Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-15
RED MEMS TRIBUTE


Its central idea is that the liberty and hap
piness OF our people at home and our po-
sition among foreign nations are wholly de-
pendent upon the preservation of the union
OF the states. For that idea million Of
cltizens shed their blood. and against 1T a
half million died In battle, but the
centennial of his death finds us a
united people. and at every cross
our land. the stars and stripes floating
from the school houses Is eloquent tesu-
mony that the present and coming genera
lions have one flag and one country. He
advocated the maintenance of the public
credit as essential to national prosperity.
At one period and another, in times of in
dusfrial distress and mercantile troubles.
wild schemes of finance, fiat money, and
debased currency have captured the sup
port of large sections of our citizens, but
the century closes with the credit of the
United States in the first rank among ma
tions, and our faith and honor untarnished.
He advised free, popular education, by
which law and liberty should rest upon in
telligence. and the most complete and beuef-
icent system of common and high schools
embrace all our youth. He warned against
party passion rising to revolution. and when
the partisans of defeated candidate for
the presidency believed him wronged In the
count the strife was settled not by civil
war but by a high court of arbitration.
He was strenuous that our government
should form no permanent alliance with
any European power, and that we shonid
keep out of European policies. conflicts ana
politics. We always have been, ana we
always will be, free from such entangle-
ments, and an effective treaty OF onen-
sive and defensive alliance could never be
confirmed. He zealously impressed the ne
cessity and lesson of religion and morality:
We have abolished slavery, and extirpated
polygamy. and the churches never had SO
strong a hold on the faith and understand
ing of the people.
No Happier Soul.
''If the spirit of Washington has the
same absorbing interest in his country that
he had of anxiety while living for Its
future, heaven holds tonight no happier
SOUL Our institutions were strained IN the
preliminary trial to govern a fringe OF
settlements along the Atlantic coast ana
the sparsely populated wilderness ending
at the then boundaries OF our country on
the Ohio river. In the experience of hun
bred wears of national development they
have been found sufficient for the wants
and elastic enough for the growth OF the
republic, which has expanded to the Gun
of Mexico on the south, the Paclnc ocean
on the west, and the Arcnc Circie on the
north.
American liberty assimilates all races
which come under its influence and author-
ity 1t not only converts the immigrants from
every land into good citizens, but 1t has
made the territory of Spanish Florida, of
French Louisiana. and of Mexican Iexas,
California, Arizona and New Mexico the
safe seats and centers of material prosper
ity and political power. Its educating and
uplifting force is already producing benefi-
cent results in Cuba. Porto Rico and HAWAII
In less than one generation 1t VIII cnanSe
the conditions of brigandaSe and anarchy,
produced by centuries of oppression, into
those of enlightened self-goverumept. With
the suppression of the Instruction and the
extension of the authority of the United
States over the Philippine Islands, will
how trar Ion lad
by force and fraud American law and jus
tee and American recognition and admin
istration of the rights and remedies for
the wrongs of every individual. Protectlon
for life and property and the equality OF
all before the law breed the habit of 10y
atty to order and the faculty for self-goV-
eminent. Peace and prosperity which fol-
low will substitute public spirit and patri-
otto citizenship for secret police and hostile
garrisons.
Evolution of a Century,
In the evolution of hundred years the
presidency has reached the dignity and
power desired by Washington, but denied
by all his contemporaries, except Hamil-
ton. The possibilities of the chief magis-
tracy were discovered by Jefferson when
he surrendered constitutional scruples for
national safety by the purchase of iouisi-
ana. They startled the country when Cen
eral Jackson seized the sovereign state of
South Carolina by the throat. They re-
ceiyed the sanction of popular approval
when, in the stress of civil war, Lincoln,
by stroke of his pen, confiscated four
hundred millions of recognized property by
freeing four million of slaves. The neceSsi-
ties of the sitpation in our island protecto-
rate and possessions have devolved still
greater duties and graver responsibilities on
President Mckinley Extraordinary centraii-
cation and concentration of power at the
federal capital have created one of the
foremost of nations, without impairing the
rights the proper independence or the self
government of the states. The President
of the United States is the most powerful
ruler in the world, but only the execu-
tive of free people, to whom every four
years he surrenders his office and preroga-
tives.
1.-The peril of the nineteenth century was
disunion, that of the twentieth will be con-
gestion. The productive power of inven-
ton, steam and electricity creates a surplus
which endangers the health, happiness and
lives of the people Of Europe and America.
But dependent races of the orient and of
Africa, and the stimulating processes of
western civilization upon their wants pre-
sent hmitless markets The United States
which stood on suffrance at the doors of
kings palaces at the death of Washington
is entering upon its Tooth anniversary as an
equal In the affairs of the word among the
great powers Of Europe. At Manila we are
at the door of the east, and none can close
II against US.
Changes In Sentiment.
THE intensely hostile feeling of 1893 to-
ward Great Britain has developed in 1890
into mutual respect and cordial good will.
Without any alliance without any VIOLA
ton of the sacred warning of Washington
against European entanglements, there is
an emulous and friendly rivalry in COM
merce and a frank sympathy in many pur-
poses and aspirations which make for the
peace Of the world, and are the hope of the
future for civilization and humanity under
the guidance of English-speaking peoples.
In the fingers of time monuments and
regulations decay and crumble Statesmen
soldiers, authors and orators fill the stage
for a period and gradually drop out Of sight
and memory. A few WORTHLESS of the eight
zenith century live in the admiration or af-
lection of their own countries. OF them all
only Washington is in the thought and
reverence of the whole world. The resist
less harvester in his annual rounds shout
ders his scythe as he passes before this
benefcent intelligence and pure fame, sa-