Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-05
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAS M'KIHLEY'S TEXT
President Addresses the Students
ofthe University of PennsyI-
vania at Philadelphia.
STUDENTS GREET HIM WITH AYELL
President Mckinley EuloGizes the
Father OF Our Country, Using
Quotation From Farewell
Address as His Text.

Philadelphia, Feb. 23.--Two thou
sand students from the University of
Pennsylvania marched past the resi-
dcnce of Provost Harrison this morn
ing and gave the university yell, as the
president appeared on the vcranda and
bowed. The collegians then marched
to the Academy of Music, where the
annual Washington's birthday cere-
monies of the university were held.
The ediiicc was packed. The exercises
at noon. The president was in
troduced by Provost Harrison in a neat
address. Mckinley was received with
the varsity cheer, ending with ms
and he proceeded to deliver the
grafton Of the day.
McKiuIPy's Speech.
We celebrate here as IN every part OF
our country the birthday of the great pa
triot who assured the beginning Of This
great nation. This day belongs TO patr'ol-
ism and the people. il would not De pos
siblc in the comparatively short lme 10
which these exercises must today he linz
tied, 10 follow Washington in his long
services at the head OF the
and as chief executive or the gov
eminent. My purpose is simply 70 CalI
your attention 10 a few points in WASH
ingion's career which singu!arly i'm
pressed me. and refer to some passages
in his writings that seem peculiarly APP
propriate for the guidance OF the people
who. under our form Of government, have
their keeping the well being of the
country. In It's entirety Washington pub
lie life Is as familiar TO the American stu
dent as the history of the United states.
They are associated In holy and indis-
soluble bonds. With enduring fame as a
great soldier the world T. ognized his
equal accomplishments in the paths or
81 "a I 4 - FFts A. 81 llF l-A was TNIGf.
less in the time in which he lived, ana as n
statcsuan his RAJ was fixed with the
most INDUSTRIOUS in any country or i'm
age. From tie hOur when Washington de-
Clarcd In his Virginia home that n would
raise a thousand men ana equip them at
his own expense and march to the defense
of Boston, he became the mastorful spirit
Of the continental army and the miRhtlest
single factor I'm the continents struggle
for liberty ana epondenc". Apparently
without personal ambition. spurning royal
honoTs when they were suggested 10 him,
he fulfilled a still more glorious destiny as
the guiding force of civilization, freer and
mightier han the history Of man had
ever known. \ slave holder himself yet
he hatec slavery ana provided in his VIII
for the emancipation Of his slaves. Not "A
college graduate. he was always and en-
Enthusiastically a friend Of a liberal CduCa-
ton. He used on every suitable occasion
to impress upon congress and the country
the importance Of a high standard OF gen
ca ''AANtNt'lA anu hHt' wv IN
fusion Of knowledge as the most essential
element Of strength in a system Of free
government. And how revcrent always his
great man, how prompt and generous his
re1oGnition Of the guiding hand of divine
providence IN establishing and controlling
the destinies Of the colonies Of the Ie-
public.
Washinoton's Reverence.
At the very height Of his success and re-
ward, as he emerged from the revolution,
~ lwE- 80. fnaAHsE alnrV tho
p~laudits Of the people, and commanding
the respect and admiration OF the civilized
world, he did not forget that his first Of
fetal act as president should be a ~fervent
suppl alton 10 tho Almighty Being who
rules the universe. But Washington on
TIE sentiment Of the Young nation in III.
making Of the faith in Almighty God AMI
reliance upon his favor and care one of the
strong foundations Of the government
then i~naugursted. And proceeding Wash
ington states the reasons for his belief IN.
language so exalted that Il should DO
craven deep upon the mind of every pa.
triot.
In the age OF great activity, industrial
and commercial strife and perplexing
problems VIC should never abandon the
simple faith In Almighty God as rccog-
nized in the name Of the American people
by WASHINGTON and the first congress.
from the opinions of Washington on as
Stunning the office Of president, so also
much practical benefit is to be derived
from the present application Of portions OF
his farewell address. the document in
which Washington laid down the prin-
ciples which appeared to him. IAN i'm
portant % the ~permanence Of
that address washington contends
in part. first, for the promotion Of
Institutions of learning second, for cher
ishing the public credit; third, for the OBJ
seryance of good faith and justice toward
all nations,
Free Schools.
A hundred years ago free schools were
little known in the United States. There
were excellent schools for the well-to-do
and charitable institutions for the instruc-
ton Of boys and girls without means, but
the free public school. open alike 10 the
children OF the rich and poor. Supported
by state. awaited creation and develop
ment. The seed planted by the fathers
soon bore fruit. AS the country has grown
education fostered by state has kept pace
with 1t. Rich as are the collegiate endow-
ments Of the old world none Of them ex-
Gel in munihcenCe the gifts made the edu-
c%ational institutions by the people of the
United States and by their governments,
In conformity with the Influence which
sound learning has on religion and man.
ners, on government, liberty and laws"
Adams, Madison. Jefferson. Hamilton.
Sherman, TrurlDuii, Hancock. JAY. Mar
shall, the Clintons, and many other Of our
early statesmen. were scarcely less earn.
est and eloquent han Washington him
self in pleading the cause Of sound and lib.
eral education for the people.
Nor does this seem surprising when we
reflect that the aim and the worthiest am.
bition Of education is not a finished schol-
arship for the favored few, but the eleva.
ton Of the STANDARD of citizenship among
the many. | have had peculiar satisfac.
ton in the fact that Washington In those
early days, when engrossed with the
mighty governmental problems, did not
forget his contributions for the education
of the poor and left in his will n bequest
to be dedicated to free public instruction.
Nothing better tells the value he placed
upon knowledge as essential TO the highest
and best citizenship. a liberal education
Is the prize Of individual industry. 1t Is
the greatest blessing a man or woman can
enjoy when supported by virtue. morality
and noble aims.
Public Credit.
Cherish public credit" How much both
Of reflection and instruction is combined
in this simple admonition OF the father OF
his country. The United States emerged
from the bitter and prolonged struggle OF
the revolutionary war exhausted fnan-
cially. with hundreds of existing perplex.
tiles and difficulties which remained TO be
solved before the financial credit of the
United States could be established at
home and demonstrated abroad. But
Washington knew how to gather around
him and place I'm positions OF greatest
trust. able fnanciers and economists,
whose names Inc country still Nenerate,
and whose work IL still enjoys. Hamilton.
Morris, Gallatin and others were success
al in establishing the treasury and in
augurating financial operations for this
government upon principles which were
recognized as most enduring. because the
national credit was the national honor,
and whatever other assets we might ac-
quire, that is Indispensable. first, last and
all time. IL Fe would cherish public credit.
We have Teen fully rewarded all along
our history by adhering to the principles
Of Washington in keeping the public faith.
Before half a century had passed we hac
paid off our national debts and had "a bal
anCe In tie treasury. Another debt, thu
the civil var for the preservation of the
union. Eut rL-s did not exceed the re-
sources OF discourage the intention Of the
American people. There were those xhc