Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1899-02-22
TZvILLE. FEBRUARY %, 1899.
Today, Wednes-
day, February p,
1899 is the 18TH
WASHINGTON
and LINCOLN,

L NJ
. 1899, is the 10th
niversary OF the birth of George
1shington. The Father OF his Coun-
was born in Westmoreland county,
rginia, in 1872. He was made
ssident in 1889, serving two terms.
, died at the age OF 67, and one
elk ago last Sunday, February 18th,
the anniversary of the birth of
raham Lincoln. The martyr pres
mt was born in Larue county, Ken
ky, on the 18th day of February,
%. He was elected President from
inois in 1860 and reelected in 1864.
died at the age OF Sc shot down by
assassin's pistol. Both Linco)n's
thday and Washington's birthday
legal holidays in Washington.
The shortest month in the year
given us the birthdays of our two
latest national heroes-Washing-
i and Lincoln; Washington of no
birth, horn to command and to
ng order cut of the chaotic ele-
,nts that were to form our nation,
d Lincoln, the man of the people,
pirel to lead them through the
,st trying time of their national
and to insure freedom to the
e.
Washington by the greatness OF
mind and will which was in him
uld have made his way to imper-
leadership, place him where you
Il. His was the strength of charac-
:, the dignity of bearing, and the
blime greatness with which we i'm
inc kings to be endowed. In birth,
}, he was not man OF the people,
born above them in the aristocra-
of rank and wealth. Yet all this
,atness of character and station he
iced as free-will offering on the
ar of his country that her liberty
ght be guarded as the nations
Arrest idol, ard America be indeed
land of the free.
Lincoln, on the other hand, was a
lin man of. the common people, the
story of his family the short and
nple annals OF the poor rs he him
I confessed. And if great occa-
n had not demanded of him extra
linary powers it is a question if his
ne would have been exceptional. In
liking this hero Nature chose
geet clay from the breast-of the ur-
hausted west"-clay so pliable to
Divine will that with it she
aped "hero new, wise, steadfast in
strength of God, and true" The
ct Lowell well describes him in his
nous line as "New birth of our new
il, the first American"
Lincoln died in the spring of 1865.
ON that time to this is "a years.
the third of century the children
one age have grown up to fill most
the places of the previous age. The
rden of life has shifted to their
oulders. The work of the world is
eirs. In this length of time the
iditions OF the one time have be-
lie the history of the next. The
ildren of this generation look out
BON a world in which slavery is not
en- a memory. They accept and
SIS into the enjoyment OF the great
essings that have been won for them
the blood and toll Of which they
low nothing. OF the horrible trag-
y of war the rising generation in
is country knows nothing by exper-
ice. 1t has passed away like a
cat murky cloud and has left blue
and sunshine. To the children
our public schools the battle Of
sttysburg is as much a matter Of
story as the battle of Marathon
ID Lincoln stands with Washinton.
ain the case of Lincoln we are for
nate in being able to look at him
the light of all these years of prog
IS since his death. "The memorial
virtue is immortal. and these "a
,ars have not marred his fame, but
I've served to let the greatness of his
e stand out in clearer outline. His
solitary figure in the annals of the
bid. He stands apart, a character
universal discussion, an enigma to
!. Men have thought him divine in
e essential greatness of his genius,
divinely sent and inspired. We
tnnot explain his greatness, perhaps
his life is SO unique and unusual
1T we cannot fail to draw from hi:
fe its inspiring lesson of faith in the