The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1892-03-05

school house where large share OF nv educn.
tion was gained, remember but one, which was
In these wordss George Washington had only
common school education
win not plead guilsy u, the char-n os aSse,l.
ing upon the litsie features 81 4 sreaf s,,b,eot
nope the DAY viii never come when American
eec5s cannot know Of some trait Of Bofne oondi.
ton In which they may feel that they ought to
be or Ate like Washington. am not afraid TO
assert tnat multitude OF men can be found in
every part Of our land, respected for theft prob.
ity and worth and most useful 10 the country
and TO their fellow men, who will confess theiI
Indebtedness 10 the story OF Washington and
mis- natchet; and many man has won his way
70 honor and fame, Notwithstanding limited
school advantages, because he found hope and
incentive In the high mission washington &C.
comphshed with only q common school educa-
ton These are not little and trivial things
Ihey guide and influence the forces which mako
the character and sentiment OF q great people
! should % ashamed Of my country, II In ftiTI
tEer speaking OF what WBAhihgton has done for
the sentiment ut his eOuntrymen, It was neces-
sary 70 make any excuse for reference to his
constant love and fond reverence, es boy and
man, for his mother. This hlial love Ia on at4
tribute OF American manhood badge which In
vites our trust and eohfldonee and on indispens-
eDle element OF American greatness. man
may compass important enterprises, he may be-
some famous, he may win the applause OF his
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 we find
we following statement concerning his mother:
That she was adectionate and loving cannot
be doubted, for she retained to the last pro.
found hold upon the reverentiai devotion OF her
soni and yet as he rose steadily TO the pinnacle
OF human greatness she could only saw that:
(4hdfSR HAD hnan No. ayn5 ,N,o
he would do his duty"
cannot believe that the American people win
consider themselves called ubon to share the
deprecatoF5 feeling Of the biographer, when he
writes TINT 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 goodi nor that they will
regard her words merely as an amiabIy toler-
ated expression OF fond mother. If they are
true 70 American sentiment, they will recog.
nize In this language the announcement of tho
important truth that under cur institutions and
scheme Of government goodness such as Wash
iugton's is the best guaranty for the faithful
discharge OF public duty. They will certainly
d5 We'll for the country and for themselves II
they adopt the standard the intuition of this
noble woman suggests as the measure Of their
truth and confidence. 1t means the exaction OF
moral principles and personal honor and hon.
esty and goodness as Indispensable credentials
to political preferment
have referred only incidentally to the i'm,
mense influence and service Of Washington in
forming our constitution. shall not dwell
upon his lofty patriotism, his skill and fortitude
as the military commander who gained our in.
dependence, his inspired wisdom, patriotism
and statesmanship 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.
II ] should repeat It should only seek to pre-.
sent further and probably unnecessary proof Of
the fact that Washington embodied in his char
peter and exemplified in his career that Ameri-
can sentiment in which our government had its
origin and which believe to be a condition
necessary to our healthful national life.
have not assumed TO instruct you. have
merely yielded 10 the influenced the occasion
and attempted to impress upon you the impor-
tance 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 iD5their
love Of truth and honesty and virtue and good
ness. believe that God has so ordainedit for
the people He has selected for his special favor,
and know that tho DEGREES Of God are never
obsolete.
l beg you to take with you when you 60 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 a pure
heart Never yield one iota to 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 az
fairs as duty of citizenship but do not sur
render your faith to those who disoredit and de-
base politics by scoflng at sentiment and princb
pie, and whose political activity consists in OF
tempts to gain popular support by cunning do
vices and shrewd manipulation.
You may be chosen to public ONCE Do not
shrink from it. for holding office is also duty
of citizenship But do not leave your faith be-
hind YOU Every public offlce, 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 all times
deliver YOU from temptation.
In conclusion, let me remind you that we
may oil 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 IT, being thoroughly i'm
bued with true American sentiment and the
moral ideas which support it, we are honestly
true to ourselves.