Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-08


highest dictates Of iustice-of morality,
oflhdeIity, OF heroism, Of unselish de-
y9tion to duty towards God and iour
'neiRhbor--t these standards must be kept
bright and clear before the nation.
: Ne hation and much less one under
0 republican form, can maintain lead
ing place in the march of the worlds
civilization by lowering it's standards
wheiher Of personal character, of moral
or intellectual force, or of finabcial
honor qua responsibility.
And may | not pause for moment
and ask you, and all who find their
homes under the flag which Washington
led through perils uncounted and
dangers unEeeded and pay reverence,
and demand acceptance aud an far aH
We can, imitation and obedience to the
standards Of the personal character OF
George Washington--the plain Virginia
farmer-the great American captain, the
first President of our National Union OF
Free Republican and Sovereign States
Fellow countrymen, we must remem-
ber him-we shall he in peril when we
cease TO remember him--for If he 10 60
he forgotten and his precepts and eS-
ample cease to guide us aud he our
animating rule OF action towards each
other and in the government of our
country, our best hopes for our coun-
try's glory and the psrpetuity of free
institutions under republican form OF
government, will have faded into
doubtful and unreliable existence.
This digression--if depression it can
be called on such an anniversary and in
such scene as this-this reference to
and insistence upon the standards of
personal character which are absolutely
essential TO the safety and welfare OF
people-are well illustrated by the
words OF Washington himself on the
10th OF June. lT75, when be accepted
the leadership of the American sorces.
First his ayowed gratitude or to use
his own language, his afIectionate
sensibility" for the honor OF his Sc
lection.
81 beg they will accept my most
cordial thanks for this distinguished
testimony of their appreciation"
Next his modesty
but last some unluclsy event should
happen unfavorable to my reputation,
beg it may be remembered by every
gentleman in this room, TINT this day
declare with tho utmost sincerity | do
not think myself equal to the command
| am honnred with. :"
And finally his standard OF disin
terested public service;
AS to nay, sir beg leave to as.
sure the Congress that as no pecuniary
consideration could have tempted me
to accept this arduous employment at
the expense Of my domestic eass and
happiness, ! do not wish to make any
profit from ii. l will keep an exact
account Of my expenses. These | doubt
not they will discharge, and that is all
i desire.
And this standard Of devotion to
public duty, unstained and never weak
ened by the slightest Iaint or suspic on
Of mercenary advantage, was maintained
by him throughout his entire civil as
well as military employment; and when
he had been unanimously chosen Presi-
dent, in his first inaugural address to
the Congress on April 10th, 1883, an
address luminous with noble delicacy
and digniiied eloquence--a which
will richly reward any one who will
again and again peruse it--hu said:
"When | was first honored with a
call into the service of my country thon
| on the eve of an arduous struggle for
it's liberties. the light in which | con
templated my duty required that
should TenOunce any pecuniary cum
pensation. From this resolution have
in no instance departed and being still
under tho impression which produced
it, | must decline as iuapplicable ia
myself, any share in the personal emolu-
ments. which may he intlispensibly in
cuded in permanent provision for the
executive department, and | must
accordingly pray that the pecuniary
estimate for the station in which / am
placed, may, during my continuance in
it, be limited to such actual expendi-
lures as the public good may he thought
10 require. ."
| recall to your memories these, plain
and practical utterarces of our great
chieftain, because by such self-de.
priyation he was seeking to establish a
standard of uuseltish public service,
protecting the public treasury from his
own private invasion, hut signiiyinp
equally that be would permit no profit
seeking or profit sharing between in
dividuals aud the property OF the people.
And no man nvar lived who could sug
pect Washington OF dealing with such
q subject otherwise than with the trans
parent design Of relieving the i'm.
poYerishad treasury of his country from
any charge that he could Justly prevent.
The poverty OF the colonies when they
sought their Independence appealed nat,
uraliy to generous and patriotic mar
who refrained from "makiDg profit
from those who could 30 lily afford
it; but vicious or false principle he.
comes only the more dangerous as the
scale Of it's operations Is expanded, aud
populous anti wealthy immunity
suffers in ratio nroportiUnate to itt
increase in those possessions that invite
predatory and selfish invasion, But hi
knew and elsewhere avowed, that nj
economy could be more false than in
adequate compensation for importan
public dutiea, which not only in niuriuusl,
limits the field of selection to the few
who are rich, but entails incnmpetenI
public service and impairs that self
respect and independence Of character
which are the best safeguards of thC
community. The ethics of private anC
public compensation and employment
are the same, and ought, for public pro
lection, TO be governed by the SAINT
rules. But Washington never subscribed
10 the doctrine that citizens should luol
to government for their support, but,
on the other hard, he taught thai
government was entitled to he supported
by its citizens and ought not TO inter
fere for or against the individual in
dustry of the people.
The amazing and destructive doctrine
that anywhere in the plan OF free gov
ernmsnt could be found a warrant ful
the employment of the sovereign powert
of government for the ends, or at tht
dictation OF private and personal profit,