The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-23
ONsWAsHINGToNs CHARACTER

"THE FATHER OF OUR couN.
TRY"
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22.-Presldent
Mckinley ate IN early preaktas. with
the family OF Charles C. Harrison this
4 morning. He did not leave the house
4 until q few minutes before II O'clock,
wheu in company with Mr.. Harrison he
was driven TO the Academy OF Music,
where the Washington birthday COM
memorative exercises Of the University
OF Pennsylvania were held. Over 1000
students assembled on the university
1 campus at $3.50 this morning and march,
ed FUR abreast to the Academy OF
Muslc Tho route was arranged SO that
the procession should pass Mr.. Harri.
! sons home, and the students give a
cheering welcome to the President. The
chief magistrate when the head OF the
4 long column reached the house, appear
= ed at the door. There with barred head
he smilingly bowed TO the hundreds OF
Undergraduates In response 10 their
hearty college greeting. The column
marched inSs classes and as each class
reached the house It's members shouted
I. the college cry Of ',Penn-Syl-Va-Nla,".
em-Syl-Va-Nla," ending with THE
Presldert," The President, "The Pres
\ ident." Al;
The Presidents face lighted up and
4 betokened extreme pleasure Reachiny
the Academy the students marched In
j side and took the seats reserved for
them. Admission to- the Academy was
by card and the-audlence was made. up
: almost wholly Of those from the unlver-
slty. very little room being left FOR
others. as n
The Academy OF Music, where the. cer-
emonies were held, was beautifully dec
grated. After the university boys had
again given the varsity, cheer, winding
UP with the Presidents name. Provost
G. @. Harrison stepped to the front OF
Y the, stage and introduced the President
s In brief address.
President Mckinley spoke as follows:
Mr.. Provost officers and students OF
the University of 'PenayslvanIa. ladies
and gentlemen:
We celebrate here as In every part OF
our country the birthday OF great pa
triot, who assumed the beginning OF 4
4 great nation. This day belongs to pa
triotism and the people. But In ccr-
4 tain sense the University Of Pennsyl-
rania has special reasons for honosiny
the twenty-second OF February. For
over half century, with every In
creasing popularity and public recogni-
ton, you have observed the occasion,
either as q holiday or with patriotic
exercises. participated In by faculty
land students. No other American In
I stitution Of learning has prouder title
to the reneratlon of Washlngtoa's mem
81 ofF than this, whose foundation was
laid In colonial days nearly fifty years
s before Pennsylvania became q state;
whose progress was largely due to the
\ activity OF Franklin and other jealous
and farseeing patriots and whose trust
ees We're on terms OF sufficient inti-
macy with Washington to congratulate
] him upon his election to the presidency
y and to receive from him notable re-
ply which has passed Into the history
of the times.
Washington, too, belonged 20 the
& Brotherhood of Alumni! OF this institu-
$ tlon, having accepted the degree Of
y doctor OF laws conferred upon hin, in
17SS-an honor doubtless the more ap-
y preciated when he recalled the events
y which gave him close aid peculiar at
tachment to the city of Philadelphia.
5s{l No wonder that your great university
has made the twenty-second Of Febrr-
airy Its most impressive ceremonial and
z devoted Its annual exercises TO special
II tributes to the memory OF the first
President Of the United States, and the
4 patriotic themes which cluster thickly
about his life and work rejoice with
you In the day. l rejoice. also, that
throughout this broad land the birth
I dag Of the patriot leader Is faithfully
observed and celebrated with an crt.u-
! siasm and cacIestness which testify 10
the virtue and gratitude OF the Ameri-
can people.
~ It would NOT be possible In the com.
Parattvely short time TO which these ex-
crcises must to-day be limited, 10 fol-
low Washington in his long and iistin-
q guished services at the head OF tho
& ermy and as CHEZ executive OF the
government. Ny purpose is simply to
call to your attention few points In
I'll Washingtor's career which have sin
sulariy impressed me and refer 70 some
passages in his writings that seem Pc
3 eullarly appropriate for the guidance
or the people, WHO under our form OF
government have in thelr keeping the
4 well being Of the country.
In its entirety washington's public
Z life Is rs familiar to the American stu.
& dent as the history OF the United States.
II They are associated In holy and In
dissoluble bonds. The one is lncom-
plete without the other. Washingtoa's
character and achievements have been
a. part OF the school books OF the ma
ton for more than century and have
moved American youth and American
manhood to aspire 10 the lIigheat Ideals
Z OF responsible citizenship. With cnlur-
4 ing fame as great SOLDIER the world
3 has recognized his equal accomplish
L mcnts In the paths of craftsmanship.
NJ AS soldier he was peerless In the
times In which lie lived and rs states.
& man his rank is fixed with the most H.
lustrlous In any country or In any ngc.
But with all our pride IN Washington,
We not infrequently fail to give him
q credit for his marvellous genius rs a
constructive statesman. We are con-
stantlV In danger OF losing sight OF the
sweep and clearness of his comprchcn-
slon,whlch accurately grasped the prob
4 lens OF the remote future md know TO
i formulate the best means for their So
luton. It was committed 10 Washing
z ton to launch our ship OF state. He had
neither precedent or Predecessor to help
i him. He welded the scattered and at
times antaGonistlc colonies into IN In
destructible union and incuIcated the
n lessons of mutual forbeararce and fra !.
eternity which have cemented the states
a$ Into still closer honda OF Interest and
4 sympathy.