El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-23

oAu oOSOoi AoA AdtTSus Lucy 1OuuQ0Q
their government on liberty of
thought, liberty of conscience and Lib
erty of speech, and invited all who
would live in peace and harmony with
their neighbors and who would devote
their talents and energies to the up
building of the country, freely to enter
its portals: Thus the weary and foo.-
sore Israelites, who had suffered per-
secution and torture for centuries and
had been bounded from land to land by
cruel hate, found here q harbor of
refuge and an asylum of peace. Here
they we're allowed to preserve the ira
ditions of their ancestors and to work
out their own happiness. Here they
have attained honor and distip ction in
all walks of life. And Loyalty have they
devoted their efforts, whenever they
could, to the service of the country to
which they owe life and prosperity and
which ia dearer to them than either.
Our Ten pies stand today to teach US,
not only to worship the God of our
fathers and OF all mankind, but like
wise to fulfil the duties of good citizen
ship and of true humanity.
The Gather of his Country" was
conspicuous for his liberality of
thought and freedom from prejudice,
| as he was for every other truly Ameri-
can characteristic. Himself g devOut
Christian, he took occasion to assure
| the few Hebre VS. that were located in
the land in his time, that he had re-
the inherttors of a sublime history,
and that the exercise of ii cir faith Was
not merely permitted them as an act of
tolerance, but was accorded them as
| right inherent in them as citizens and
as men endowed with reason and con-
science. He likewise took especial OPP
portunity of recognizing the bravery
and excellence of the Jewish officers
and soldiers in the Revolutionary
army.
highest traits of character. His truth
fulness, fearlessness and modesty are
proverbial. His absolute unseldsh-
ness-alas! 80 rare q quality among
men-was proved by his refusalito &C
cept any compensation for his ervices
on the battle field and In the executive
mansion. He asked only that such ex-
penses as Congress thought justly in
Cured, be reimbursed. Free from all
party aufmosity, at a time when party
feeling was growing to intense heat, he
listened deferentially to the suggestions
of those who disagreed with him, and
placed his bitterest political opponent
in the highest Office within his gift, in
the post that was second only to his
own, when he made Thomas Jefferson
secretary of state. Indeed he could not
understand how any patriot could let
party spirit take precedence over con-
sideratiOn of his cOuntry's welfare, and
in his immortal farewell address sound
ed a warning that might we'll be heed
ed even at this late day. Raised far
above all desire to court popularity by
departing from the strict paGh of duty,
his political methods show . purity to
which those of the present stand in sad
contrast. But tina traditions of his ca
reer sown in American thought and
life will surely sprout forth inLo &C
t!vity in statesmen yet to appear.
We may, perhaps. deplore the fact
that he left no offspring, no heir to
continue his name aud inherit his no
BILE qualities. But probably 1t is provi
Dental that it was SO, for 1t would have
been difficult for any one to prove
worthy of SO illustrious an ancestor. It is
better that his name has remained I'M
sullied. that there was NO descendant
to tarnish it with even the slightest
reproaoh. As it is. the name of George
Washington stands alone in the records
of our pact. It shines forth in our his
tory as the suggestsr Of chars oteristfcs
we should all strive to emulate. His
popularity dwells wildly in the memo
~ OF the American people rs the one
who was "frst in war and first in
peace" who was, who ia and ever will
be, 1.-The first in the hearts of his coun-
trymen."