The Portland daily press., 1896-09-18
WASHINGTON,s FAREWELL.
Its Anniversary Celebrated by Sons
Of the Revolution.

Of the Revolution.
Address by Mayor Baxter-Reading OF
Washineton,s Farewell-Address by
Col. r. N. Dow-Paper by A. f. Moul-
ton, Esq.
Yesterday was the centennial Of the ad-.
dress delivered by George Washington
wban be bid farewell to the nation as
nublio man, and it seemed especially
fitting that the occasion should be noted
by the Sons of the Revolution.
Accordingly a good audience of ladies
and gentlemen assembled in Baxter hall
at p. IN. yesterday, Notwithstanding
the rainy weather. Mayor Baxter pre-
sided and spoke as follows:
One hundred years ago today George
Washington, who enjoys the rare distinc-
ton OF being entitled the Father of his
Country, distin ction merited by few
men IN all the ages past, delivered to the
American people his farewell address,
which 1t has been deemed fitting by the
Sons of the American Revolution to re-
hearse in your ears today. that we may
keep fresh in our memories the patriotic
Every nation on the globe, civilized or
unoivilized, has had it's one man who,
climbing the lofriesp pinnacle OF fame.
has by his genius commanded the nd
miration not only of his own people,
buu of the world. Such was Cromwell
to England; Napoleon TO France, Peter
the Great to Russia; Kosiusco to Poland.
and Garibaldi to Italy. Above them all
we place Washington, the great general;
the unself1sh patriot; the model citizen.
There has never existed time which
demanded greater exertion to keep the
vital fame of patriotism in the hearts OF
our people than today, when men are
running to and fro after every will
o'wisp OF theory, to the neglect Of weigh
tier things: and this society is fulfilling
an important duty when it recalls them
to the history of the past, and places be-
fore them the earnest and devoted lives
Of those unselfish patriots, the fathers OF
the republic. who were content to follow
the surer paths of experience. If they
wero not always bordered with flowers.
Hence in opening this meeting desire
to express my earnest approval of its OBJ
jects. Today an Important state doou-
ment like Washington's address delivered
Nm one side of the Atlantic, would be
read ON the other few hours after Its
delivery, but when Washington gave to
the American people this unique state
paper, 1t was not printed in Boston un-
Ell the 24th of September and did not ap.
pear In Portland until four days later.
The Eastern Herald and Gazette,
which copied it from the "Boston Gen.
tral'' prefaced 1t with this editorials:
"The most striking feature in our do
mesti0 departments, Is the Presidents ad-
nross to the people of tie United States
This mastery address OF that illustrious
character is not only most elegant COM
Init 10 tn aV
American heart. The sentiments the
benevolence, the important advice, the
sound policy and genuine patriotism
which are contained In this address,
could only be conceived by the heart Of
their author. When he leaves the public
sphere of activity for the peaceful shades
of retirement. 1T IS at time when he Is
covered with glory. There ought not
TO be q tongue that does not speak his
praise, nor heart that does not breathe
every wish for bis happiness. While we
feel lneffable regret on this occasion, it
Is mitigated with the pleasing hope that
his oounsels and his examples will be of
perpetual use to his dear country"
Col Fred N. Dow. upon his introduce
ton by Mayor Baxter, made few brief
remarks and then proceed to read Wash
ington's farewell address.
At the conclusion of Col. BOWS ad-
dress Mr.. A. B. Moulton read very in
teresting paper on the address, in SUBJ
stance as follows: $3.50
WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL AD-
DRESS.
Mr.. Moulton began by the statement
that one hundred yearsssago today George
Rashingto n. president of the United
States, addressed to his countrymen the
famous letter known by tt . above title.
At that time there was little precedent
for guidance or instruction, and our con-
stitution might have been far different
thing from what it IL If there had not
been a John Marshall to cOnstrue and q
George Washington to apply sound judg-
ment and forsighted wisdom to it's vari-
GUS provisions. The leading idea of the
address is an impressive devotion to sthe
union of tie states and intense desire for
its perpetuity. This was the more re-
markable because the conviction that
union was thing to be desired was CON-
paratively new. The Massachusetts
oolonists made no secret of their desire
for isolation. They would not interfere
with other settlements and would have,
none interfere with them. The Virginia
Cavaliers, Pennsylvania Quakers, Mary
land Catholics, Rhode Island Baptists
New York Dutch. desired strict inde-
pendence and viewed with jealousy any
Entertainments on their boundaries or
1essening of their individuality. The
Indian wars and common danger of
French conquest. followed by the op-
preston of the mother country compelled
and furthered common alliance of
these states and 1t was consummated by
the Revoln tionary war.
The speaker then proceeded to con-
alteration of the constitution and said
that when it was ready for operation
there was no disagreement in the choice
of chief executive. All parties and
factions were united on Washington. His
ability, integrity and patriotism were
unquestioned. He was better known
fhan his countrv 1t has been said of