The record-union., 1898-02-22


cottage, and unless the light of your
Constitution can shine there, rely upon
it that you have yet to learn the du-
ties Of government. May | ask you.
then, to believe, as | do most devoutly
believe, that the moral law was not
written for men alone in their indivld-
ual character. but that il was written
as we'll for nations as great as this OF
which we are citizens. If nations re-
iect and deride this moral law. there IS
a penalty which will inevitably follow.
This penalty may tarry. but let us be
assured that in this thing the poet will
prove a prophet:
"The sword of heaven, if not in haste to
Smite
Nor yet doth linger"
ST Louis Mo. NJ. RHODES.
AN EXAMPLE FOR EVERY CITI-
ZEN
The life of George Washington ap-
peals to the individual character of the
American citizen no less eloquenty
than to his patriotic impulses. Seldom
has history furnished so illustrious an
example of the gradual development of
that which is noblest and most poten-
tial for good as in the character of
Washington. In his life, the pride,
vanity and selfish impulses which were
conpsicuous in early manhood gradu-
allv gave place to an exalted love for
his fellowmen, a passion for justice and
an absorbing devotion to the ideal OF
free government. which subordinatad
selfshness and found it's chief delight
in serving others. As responsibilities
and power crowded upon him. the
Weaknesses of his early life disappeared
before lofty concern for truth, JUS
tice. freedom and fraternity, which are
the fruits of that full-orbed love, which
casts out selfishness and speaks of the
divine resident in man. Therefore, 10
every man. woman and child the life
of Washington bears an impressive
message. teaching the subordination of
self to the august demands of duty
or the placing of the cause of justice,
humanity and the interests of free gov
ernment before all personal considera-
ton.
In it's larger aspects. or as it relates
to our free institutions, the life of
Washington bears a reproof and
warning His simplicity, sincerity, in
tegrity and devotion to the spirit as
we'll as the letter of the rights of ev-
cry citizen, no matter how humble;
his faithfulness to the ideal of SIM
pie republic. when tempted, and his
loyalty to justice. and the awful re-
sponsibility which rests with the peo-
ple's public servants in the exercise Of
every official act-these stand out in
startling contrast with the actions of
during racart wears who
frequently have been governed appar-
emily by personal preference or actu-
ated by selfish desires in the appoint
ment for important positions and the
exercise of other prerogatives of Office
Washington's life should appeal to
every patriotic American in such a way
as to cause him to shake off apathy,
which seems to be drugging the public
conscience, and arouse an old-time en-
thusiasm for the noble ideal of free
government, which alone made the es-
tablishment of the United States pos
sible and which was reflected so splen-
didly in the words and actions of our
first President. B. o. FLOWER.
New York City, N Y
A PATRON OF EDUCATION.
One of the most valuable lessons to
be drawn from the life of George Wash
ington is this: The public demands the
highest wisdom and the greatest skill
in it's service. Whatever demand the
people make it is for them to meet
and supply. In matters of education,
no other agency can take the place
of the ombined effort of the people.
To the end that a great university,
worthy Of the growing nation, should
be established at the National Capital.
Washington left a large part of his
property in trust to Congress to form
the nucleus of such an establishment
That property still remains where the
Father Of his Country placed it. There
is no national university to utilize for
educational purposes the resources OF
the great museums and Libraries which
are gathered at Washington In spite
of the greatness of our country in in
telligence and material resources, we
have no institution of higher learning
worthy to rank with half dozen main
tanned by the little dominion of Ger
many. The great deed of our century
still remains undone. Ever since the
time of Washington our aw-givers
have had it in contemplation. They
have planned a university that shall
be national and American, as the uni
versities of Berlin and Leipzig are ma
tional and German; a university that
shall be the elimination of our public
school system, and that by its vivifying
influence shall quicken the pulse of
every part of this system For more
than century wise men have kept this
project in mind For more than
century wise men have seen the press
ing need Of its accomplishment. For
more than a century, however, the ex-
igencies of politics or the indifference
of political managers has caused post
ponement of its final consideration
In the educational system each grade
looks to the one next higher for help
and inspiration. The place at the head
of our system is now held by the uni
veraties of a foreign land land. more
over, as yet out of sympathy with re-
publican institutions. A great uni
versity in America would attract the
free minded of all the earth. 1t would
draw men of all lands to the study OF
democracy. 1t would tend to make the
workings of democracy worthy of re-
spectful study.
The scholars and investigators now
maintained at Washington exert an in
fluence far beyond that of their official
position. To the force of high train
ing and academic self-devotion is to be
traced the immense influence exerted
in Washington by Joseph Henry. Spen-
Ger r. Baird and Brown Goode. OF such
men as these are universities made.
When such men are Systematically Sc
lected from our body of university pro-
fessors and brought to WaShingtnn