The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-02

which We hold in sacred trust, as i
originated in patriotism, is only fitted
for patriotic and houest uses and pur
poses, and can only be administered
IN its integrity and intended benefi
cence by honest and patriotic men
1t can no more be saved nor faithfully
conducted by selfish, dishonest anc
corrupt people than stream can rist
above its source or be better and purel
than its fountain head.
None of US can be ignorant of tht
ideas which constitute the sentiment
Underlying our national structure. We
know they are recerent belief ir
God, sincere recognition of the value
and power of moral principle and those
qualities of heart which make a noble
manhood. devotion to unreserved pa
triotism, love for mans equality, un
questioning trust in popular rule, the
eXaction Of civic virtue and honesty,
faith in the saving quality of universal
education, protection Of free and un
perverted expression of the popular will
and an insistence urjh strict accoun-
liability of public officers as servants of
the people. - -.
These are the elements Of American
sentiment, and all these should be
found deeply imbedded in the minds
and hearts of our countrymen. When
any one Of them is displaced the time
has come when danger signal should
be raised. Their absence among the
people Of other nations-however great
and powerful they may be-can afford
US no comfort nor reinsurance. We
must work out our destiny unaided and
alone in full view of the truth, that no.
where so directly and surely as here
does the destruction or degeneracy OF
the peoples sentiment undermine the
foundations of governmental rule.
Let US not for a moment suppose that
we can outgrow our dependence upon
this sentiment, nor that in any stage of
national advance and development it
will be less important. AS the love of
family and kindred remains to bless
and strengthen man in all the vicis-
situdes of his nature and busy life, so
must our American sentiment remain
with US as people-a sure hope and
reliance in every phase of our country's
growth. Nor will it suffice that the
factors which compose this sentiment
have sluggish existence in our minds
as articles Of an idle faith which we
are willing perfunctorily to profess.
They must be cultivated as motive
principles, stimulating US to effort in
the cause ofgood government and con-
stantly warning US against the danger
and dishoror of faithlessness to the
sacred cause we have in charge and
heedlessness of the blessings vouch-
safed to US and future generations under
our free institutions.
These considerations emphasize the
value which should be placed upon
every opportunity afforded US for the
contemplation of the pure lives and
patriotic services of those who have
been connected with the controlling in
cidents of our country's history. Such
contemplation cannot fail to reinforce
and revive the sentiment absolutely
essential to useful American citizen
ship, nor fail to arouse within US de-
termination that during our steward
ship no harm shall come to the politi-
cal gifts we hold in trust from the
Fathers of the Republic.
WASHINGTON AS A TYPE.
1t is because George Washington
completely represented all the elements
of American sentiment that every in
cident of his life from his childhood to
his death is worth recalling-whether
it impresses the young with the beauty
and value Of moral traits, or whether
it exhibits to the wisest and oldest an
example of sublime accomplishment
and the highest possible public service.
Even the anecdotes told of his boyhood
have their value. have no sympathy
with those who in these latter days at
tempt to shake our faith in the authen-
ITCHY of these stories, because they are
not satisfied with the evidence in their
support, or because they do not seem
to accord with the conduct of boys in
this generation. It may we'll be that
the stories should stand and the boys
Of the present day be pitied. At any
rate these anecdotes have answered an
important purpose; and in the present
state Of the proofs they should, in my
opinion, be believed. The cherry tree
and hatchet incident and its companion
declaration that the Father of his Coun-
try never told lie have indellbly fixed
upon the mind of many a boy the i'm
portance of truthfulness. Of all the
legends containing words of advice and
encouragement which hung upon the
walls of the little district schoolhouse
where a large share of my education
was gained, I remember but one, which
was in these words: "George Washing
ton had only common school educa-
tion."
I will not plead guilty to the charge
OF dwelling upon the little features of a
gree subject. I hope the day will
never come when American boys can
not know Of some trait or some condi-
tion in which they may feel that they
ought to be VI are like Washington. 1
am not afraid to assert that a multi
tude of men can be found in every part
Of our land, respected for their probity
and worth, and most useful to the