The evening times., 1899-02-22
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY p, 1853
George Washington.

This rs hOlldaE tnat can De maue
and Will be made Of unusual in
terest by the thousands of social and
political organizations throughout the
country II is inevitable that when there
is an issue of national moment We should
use the day TO draw guidance from the
words and life Of Washington. He has
come 10 have more the aspect of human
being and less Of the god and oracle.
quarter Of century ago the Parson Weems
idea Of the Father OF His Country pre-
vailed He was goody goody in the eyes
Of The young and prophetic ghost TO the
MIXTURE. As our historical methods have be
come scientific the facts OF his eXtraordi-
nary career have been properly adjusted
and be has been restored as he really was
very much OF a man. with passions
liiue stronger. if more under control. than
those OF most men, and with weaknesses
like his fellow mortals. He has not lost
in the process. He appears as man of
uncommon mind. though lacking in certain
forms Of culture. He was not pious and
he could have lied if he had nor considered
it degrading and contemplate. He lived
al & critical time in The worlds history.
ana Was equal TO demands that ne alone
could meet.
Nothing could be more unjust and ab-
surd than TO quote George Washington to
fortify the position Of the decreasing mi
nority who oppose national EXPANSION.
His was the spirit of Americanism. In
spite Of any words spoken for the guild
ance Of The nation as he foresaw it, We
must look to the spirit OF the man. rather
OF the Father, to find lesson for present
The American people. in their determined
purpose regarding expansion, are follow
ing the impulse originally received from
Washington; and that those who quote
his words against the people are the spiT-
itusI descendants of the Tory of the Revo-
lutionary period The mortal Washing
tons vision OF the future was limited.
Small wonder if he could not project in
Imagination the conditions that time has
wrought But his vital Americanism
serves for all Time and all conditions, and
when his words of warning have ceased TO
apply to cur state, that will be a beacon
that is sure and safe.
II was apparently necessary to the very
existence OF the American Union into
which the colonies had expanded under
his directing hand that it should keep
clear OF foreign alliances and entang e.
ments. 1t was still weak the weaker for
the moment because of the exhaustiEg
struggle for independence II must not be
distracted from the tremendous work Of
domestic development by wastefuI war.
II must be impressed with the enormous
value of its geographical seclusion and
taught to restrain its interest in world af-
fairs. that every energy could be centered
on it's own growth. Therefore these warn
ings which the provincialists of our time
quote so impertinently and with so much
OF injustice to the lofty spirit of George
Washington.
The lesson of his life work was the mag
nitude OF the republican experiment and
its importance TO civilization. 1t was to
be the hope and the light of the world and
by every means in its power it was to pro-
mote the political and social welfare of
the race, without putting in peril its own
existence as a true republic He, more
than any other man of his time, beheld in
the American Republic the salvation of
humanity. Such a high ideal was beyond
the reach of many Of his associates. Alex
ander Hamilton could not believe in the
wisdom and patriotism of a people He
was the antiexpansionist of his day in
his distrust of popular institutions. The
country has grown beyond the utmost ex-
psctation of Washington, and the warnings
impressed on the seven millions do not
apply to the seventy millions. We arc
ready now, and the opportunity has come,
70 assume our place as the worlds leader.
II is imposed on us by our industrial ne
es1ism that We inherited from Washing