The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-22

ton receiving by unanimous acclaim the
plaudits of the people and commanding
the respect and admiration of the civ
( ilized world, he did not forget that ms
first official act as president should be
ferVent supDlicatiOn to the Almighty
Being who rules the universe 1t is he
who presides in the councils of nations
and whose prOVidenttal aid can supply
every human defect. 1t is His benedic-
ton which we most want and which
can and will cOnsecrate the liberties
and happiness of the people of the Uni
ted States. With His help the 1nStru-
ments of the citizens employed to carry
out their purposes will succeed in the
functions allotted to public life.
But Washington on this occasion
went further and spoke for the people,
assuming that he but voiced the sentl-
ment of the young nation in thus max
ing faith in Almighty God and reliance
upon His favor and care on strong
foundations of the government then in
augurated, and proceeding Washington
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 owl
edge and adore the invisible hand which
conducts of affairs of men more than
the people of the United States.
Every step by which they have ad-
vanced to the character of an indepen-
dent nation seems to have been dlslln-
euished by some token of prOvidenual
agency. and IN the important rev OAQIlOA4
just accomplished in the system of their
united government the tranquil deliber-
ations and voluntary consent OF so
many distinct communities from Whlch
the events resulted can not be compar-
ed with the means by which most gov
ernments have been established with
out some return of pIous gratitude
along with an humble anticipation OF
the future blessings which the same
seems to presage. The reflections aris-
ing out of the present crisis have forced
themselves strongly upon my mlnu-
You Will Join with me, trust, IN thlnK-
ing that there are none under the lhIlu-
ence Of which the proceedings OF new
and free government are more au-
spiciOuSly commenced
The senate of the United states mace
fitting response of its appreciation OF
this portion of the presidents inaugural
address when its members declared tfaC
"a review of the many signal instances
of divine intervention in favor OF the
country claims our most plous grau-
tude and that they were inevitably leo
TO acknowledge and adore the great ar
bitter of the universe by whom empires
rise and fall
viding that after the oath shall nave
been administered to the president, ne
attended by the vice president ana
the members of the senate and mouse
of sentatives-prOceed to St. Paul
chanel to hear divine services perform
ed by the chaplain of congress, al
ready appointed
Not alone upon days of thanksgiving
or in times of trial should we, as a
people. remember and follow the ex-
ample thus set by the fathers, but new
er in our future as nation should we
forget the great moral ana relSlouS
principles which they enunciated and
defended as their most precious herl-
tage.
| trial and commercial strife and of per
picking problems, we should never
| abandon the simple faith in Almighty
God as recognized IN the name of the
| American people by Washington ana
/ 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