Iron County register., 1892-03-03

IneSG
They guide and influence the forces which make
the character and sentiment of great people.
should be ashamed of my country, If In fur
ther speaking of what Washington has done for
the sentiment of his countrymen, 1t was neceS-
sary to make any excuse for reference to his
constant lore and fond reverence, as boy and
man. for his mother. This filial love is anat-
tribute of American manhood, a badge which in
yites our trust and confidence and an 1nd1Spens-
able element of American greatness. man
may compass important enterprises, he may be-
come famous he may win the applause OF has
fellows he may even do public service and de-
serve measure of popular approval, but he is
not right at heart and can never be truly great
if he forgets his mother.
In the latest biography of Washington we1fnd
the following statement concerning his mother:
THAT she was affectionate and loving cannot
be doubted, for she retained to the last pro-
found hold upon the reverential devotion OF her
son; and yet as he rose steadily to the pinnacle
of human greatness she could only say that:
George had been good boy and she was sIre
he would do his duty"
cannot believe that the American people will
consider themselves called upon to share the
deprecatory feeling of the biographer, when he
writes that the mother of Washington could
"only' say to her son, that she believed that he
would be faithful to the highest earthly trusts
because he had been good; nor that they will
regard her words merely as an amiably toler-
ated expression of fond mother. If they are
true to American sentiment, they will recog-
nize in this language the announcement of the
important truth that under our institutions and
scheme of government goodness such as Wash
ingtons is the best guaranty for the faithful
discharge of public duty. They will certainly
do well for the country and for themselves il
they adopt the standard the intuition of this
noble woman suggests as the measure OF their
truth and confidence. 1t means the exacrion of
moral principles and personal honor and hon
esty and goodness as indispensable credentials
to political preferment
I have referred only incidentally to the I'M
mense influence and service of Washington in
forming our constitution. I shall not dwell
upon his lofty patriotism, his skill and forttude
as the military commander who gained our in-
dependence, his inspired wisdom, patriotism
and craftsmanship as first president of the re-
public, his constant love for his countrymen and
his solicitude for their welfare at all times. The
story has been often told and is familiar to all.
If should repeat it I should only seek to pre-
sent further and probably unnecessary proof OF
the fact that Washington embodied in his char
acter and exemplified in. his career that Ameri-
can sentiment in which our government had its
origin and which I believe to be condition
necessary to our healthful national life. IL
have not assumed to instruct you. have
merely yielded to the influence Of the occasion
and attempted to impress upon you the impor-
lance of cultivating and maintaining true
American sentiment, suggesting that as it has
been planted and rooted in the moral faculties
of our countrymen it can only flourish in their
love of truth and honesty and virtue and good
ness. believe that God has ordained it for
the people He has selected for his special favor,
and know that the DEGREES of God are never
obsolete.
beg you to take with you when you go forth
to assume the obligations of American citizen
ship, as one of the best gifts of your alma
mater, strong and abiding faith in the value
and potency of good conscience and pure
those
who teach that these are weak and
childish things, not needed in the strug-
gle of manhood with the stern re-
alities of life. Interest yourselves in public af-
fairs as a duty Of citizenship; but do not sur
render your faith to those who discredit and de-
base politics by scoffing at sentiment and princi-
ple and whose political activity consists in at
tempts to gain popular support by cunning de-
vices and shrewd manipulation. t
You may be chosen to public Office. Do not
shrink from it, for holding office is also duty
of citizenship But do not leave your faith be-
hind you. Every public office, small or great
is held in trust for your fellow-citizens. They
differ in Importance, in responsibility and in the
labor they impose; but the duties of none OF them
can be well performed if the membership of good
conscience and pure heart he discarded OF
course other equipment is necessary, but with
out this membership all else is insufficient. In
times of gravest responsibility it will solve your
difficulties; in the most trying hour it will lead
you out of perplexities, and it will at AL times
deliver YOU from temptation.
In conclusion, let me remind you that we
may all properly learn the lesson appropriate to
Washington's birthday, if we will; and that we
shall fortify ourselves against the danger OF
falling short in the discharge Of any duty per-
tanning to citizenship if, being thoroughly i'm
bued with true American sentiment and the
moral ideas which support it, we are honestly
true to ourselves