotism, and unselfish sacrifice,
while the result has magnifcently JUS
titled the work, Under the constitution
whose operation really begun with the
Inauguration OF Washington, and which
the first Of living English statesmen
has declared to be the greatest work
ever accomplished at one time by the
hand Of man, a nation OF less than four
million people, occupying an area less
in extent than the largest state at pres
ent, has in a century-brief time in the
life of nations-grown into a mighty
commonwealth of more than sixty mil
lion free and enlightened people, lead
ing the world in enterprise and all that
contributes to human progress, and with
development of material resources,
wealth and power beyond any possible
conception Of the men who founded it.
No American citizen can contrast the
conditions when Washington first took
the oath of Office with those Of the
present without feeling q profound
sense OF pride in his country,
and patriotically resolving that
no effort of his shall be wanting
to preserve intact and perpetu-
ate the institutions that have been so
grandly fruitful OF the noblest achieve
ments in human history and the high
est benefits to mankind. And every
citizen who can comprehend and APP
preciate what has been achieved will
render to the memory OF the wise and
patriotic men who established the re-
public homage and reverence, only
less than that to be paid to the Great
Ruler in whom they reposed their
faith.
The spirit in which the centenni of
the Inauguration of Washington should
be celebrated, and in which it will be
largely observed, is that of patriotic re-
joicing and reverent thanksgiving. Its
influence should be broader and
deeper popular education in devotion
to American institutions and in the
love OF country. There is need that
the people shall be Impressed not only
with the magnitude of the work ac-
complished by the Fathers, and the un-
paralelled results that have proceeded
from it, but also with the cost in labor
and sacrifice of what they did. There
is no grander record in human history,
perhaps none so grand, of incon-
querable devotion and fidelity to
the cause of free government,
and knowledge of it is necessary to q
right ana adequate apprehension of the
duties and obligations of American cit
izenshlp to-day. There is stimulus to
patriotism in every incident of the uu-
rivalled heroism of the revolution-a
heroism of deeds and of suffering, of un-
speakable hardship and of glorious
valor: in the almost more than human
wisdom which framed that instrument
of government that has stood unimpaired
the test of a hundred years, and in the
great character and history of the
Father of his Country, who by the unan-
imous voice of the people was chosen
to put in operation the machinery of
constitutional government he was so
largely instrumental in creating. But
we need also to remember the faith
with which Washington and his great
compatriots relied for assistance upon a
higher power, and how they failed not
to acknowledge such assistance in the
hour of their triumph. 1t is, therefore,
most appropriate that the churches
throughout the nation will participate
in this anniversary, observing as far as
practicable the services held at the
church in New York to which
Washington and congress repaired
after the Inauguration. The re-
ligious side of Washington's
| character was not the least conspicuous
and admirable, and the example he and
the distinguished men with him set of
sincere religious faith and devotion
can not be valueless to the people of to-
day.
April 80 will be memorable day in
the United States, and the influence it
will exert must be benefcent not only
upon our own people, but upon people
the world over, who are in sympathy
| with free institutions and govern
ment of the people, by the people, and
| for the people,"