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

PRESIDENT NJ hINIEY-
From the hour when Washington declared. in
his Virginia home. that he would raise Il thou
sand men. and equip them a his own expense.
to march To the defense of Boston. he became
the ma~terful spirit Of tn" continental army.
ana the mightie>t single factor in the con-
tln@nt struggle for liberty and independence.
Apparently without personal ambition. Spurn-
ing royal hOnorS when they were suggested to
him. he fulfilled Il still more glorious destiny as
the guiding force Of Il civilization frcer and
mlghticr than the history Of man had ever
Known.
Though WaShin-ton'S exalted character and
the most striking ats of his brilliant record
are too familiar to he recOuntcd here. where so
many times they have received eloquent and
deserved cuIOgy. yet often as the story is retOld.
IL engages our love and admiration and inter-
est. We love to recall his noble un >clti>hneSS.
his heroic purpose. the power of his magnii-
cent personality. his glorious achievements for
mankind. and his Sta!wart and untiichinG de-
vOtiOn to independence. liberty and
union Those can not he 100 often told or be
too familiary known. y Shareholder himself. he
yet hated slavery. and provided in his will for
the emancipation OF his slaves. Not a college
graduate. he was always enthusiastically the
friend oI liberal education. lie used on every
suitable occasion to impress upon congress and
the country the Importance OF a high standard
of general education. and characterized the diff
fusion of knowledge as the most essential ele-
ment of strength in the system Of free govern
ment That learning should 20 with liberty.
and that liberty is never endangered 50 long as
II Is IN the kecpIn" OF intelligent citizens. was
the ideal civic code which his frequent utter
anceS never failed to enforce.
And how rcverent always was this great man.
how prompt and generous his recognition Of
the guiding hun! 81 Divine Providence in eS-
tabliShing and.COntrOlling the Ge>IinicS of the
colonies and the republic. Again ami again
in his talks IN his letters, IN his state papers,
and federal aldreSS"S-he reveals this sid" of
his character. the force Of which we still feel.
and | trust We always will.
/ tine very height of his success and reward.
as he emerged from the revolution. receiving.
by unanimous acclaim, TIL plauditS of the pco-
pie. and commanding the r->pcct and admira-
ton of the civilized world. h" did not forget
that mis- first Oficial act as president
should be fervent SuppIIcatiOn 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 de-
feet. 1t is His benejictiOn which We most
want. and which can, and Will cOn>ecrate the
liberties and happiness of the people of the
United States. With His help the instruments
of the citizens employed to carry out their pur-
poses will succeed in the functions allotted to
public life.
But Washington. on this occasion. went fur
Their, and spoke for the people, aSSuming that he
but voiced the sentiment of the young nation
In thus making ialth IN Almighty God,
and reliance upon His favor ana career one
of the strong foundations Of the government
then inauguratcd. And. proceeding. Washing
ton states the reason for his belief in language
50 exalted that IL should be craven deep upon
the mind Of every patriot: No people can be
bound to acknowledge and adore 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 accomplished in the system OF
their united government, the tranquil delibera-
tiOu> and voluntary consents Of 50 many dis
tinct communities from which the events re-
suited can nos be compared with
the means by which most govern
some return of piouS gratitude, along with an
humble anticipation of the future blessings
which the same seems to preSSage. The retec-
tionS arising out of tie 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 pro-
ceedingS OF a new and free government are most
auSpiciOuSly commenced"
The senate OF the United States made fitting
response OF its appreciation 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 ackaOwl-
edge and adore the Great Arbiter of the univ
er>eby whom empires rise and fail.
Congress added its sanction by providing that
after the oath shall have been administered
to the president. he. attended by the vice-preS-
ident and the members OF the senate and house
of representatives. proceed to st. PaUlS chap
cl to hear Divine services performed by the
chaplain of congress-. already appointed.
Not alone upon days Of thanksgiving or in
times of trial should we. as Il people. remember
and follow the example thus set by the fathers.
but never in our future. aS Il nation. should we
forget the great moral and religious principles
which they enunciatcd and defended as their
most precious heritage.
In an age of great activity O. industrial and
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. l. much practical
benefit to be derived from the present apOlica-
ton Of portions Of his farewell address, a docu-
ment in which Washington laid down princi-
pies which appeared to him all important to
the permanence of our felicity as a people.
In that address NaShi- gtOn contents in part
"a for the promotion of institutions Of learn
ing; () for cherishing the public credit: 81 for
the observance of good faith and justice toward
all nations.
One hundred years ago free schools were lit
tie known in the United States. There were
excellent schools for the well-to-do. and char
liable institutions for the instruction Of boys
and girls without means. but the free public
school, open alike to the child Of the rich and
the poor. and supported by the state. awaited
creation and developement. The seed planted
by the fathers soon bore fruit. Free schools
were the necessary supplement o free men The
wise and liberal provision for public instruction
by the fathers, second only in effect to
their struggle for the Independence and creation
of the Union, were destined at no distant date
to produce the most wonderful results. As the
country has grown. education. foStered by the
state. has kept aFace with IL. Rich as are the
collegiate enuOWmentS OF the OLD world. none OF
them excel in muniticcnce 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 gov
eminent. liberty and laws"
Adams and Madison. jefferson and Hamilton,
Sherman and Trumbull. Hancock, Jay, Marshal,
the ClintonS and many others OF our early
statesmen were scarcely less earnest and elo-
Gucrt than Washing tOn himself IN pleading the
cause of sound and liberal education for the
people.
Nor does this seem surprising when we reflect
that the trueSt aim ami wOrthIeSt ambition Oi
education i not finished scholarship FOR the IA
vOred few. but the elevation of a high standard
of citizenship among the MANY. l have had
peculiar satisfaction in the fact that Washing
ton. in those early days when engruS>el with
mighty governmental prOblSmS. ala not forge,
his contributions for tn" education Of the poor
and left in his Will a bequeSt to be dedicated to
free public instruction. Nothing better tells
the value placed upon knowledge As an essen
tial to the highest and best citizenship. How
nriceleSS is q liberal education. In itself what