The record-union., 1899-02-22
THE DAY.

We have none too many strictly Ma
tional holidays: they might be added
to With benefit to the youth of the land.
Reference is had of course, to those
anniversaries recognized by law, which
wholly and distinctly relate to the rev.
o.ution from which was born the char
ter of our liberties, consecrated by the
blood Of patriots and crystalized into
law in the Constitution We have prac-
tically but two such holidays, and to-
day is one of them.
Aside from these two, however, there
are two others which have legal rec
ognition but are not in the full sense
occasions which relate to the history
Of the nation from it's foundation to
the present era. There are still two
Others which might with profit to the
whole people be indicated for special
and official observance; the day on
which the Constitution was adopted,
and the day ON which the American flag
was legalized as the banner Of free
dom.
Both these events, however, along
with cofnmemoration of great battles,
birthdays of noted patriots, and the
observance of the anniversaries of
great events in our history are given
ceremonial recognition in various Sec
lions of the country Thus the anni-
versary of the battle Of Bunker Hill
is relIgiously observed in New Eng
land: the surrender of Ticonderoga is
recalled ceremonially in New York by
a patriotic people; the battle of New
Orleans has it's day of remembrance
the date Of the signing of the emanci-
patton proclamation Is an hour that is
recalled with profound observance an
nusllly; and so through a longer list
THAN first thought suggests. So that
with celebrations by the ten or twelve
Great patriotic societies each year, the
special anniversary observances of
noted patriotic. events in certain Sec
tons Of the land, and the interposi-
ton in the list of Memorial and
Thanksgiving days, the American peo-
pie after all are not without many a
reminder of patriotic duty, and many
an occasion for special manifestations
Of pride in their nationality.
But the two great National days;
those around which all the others clus-
ter; the days which stand forward
most prominently as National Holidays
are those which honor the name of
Washington and commemorate the
birth of a free nation. There is no
need to recount the familiar story of
Washington's life devotion to the cause
of liberty There is no necessity for
suggesting TIC the American people rea-
sons for keeping green in memory the
story of his courage, wisdom, states
manship and native nobility The
American citizen moves upon an ex-
ceedirgIy low level indeed, who does
not in this hour experience renewed
pride in recalling the virtues, heroism
and self-sacrifice of George Washing
ton, FOR the cause Of self government
the privileges and beneficence Of which
we to-day enjoy.
ttis gratifying to know that there
rs no decadence whatever in the whole
some practice Of making the day
one of special patriotic service in the
common schools of the land. That
simple observance is one Of the most
Potent influences in cultivatine among
the children of the day regard for no.
bility of character. heroic devotion to
the cause Of freedom and the love of
country.
Nor does there appear to be any lack
OF observance of the anniversary on the
part of associations. confraternities.
literary and patriotic organizations,
and the great number of liberty-lov-
Ing and appreciative bodies which are.
watchful against trespass upon human
right, and are regardful of the glorious
traditions of the nation. That the day
is by State and Federal laws one upon
whichtof1cial business is to be suspend
ed. enc departments closed in
hdnor of the First President Of
the United States. the foremost