The record-union., 1898-02-22
FAME OF WASHINGTON.
SOME LESSONS DRAWN FROM
HIS LIFE.

SAip ASGS0c DECKS 20 N14Ac inc
Patriotism OF the First Presi-
dent a Standard in Public At
fairs.
The interest aroused by the series of
messages sent out by the National
Christian Citizenship League on ma
tional holidays is good evidence of a ris-
ing protest against the growing public
evils of the day The officers of the
league believe that if the patriotism of
Washington and Lincoln can be made
the standard of the peoples action in
public affairs a great change for the
better win result. The leagues mes
sages on THE New Fourth of July
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Lin
coins birthday have been read by mill
ions of citizens the country over. The
letters printed below on present-day les
sons from the life of Washington are
worthy of study and incorporation into
civic life.
DANGER OF PARTISAN ZEAL.
As / think about George Washington,
his marvellous achievements and wise
counsel, / can recall nothing of more
Importance as present-day lesson than
his prophetic warming against the dan
gers of partisan zeal. More than ne
foresaw has befallen US in this direction.
So long have practical politicians set
party above country and partisanship
above patriotism that we are in need of
a shock to awaken us to realization
of our condition. We are suffering from
an eclipse of patriotism to such an eX-
tent that in the halls of legislation, both
state and national, there seldom is even
the pretense that measures are adopted
or rejected for the public good. Grave
Senators and less dignified Congressman
handy words in legislative discussion,
not to arrive at wise conclusions for the
countrys veal, but to gain a vantage
ground for future party victories. we
are in need of a galaxy of patriots who
would rather be right than simply to
win party triumphs.
SAMUEL DICKIE.
Albion, Mich.
DEVOTION TO THE PUBLIC GOOD.
The lesson Of Washington's whole pub
lie career was one of unselfish devotion
to the public good. He looked upon pub
lie Office as public trust. He regarded
himself not as the boss but as the ser
want of the people. In his connection
with the army and throughout his ad-
ministration, he stood asking, not how
can | plunder the State, but how can l
serve it? He put his hands in his own
pockets many times-never once in the
exchequer for private gain.
Judged by the party tests and practice
of our advanced day, the great Virgin
ian was a hopeless old fogy. The
Hannas, Quays and Crokers, We're he
now alive, would discipline him out
OF partisan politics. Nevertheless, his
was the model Christian citizenship.
He, being dead, yet speaketh," because
he was what he was, and precisely be-
cause he was not what our professional
buyers and sellers of votes and offices
are Who, with any conscience and
legitimate ambition, would not rather be
a dead Washington than a living pres
boodling politician? Our only
concerning such self-seekers
is that, like Jehoiabim, Kindred boss
of old, they shall be buried with the
burial of an ass"
CARLOS MARTYN.
New York City.
EDUCATION, RELIGION.
No better text for a lesson from the
life of George Washington can be found
than his farewell address to his country
men on retiring from public life at
Mount Vernon, his home and the place
of his death a little later. No better
or exhortation to good citizen
ship ever was uttered than is expressed
in this wonderful prophetic document, in
which he looked down through the vistas
of time and saw the dangers that We're
liable to beset and environ the ship of
State. His exhortation against section
alism, had it been needed, would have
avoided the awful civil war and the
waste of precious lives and billions OF
treasure. His command to avoid en-
tangIing alliances with foreign Govern
ments was among the wisest words he
ever uttered, but over and above all IN
its application to our present condition
and to the demand for Christian citizen
ship in guiding the affairs of state is the
exhortation of his farewell address, in
which he admonishes his countrymen
that virtue, education and religion are
the only enduring foundations Of ma
tional greatness and glory. These prin-
ciples need to continue to be proclaimed
in every village and hamlet of our land.
Intelligence, virtue and religion in the
citizen will vote down the awful saloon
curse the enemy of God and man: in
telligence, virtue and religion in the
citizen will lead to the settlement Of in
ternational disputes by arbitration in
stead of by cruel bloodshed and war;
such qualities in the citizen will stay
the tide of sabbath desecration, that Is
doing so much TO destroy the founda-
tions upon which alone the republic can
survive and prevent US from being num-
bered among the States and nations that
disobey and forget God.
ELIJAH A. MORSE
Canton, Mass.
HIS FAR SEEING WISDOM.
The past is a great teacher. Just now
there seems to be much in its testimony
especially fitting to our needs. The re-
currence Of Washington's birthday is
suggestive of a simplicity and SINGER
ity IN our civic and political life very
much needed now. L think, upon the
whole, there is progress toward an i'm
proved condition, but we are very far
yet from such conscientious purpose
and unselfsh administration as char
acterized our national and municipal
life in the beginning. With increased
progress and wealth have come great
abuses. There has been tremendous
perversion of the great principles whicn
underly true politics and patriotism.
That there ever should have become oc-
casion for selfish advantage and disre-
gard of the rights of the whole people
the poorest no less than the richest
is al once our weakness and our shame.
1t is not on the surface that we may