The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-22
WASHINGTON.

! one nuuureu huu siAty-nNc 1chIs hsos 10
more generally observed throughout the
nation OF which he was the father than
any other anniversary.
Strictly speaking We have no national
holidays, that Is, no day is q legal or
statutory holiday by act Of Congress. Not
even the Fourth OF July il formally such q
holiday. Moreover, certain OF the States
have no statutory holidays at all but by
common consent recognize some Of the
holidays as made generally by the other
States.
In three OF the States, even this day Of
the anniversary OF wasbington's birth is
not recognized but in s.l the other States
and the District of Columbia il is cele-
brsteo and made holiday.
Soldiers parade, patriotic societies meet,
and orators and editors pay their tri butte to
the father OF his country today. Yester-
day, the ministers in many pulpits made
1t is somewhat OF q comforting reflection
as to this that however oyerfowing
with eloqueDce 10 the speaker of the oc-
cssion, however strong is the spirit OF
adulation I'm the editor, however fervid
may have been the inspiration OF the
minister, none Of them can well slop
over on the subject of the immortal
George. Recent careful study and analy-
sis of his character nave justified all that
has been written and spoken aud taught
and even imagined about him and gusr-
antes the highest eulogium that may be
delivered today. That this is so is, per-
hsps, fortunate for such OF the speakers
and writers and ministers whose charm
OF delivery and diction would De greatly
reduced did they not have full swing ''to
lay 1t on thick" and in our day we hsvs
had demonstrated for a fact what, we
were taught in our school days, that in
the case of Washington it is practically
impossi BILE tn lay 1t on too thick. He
will be able to carry all without the pos
sibility OF any discounting either as to |
his own character or the warmest phrases
OF bis most earnest eulogist. lie was a
great man In more ways than any other |
that ever lived with the exception only of |
Him whose birth marked the beginning /
OF eur Christian era.
Within few months able scholars in
history and students have given Us the
result OF their painstaking study into the
wonderful character made with view to
discovering IL the American people were
in danger OF idolstry in their conception
Of the greatest American and with the
passing years had come to hold a con-
ception OF the man so exalted that Il
could not possibly be justified by human
being, however superb he might he.
The result OF these stndies 30 far from
the estimate OF Washington,
formed with most of us in our confiding
years, has been that his figure stands out
more noble, more remarkable, .more
'plendid, than any mere blind faith in a
'hsdowy character OF century-old history
could possibly express. And this Is, of
course. highly gratifying to every patri-
'tic American who, however he may be
iisposed to sLatter idols. even his own,
9 still In his better nature profoundly
ealous of the sparse few OF his household
rods, worship OF whom was part OF the
'ducstion Of his childhood.
Neither can we be sccused of any mar
ow spirit OF nativism In doing honor
o Washington. We need not fear that
vs shall seem to lack In discretion In the
yes of the world by our worship of his
'enius, our Admiration of his personal
ty and our recognition OF the work he
lid in founding this nation OF ours.
For we know now what We have before
believed that Washington was pre.eminsnt
mong the great characters of history
nd that while, in particular characters
les others have been as notable as he.
lone was 60 BILE in so many, none was
o well rounded and possessed OF so great
number OF conspicuous talents well per
ected-iust as we know that by the
ounding OF the American Republic the
Whole world was given an example that
las been OF universal benefit and for the
'ood OF ell humanity.
Our view OF the man whose birth we
commemorate today Is justified thus to
he world by Gladstone when he saws: !
II among all the podestnls supplied by !
\ 80 frw -.