Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-20

was marvellous; his conception Of the
philosophy of government, his insitence
upon the necessity of education, moral
ity, and enligh tened citizenship to the
progress and permanence of the repub-
lie cannot be contemplated, even at this
period, without filling US with astonish-
,nent at the breadth of his comprehen-
sion, and tee sweep of his vision.
His was no narrow view OF govern
n:ent- The Immediate present was not
MS sole concern but our future good his
constant herne of study. He blaZed the
path of liberty. He laid the foundation
upon w!ticn we have grown from weak
and scattered colonial governments to
united republic whose domains and
power as well as whose liberty and free
dom have become the admiration OF me
world. Distance and time have not de-
tracted from the fame and force of his
achievements or diminished the grand
eur Of his life and work. Great deeds do
not stop N thar work and those of
Washington will expand in their infiu-
ence in all the centuries to follow
1.-The bequest Washington has made
to civilization is ricn beyond computa-
ton. The obligations under which he
has placed mankind are sacred and
commanding. The responsibility he has
and perfect what he accomplished. is ex-
acting and solemn. Let US rejoice in
every new evidence thar the people real
ize what they enjoy and cherish with
affection the illustrious heroes of revolu-
-ionary story whose valor and sacrifi-
ces made US a nation. They live in US
and their memory will help US keep the
covenant entered into for the mainte-
nance of the freest government of EARTH.
The nation and the name of Washing
ton are inseparable, one linked indissolu-
ply with the other. Both are glorious,
both triumphant Washington lives and
will live because what he did was for
the eXaltat ton of man, the enforcement
o. conscious! and the establishment of a
government which recognizes all of the
governed. And so, too, will the nation
live victorious over all obstacles, adher-
ing to the immortal principles which
Washington taught and Lincoln sus-
| tanned"
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
| William NJ. Porter, the orator of the
day, followed the president.
| MI Porter began with a recital of the
| forma ton of the Society of the Cincin-
| natl by officers of the American army,
| and its motives and purposes, together
with the origin of the plan which cult
-vate? in today's event. Continuing, he
| said
What shall be said Of this Washing
| ton, to whose memory we do honor.
Certainly no new thing. All has been
! well and often said.
| "A statesman, amniscient, pure, whose
mind conceived and whose deeds crea ted
a free popular government.
"A soldier-self-sacrificin fearless,
whose sufferings and courage saved the
I cause of freedom from defeat.
| "a man, SILENT potent, whose spirit
! brooded over the newborn nation and
| influenced its development and charac-
ter.
ct may be safely asserted that no
/ mind has appeared before since that
| has grasped the principles and possibili
| ties of the republic with more elearness
than that of the first president
1.-The monument, unveiled today, is.
however, reared not to Washington, the
| statesman, but rather to Washington,
| the soldier, by an organization Of his
companions-in-arms''
After touching upon the striking
| points of Washington's several cam
paigns, the speaker drew comparisons
! between Washington and the heroes of
old-Pharoah, Alexander and Caesar, and
| those of feudal times and, continuing
| paid a brief tribute to Grant as the an
| tithesis of Washington in military gent
us.
Returning to the theme of Washington
as man. he said:
"Wnen years have passed and the
world has agreed that a man is great,
/ the verdict must be accepted. Deeds
done under the eyes of men for their
benefit may create transitory enthusi-
the deeds GI1hiaotA9 tO IA
discriminating investigation of the his
torian student, may be found to be I'M
worthy of eulogy. Washington, both
/ contemporaries and succeeding genera
lions have weighed. In norespect have
they found him wanting in all the ele-
ments of greatness.
well does Emerson's definition of
greatness describe him: I count him a
great man who inhabits a higher sphere
of thought into which other men rise
with labor and difficulty; he has but to
open his eyes to see things in a true
light and in large relations, whilst they
must make painful corrections and keep
a vigilant eye on many sources of error.
He is great who is what he is from ma
ture and who never reminds US of 9TH
erS'
Times does not permit review of the
relation that Washington has to the city
| of Philadelphia. No need to tell loyal
Philadelphians that Washington walke.l
these streets and helped by his deeds to
make Philadelphia the historic city of
then alton. Nor can excuse be found for
attempted description of the face and
form of the men in the presence of yon-
der bronze. Childless, he died the IA
Their of a people who even unto this day
| delight to do honor 20 the statesman.
the soldier, the mantle highest type of
! American citizenship"
Following the Grafton came the formal
| presentation of the monument to the