The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-23

and provided In his will for the emancipation Of
his slaves. Not college graduate. he was al
ways enthusiastically the friend OF liberal educa-
ton. He used on every suitable occasion to i'm
press upon Congress and the country the i'm
portance of high standard of general education
and characterized the diffusion of knowledge as
the most essential element of strength in the sys-
go with liberty and that liberty is never endan-
gered long 1t is in the keeping OF intelligent
citizens, was the ideal civic code which his fire.
quent utterances never failed TO enforce.
ALWAYS REvERENT.
''And how reverent always this great man.
how prompt and generous his recognition of the
guiding hand of divine Providence in establish
ing and controlling the destinies of the colonies
and the Republic. Again and again-in his talks,
in his letters in his state papers and formal adj
dresses-he reveals this side of his character, the
force of which we still feel and. trust, we al
ways viii.
.'At the very height of his success and reward
as he emerged from the revolution, receiving by
unanimous acclaim the plaudits of the people and
commanding the respect and admiration of the
civilized world, he did not forget that his first
official act President should be fervent sup
plication the Almighty Being who rules the
universe. 1t is He who provides in the councils
OF nations and whose providential aid can supply
every human defect. 1t is His benediction which
most want and which and will consecrate
the liberties and happiness of the people of the
United Statess With His help the instruments OF
the citizens employed to carry out their purposes
will succeed in the functions allotted to public
life. But Washington this occasion, went
further and spoke for the people. 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 proceeding, Wash
ington states his reasons for his belief in Ian
upon the mind of every patriot:
No people can be bound to acknowledge and
adore the invisible hand which conducts the af
fairs of man 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 10y some token of
providential agency and, in the important revo-
lutiOn Just accomplished in the system OF their
united government the tranquil deliberations and
voluntary consents of so many distinct conlmuni-
compared with the means by which most govern
ments have been established, without some re-
turn of pious gratitude along with an humble
anticipation of the future blessings which the
same seems to presage. The reflections arising
out of the present crisis have forced themselves
strongly upon my mind You will join with me,
] trust, in thinking that there are none under
the influence OF which the proceedings of new
and free government are most auspiclousy COM
meneed. ,..,--
response of its appreciation of this portion Of the
Presidents inaugural address when its members
declared that A review of the many signal in
stances of divine intervention in favor OF the
country claims most piouS gratitude, and they
inevitably led TO acknowledge and adore
the great Arbiter of the Universe, by whom en-
pires rise and fall.
Congress added its sanction by providing that
the President. be. attended by the Vice President
and the members of the Senate and House of
Representatives, proceed to st. Paul's Chapel to
hear divine services performed by the chaplain
of Congress already appointed
mot alone upon days of thanksgiving or in
times of trial should we, a people, remember
and follow the example thus set by the fathers.
but never in future Nation should we
forget the great moral and religious principle
which they enunciated and defended as their
tivity of industrial and commercial strife and of
perpexing problems. should never abandon
the simple faith in Almighty God as recognized
in the name of the American people by Washing
ton and the first Congresses.
HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS.
But if timely lesson is to be drawn from
the opinions of Washington his assuming the
benefit to be derived from the present application
OF portions of his farewell address. a document
in which Washington laid down principles which
appeared to him all important, to the perma-
hence of your felicity as a people In that adj
dress Washington contends, in part % for the
promotion of institutions of learning. % fer cher
ishing the public credit 90 for The observance of
good faith and justice toward all nations.
lone hundred years ago free schools little
known in the United States, there were excellent
schools for the well-to-do and charitable insitu-
lions for the instruction of boys and girls without
means; but the free public school, open alike to
the children of the rich and poor, and supported
by state, awaited creation and development. The
seed planted by the fathers bore fruit. Free
schools were the necessary supplement of free
men. The wise and liberal provisions for public
instruction by the fathers. second only in effect
to their struggle for the independence and crea-
ton of the Union, were destined at distant
day to produce the most wonderful results.
AS the country has grown, education. fOstered
by the state has kept pace with it. Rich as are
the collegiate endowments Of the old world none
of them excel in munifcence the gifts made to
United States and by their governments in con
formity with the influence which sound learning