The record-union., 1898-02-23

that liberty is never endangered SO long
as it is in the keeping of intelligent
citizens, was the ideal civic code which
his frequent utterances never failed to
enforce.
And how reverent always was this
great man: how prompt and generous
his recognition of the guiding hand of
divine providence in establishing and
and the republic Again and again
in his talks, in his letters, in his state
papers and formal addresses-he re-
veals this side of his character, the
force of which we still feel and l trust
we always will.
AT the very hight of his success and
reward as he emerged from the revolu-
ton, receiving by unanimous. acclaim
the plaudits of the people and COM
manding the respect and admiration of
the civilized world, he did not forget
that his first official act as President
should be fervent supplication to the
Almighty Being who rules the universe
1t is He who presides in the councils
of nations, and whose providential aid
can supply every human defect. 1t is
his benediction which we most want,
and which can and will consecrate the
liberties and happiness of the people Of
the United States. With His help the
instruments of the citizens employed
to carry out their purposes Will sue
ceed in the functions allotted to public
life.
but Washington on this occasion
went further, and spoke for the peo-
pie, assuming that he but voiced the
sentiment of the young nation in thus
making faith in Almighty God and re-
lance upon his favor and care on strong
foundations of the Government then in
augurated. And proceeding, Washing
ton states the reasons for belief in Ian
guage SO exalted that it should be
craven deep upon the mind of every
patriot:
No people can be bound to acknowl-
edge and adopt the invisible hand which
conducts the affairs of man more than
the people of the United States. Every
step by which they have advanced to
the character of an independent nation
seems to have been distinguished by
some token of providential agency; and
in the important revolution just accom-
plished in the system of their united
Government, the tranquil deliberations
and voluntary consents of so many dis
tinct communities from which the
events resulted cannot be compared
with the means by which most govern
ments have been established, without
some return of pious gratitude along
with an humble anticipation of the fu-
ture blessings which the same seems
to presage. The reflections arising out
Of the present crisis have forced them
selves strongly upon my mind. You
will join with me, 1 trust, in thinking
that there are none under the influence
of which the proceedings of a new and
free government are most auspiciously
commenced.
The Senate of the United States
made fitting response Of its apprecia-
ton of this portion of the Presidents
inaugural address. when its members
declared that : A review of the many
signal instances of Divine intervention
in favor of the country claims our most
pious gratitude, and that they were
inevitably led to acknowledge and
adore the great arbiter Of the universe
by whom empires rise and fall
Congress added it's sanction by pro-
viding that After the oath shall have
been administered to the President he,
attended by the, Vice-President and the
members of the Senate and House of
Representatives, proceed to St PauIs
Chapel to hear divine services per-
formed by the Cha plain Of Congress,
already appointed
Not alone on days of thanksgiving
or in times of trials should we as a
people remember and follow the exam
pie thus set by the fathers, but never
in our future as nation should we
forget the great moral and religious
principles which they enunciated and
defended as their most precious her
itage. In an age of great activity, of
industrial ard commercial strife, and of
perplexing problems We should never
abandon the simple faith in Almighty
God as recognized in the name of the
American people by Washington and
the first Congress.
But if a timely lesson is to be drawn
from the opinions of Washington on his
assuming the office of President. so also
is much practical benefit to be derived
from the present application of portions
of his farewell address, a document
in which Washington laid down the
principles which appeared to him all
important TO the permanence of your
felicity as a people In that address
Washington contends in part: Cd For
the promotion Of institutions of learn
ing; % for chershing the public cred
it; 90 for the observance of good faith
and justice toward all nations.
One hundred years ago free schools
.t-GY 10 Iy,,T ia l.a
There were excellent schools for the
well to do, and charitable institutions
for the instruction of boys and girls
without means; but the FIRE public
school, open alike to the children of the
rich and poor, and supported by the
State, awaited creation and develop
ment. The seed planted by the faith
ers soon bore fruit. Free schools were
the necessary supplement of free men.
The wise and liberal provisions for pub
lie instruction by the fathers. second
only in effect to their struggle for their
independence and creation Of the Union
We're destined at no distant date to
produce the most wonderful results. AS
the country has grown, education.
fostered by the State. has KEEP; pace
with it. Rich as are the collegiate en-
dowments Of the old world, none of
them excel in munifcence the gifts
made TO educational institutions by the
people of the United States. and by
their governments in conformity with
the influence which sound learning has
on religion and manners. on govern
ment. liberty and laws"
Adams and Madison and Jefferson
and Hamilton Sherman and Trumhuu
Hancock, Jay, Marshall, the Clintons
and many others of our early statesmen
We're scarcely less earnest and eloquent