The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-26

a rich endowment. Il is not impaired BY age.
but its value increases with use. No one
can employ it but its rightful owner. He
alone can illuStrat" Its worth and enjoy
or purchased. 1t must be acquired By indi-
vidual effort. II can tie secured only by per-
severance and >elf-d-nial. But it i free as
the air We breathe. Neither race. nor nation
atty. nor sex. can dehar the earnest seeker
from its possession. II l. not exclusive. but in
elusive. in the broadcast AMI best sense. IL il
within the reach Of all who really want il, and
are brave enough to struggle Tor IT. Tbs
earnest rich and the worthy poor are equal and
friendly rivals in its pursuit, and neither Is
exempted from any Of the sacrifices necessary
for its acquisition. The key to its title is not
the bright allurementS of rank and station, but
the simple watchword Of work and study.
A liberal education is the prize of Individual
Industry. 1t is the greatest blessing that a
man or woman can enjoy when supported by
virtue. morality and noble aim
But the requirement Of learning in our schools
and colleges seems 50 easy that We are apt to
underestimate its value, and let the opportunity
to win 1t slip by until regretfully We find that
the chance Is gone. The rudimentS must be in
grated in youth, or. with rare exceptions, they
are forever lost.
Life to most is a struggle. and there is little
time for the contemplation OF the theoretical
when the practical Is pressing at every hand.
Stern duty mOnOpoliZeS our time. The COM
mand of others controls our preferences and
often defeats our intentions. BY steadily adj
herring To a firm purpose, amid the activities Of
life, We may keep in touch with the literature
OF the day, but to go back to the classics or
grapplc with the foundations of the sciences is
beyond the power of most men when they have
entered upon their chosen business or profess
sion.
Ones mental fighting. often Il hand-to-hand
conflict with ObSta les and temptations. is Il
battle OF his own, 4 campaign whose motive
force Is individuality rather than circumstances
or luck. Work in the mental world is As real as
that in the physical world. nor has any pre-
Scriptiun yet been found to take the place OF. ap-
OllcatlDu and ~pif-lpulll and DpT>DUHl SfrupTlpS
which have given TO the world its greatest lead
e. and nObleSt achievements.
Cherish the puDlic credit How much both
OF reflection and instruction is combined in this
simple aGmOnitIOn OF the father Of his cOun-
try. The United States emerged from the Bit
ter and prolonged struggle of the revolutionary
war exhausted financially, and with a hundred
existing perp.eXlLies and difficulties which re-
manned TO be solved before the financial credit
of the new nation could be established ut home
and demonstrated abroad.
But Washington knew how to gather around
him and place in positions of the greatest trust
the ADLER iinancier~ and economists whose
names the country still vcnerate and whose
great WORK il still enjoys. Hamilton and Nor
riS and Gallatin and others were successful in
establishing the treasury and inauguratlng the
financial operations Of this government upon
principles which recognized that the most en-
during basis Of national credit was national
honor. and that whatever other assets we might
have or acquire, that was Indispensable. first,
last and all the time. if we would cherish the
public credit. We have been fully rewarded
all along our history by adhering to the prIn-
ciples of Washington in keeping the public
faith. Before half Il century had passed we had
paid of our national debt and had 4 balance in
the treasury. Another debt, the greatest in our
history. was incurred in the civil war for the
preservation OF the Union. But this did not
exceed the resources or discourage the inten-
tiOns of the American people. There were those
who suggested reputation. but the people
repudiated them. and went on unchecked. dis
charging the obligations OF the government IN
the coin Of honor.
From the day our flag was Unfurled to the
present hour. no stain of a Just oOIiEatlon viO-
lated has Yet furnished the American name.
This must. and will be. A. true III the future ~
il has been in The past. There VIII % prophets
column may waVrT and wander away from the
standard, but there Will ever rally around it a
mighty majority 10 prenerYeit stainless and II
honor.
At no point in his administration does Wash
ingtOn appear in cranier proportions than when
he enuucitteS his ideas in regard to the foreign
policy Of The government:
Observe good faith and justice toward all
nations: cultivate peace and harmony with all;
religion ami morality enJoln this conduct. Can
il be that good policy does not equally enIoinIt:
1t will be worthy of Il free enlightened, aud at
no no distant period, a great nation, to give to
mankind the ma"nanimOuH and too novel ex-
ample OF a people always guided by an exalted
Justice and bencvrlence.
To-day. nearly a century from WaShinqtonS
death. we turn reverentia!iy 10 study theleadlnS
principles Of tnat comprehensive chart for the
guidance of the people. II wdS his untlinChing.
unmovable devotion to these perceptions of
duty which. more than anything else, made him
what he was and contributed so directly to
make Us what We are. Following the preceptS
of Washington We can not err.
The wis. lessons in government which he left
Us it will he profitable To heed.
He seems to have graSpcd all possible condi-
tons and pJint"I tn WAY safely to meet them.
He has established danger signals all along the
OF the nations march. He has warned
US against false lights. tie ha, taught us the
true philosophy OF "A perfect union" and
ism and wild ana unreasonable party spirit
has emphasized the necessity at ali tunes
for the exercise Of sober and dISpanSiOnate
judgment. Such - Judgment, my fcliOw-citi-
zen>. is the best safeguard in calm and tram
quill events. and rises superior AMI triumphant
above the storms of woe ana peril.
We have every incentive To cherish the MEM
and teachings Of Washington. His wisdom
and foresight have been confirmed and yIndi-
Gated after more than a century Of experience.
His best eulOgy * the work he wrought, his
tribute - the great republic which he
and his cUmpatriOt> founded. Fror- four r-:s-
lions we have grown to more to than seventy
OF people. while our progress in indus
try. learning and the arts mas been the wonder
Of the world. What the future will be depends
upon ourselves; ami that that future will bring
still greater blessings to u free people
| can not doubt. With education and morality
in their homes. LOYALTY to the underlying prlp-
ciple~ of free government in their hearts. AMI
and justice ~fOSterei ami cXemplitie1 ny
thhSe IntruSted with public administration We
Will continue to enjoy the respect OF mankind
and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
The priceless opportunity il sure to demon
Stratc anew the enduring triumph OF American
civilization, and To help IN the progress and pros
perity of the land we love.