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


The Presidents address, which was deiv-
cred in his customary easy, graceful man
ner and with clear, distinct voice, could be
plainly heard by every person in the audi
ence. His remarks were interrupted at fire.
quent intervals with applause. The phrase
that Washington and his compatriots had
founded the financial operations of the gov
eminent upon principles that the national
credit was national honor met with espe-
cially enthusiastic appreciation. Following
is the text of the address:
Mr. Provost Officers and Students of the Uni
xersity Of Pennsylvania. Ladies and Gentlemen
try, the birthday of a great patriot, who assured
the beginning of a great Nation This day be-
certain sense the University of Pennsylvania has
special reasons for hoRoring the 22d OF February.
For over half a century, with ever increasing
popularity and public recognition, you have OBJ
served the occasion, either as holiday or with
students. No other American institution of
learning has prouder title to the veneration of
ton was laid in colonial days, nearly fifty years
before Pennsylvania became State; whose prog
ress was largely due to the activity of Franklin
and other Jealous and far-seeing patriots. and
whose trustees were on terms of sufficient in
tmacy with Washington to congratulate him
upon his election to the presidency and TO re-
ceivc from him notable reply, which has passed
into the history Of the times.
Washington. too, belonged to the brotherhood
Of the alumni of this institution having accepted
in 17S3-an honor doubtless the more appreciated
when he recalled the events which gave him
close and peculiar attachment TO the city of Phil
adelphia.
mo wonder that your great university has
made the 22d of February it's most impressive
ceremonial and devoted its annual exercises to
special tributes TO the memory of the first Pres
dent of the United States and the patriotic
themes which cluster thickly about his life and
work rejoice with you in the day. / rejoice,
as9 that throughout this broad land the birthday
celebrated with enthusiasm and earnestness
which testify to the virtue and gratitude of the
American people.
1T would not be possible in the comparatively
short time to which these exercises must to-day
be limited to follow Washington in his long and
distinguished services at the head of the army
and as chief executive of the government. My
purpose is simply to call to your attention few
points in Washlngton's career which have singu-
larry impressed me, refer to some passages in his
writings that seem peculiarly appropriate for the
guidance of the people who, under form of
government, have in their keeping the well-oeing
of the country.
WAsHINGToN's GENIUS.
''In it's entirety Washington's public life is as
familiar to the American student as the history
of the United States. They are associated in holy
and indssoluble bonds. The one is incomplete
without the other Washington's character and
achievements have been part of the schoolbooks
of the Nation for more than century and have
moved American youth and American manhood
to aspire to the highest ideals of responsible
citizenship, With enduring fame as a great SOL
plishments in the paths of. craftsmanship. As
soldier he peerless in the times in when he
lived, and stateInan his rank is fixed with
the most illustrious in any country or in any age
But with all pride in Washington not
infrequenty fail to give him credit his
velOuS genius a constructive statesman. We
constantly in danger of losing sight of the
sweep and clearness of his comprehension, which
accurately grasped the problems of the remote
future and knew how to formulate the best
means for their solution. 1t committed to
Washington to launch ship of state He had
neither precedent predecessor to help him.
He welded the scattered and at times antag-
onstic colonies into indestructible Union and
inculcated the lessons of mutual torbearance and
fraternity which have cenented the States into
still closer bonds of interest and sympathy.
From the hour that Washington declared in
his Virginia home that he would raise n thousand
men and equip them at his own expense to march
to the defense of Boston he became the masterful
spirit of the Continental army and the mightiest
single factor in the continents struggle for lib
erty and independence. Apparently without per-
sonal ambition, squirting royal honors when they
suggested TO him. he fulfilled still more
ton freer and mghter than the history of
has known.
Though WashingtonS exalted character and
the most striking acts of his brilliant record
too familiar be recounted here, where so many
times they haze received eloquent and deserved
euogy yet of - 5 the history is retold X COM
mands love and admiration and interest
We love to recall his noble unselfshness his
heroic purposes the power of his magnificent
personality his glorious achievements for man
kind and his stawart and unhinching devotion
to independence, liberty and union. Those cannot
be too often told or be too fam ilially known.
"A Shareholder himself he yet hated slavery