Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-22

and the country the Importance Of q hiQh
acterixed the diffusion OF know ledge IS the
most essential element Of strength in the
system Of free government. That learning
should go with liberty and that liberty Is
never endangered 50 long as It IL In the
keeping of Intelligent citizens was the ideal
civic code which his frequent utterances
rever failed to enforce.
Reverence Coupled with Greatness.
And how reverent always was this great
man, how prompt and generous his recog-
milton of the guiding hand of Divine Provi-
dence in establishing and controlling the
destinies Of the colonies and the republic!
Again and again-in his talks, in his let
tiers, in his state papers and formal ad-
dresses-he reveals this side Of his char
acter. the force Of which we still feel, and,
trust, we always will.
At the very height Of his success and re-
ward. as he emerged from the revolution,
receiving by unanimous acclaim the plau-
otis OF the people and commanding the re-
spect and admiration Of the civilized world,
he did not forget that his first official act
as President should be fervent specification
| to the Almighty Being who rules the uni
verse. 1t is He who presides In the coun-
ellis OF nations and whose providential aid
can supply every human defect. 1t is IIis
benediction which we most want and which
can and Will consecrata the liberties and
happiness Of the people " the United
states. With His help the instruments of
eAAO SAtiASifo cilpi(yeu u carry out tne1r
purposes will succeed In the functions al
lotted to public life.
But Washington on this occasion went
further and spoke for the people, assuming
that he but voiced the sentiment of the
young nation in thus making faith in Al
mighty God and reliance upon His favor
and care one Of the strong foundations Of
the government then inaugurated. And
proceeding, Washington states the reasons
for his belief In language SO exalted that 1t
should be craven deep upon The mind of
every patriot: mo 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 ad-
vanced to the character of an Independent
nation seems to have been distinguished
| by some token of providential agency; and
In the important revolution just accom-
plished, in the system Of their united gov
eminent, the tranquil deliberations and vol
| untary consent of so many distinct COM
| munities. from which the events resulted
cannot be compared with the means by
| which most governments have been estab-
lfshed without some return of pious graft
tude, along with an humble anticipation of
the future blessings which the same seems
to presage. These reflections, arising out
Of the present crisis, have forced them
selves strongly upon my mind. You will
| join with me- trust, In thinking that there
are none under the influence of which the
| proceedings of new and free government
are more auspicfously commenced.
cCAkhsc AtAhB ANCSROhocs
The Senate Of the United States made
| fitting response Of It's appreciation Of this
portion of the Presidents inaugural ad-
dress whsn its members declared that "a
| review of the many signal instances of d.
vine Intervention in favor Of the country
claims our most pious gratitude, and that
they were inevitably led to acknowledge
and adore the Great Arbiter of the uni
verse, by whom empires rise and fall"
| Congress added its sanction by providing
that, after the oath shall have been ad-
ministered to the President, he, attend
| ed by the Vice President and the mem
bcrs of the Senate and House of Repres an
tatives, proceed to st. Paurs Chapel 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 a people re-
member and follow the example thus set
| by the fathers. but never in our future as
a nation should we forget the great moral
and religious principles which they an
inundated and defended as their most
ttvtty, OF industrial and commercial strife
ard 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 timely lesson is to be drawn
! from the opinions of Washington ON his
| assuming the Office of President. 40. also,
is much practical benefit to be derived
from the present application Of portions of
| his farewell address. q document in which
washington laid down principles which
| Manence Of your felicity as a people"
In that address Washington contends. in
part: ~ For the promotion of institutions
OF learning: 90 for cherishing the public
credit; CD for the observance of good
| faith and Justice toward all nations
One hundred years ago freq schools were
little known In the United States. There
were excellent schools for the wsll-to-do
and charitable institutions for the instrIc-
ton OF boys and girls without means: but
| the free public school, open alike to the
| children Of the rich and poor and support
velopment The seed planted by the
fathers soon bore fruit. Free schools were
the necessary supplement of free men.
~; Inc wise and liberal provisions for pub
Tic instruction by the fathers, second only
| IN erect to their struggle for the ind =.
| pendence and creation of the Union. were
destined at no distant date to produce the
most wonderful results.
Growth Of Education.
As the country has grown. education fos-
| tered by the state has kept pace with It.
| Rich as are the collegiate endowments of
| tho old world. mono of them excel In MIL
| nfficence tho gifts made to educational in
! situations by the people Of the United
| States and by their governments in con-
| formity with the influence which SOUND
| learning has on religion and manners. on
government. liberty and laws" Adams
! and Madison, Jefferson and Hamilton.
Sherman and Trumbull, Hancock, Jaw.
| Marshall, the Clintons and many others of
| our carly statesmen were scarcely less
earnest and eloquent than Washington
| 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 and worthiest
| ambition Of education is not finished schol-
arship for the favored few, but the eIeva-
ton of a high standard of citizenship
among the many. 1 have had peculiar sat-
| islactfon in the fact that Washington. in
| those early days, when engrossed with
| mighty governmental problems, did not
| forget his contributions for the educat ton
OF the poor. and left in his will a bequest
to be dedicated to free public instruction.
Nothing better tells the value he placed
| upon knowledge as an essential to the
| highest and best citizenship
| How priceless is liberal education. In
| Itself what a rich endowment! 1t is not
| impaired by age but it's value increases
| with use. No one can employ 1t but It's
| rightful owner. He alone can illustrate its
| worth and enjoy its rewards. 1t cannot be
inherited or purchased. 1t must be ac-
CURED by individual effort It can be Sc
cured only by perseverance and self denial.