Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-01
aAs NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY.

Washington.
William Mckinley, the last Of his
successors as President OF the United
States. was principal figure in the
imposing pageant, and Senator'S, Rep
resentatives. Cabinet officers and all
the retinue of the modern .Republican
Court" added to the eclat OF the oc-
caslon.. And there were knights
Templars and swords and banners. and
quite enough OF pride. pomp and cir
cumstance of every kind to constitute
new Field of the Cloth Of Gold.
1t Is. perhaps. more significant than
was thought at the time that 1T wac
the anniversary of the death-not of
the birth-of Washington which was
thus celebrated. The birth anniversary
has become a Red-Lctter Day not only
In this country. but in the universal
Calendar OF Liberty.
Now that the country which he set
free. and constituted a house of refuge
for the oppressed of all nations. has
itself become greedy of the islands of
the sea; now that 1t has removed the
grasp of the tyrant and despoiler from
the Antilles only to put the poor bond
men OF those fair Islands in baser bond
age still: now that carnage and rapine
arc running riot in the Philippines, and
furnishing women and children are cry
ing aloud for the busks Of charity; now.
indeed. is 1t high time that the ami
versary Of the death Of Washington
shall become the DAY we Celebrate"
for surely all his services and teach
ings are either despised or forgotten
by those who administer his noble her.
itage.
But an anniversary draws near that
constitutes an epoch in the history of
human liberty.
The thirteenth of April Is the birth
day of Thomas Jefferson. His name is
so identified with everything that
stands for the freedom as we'll of
States as of individuals, that he is cam
onized as the chief apostle and grand
high priest of liberty.
Note that on his tomb-for though
dead. he yet speaketh-his epitaph,
composed by himself. proclaims to all
who come after him: Author of the
Declaration of Independence, of the
Statutes OF Virginia for Religious
Freedom, and Father of the University
of Virginia." First, the clarion blast
of the Declaration, which was heard
round the world. and the echoes OF
which must go on forever; sec
ond. the freedom of conscience
OF the people of the States
whom that Declaration had made
free. men; third. the establish
ment of university where Liberty
was ever to sit MISUNDERSTANDING her
glad task OF Enlightening the Worldi
Yet. as of old. wisdom is crying out
in the streets. and no man regardeth
her voice. The golden calf has been
lifted up and all mems eyes are turned
to do 1T homage. Trade winds are be-
come the breath of our nostrils. COM
merce the all in all of the country's
advancement. and everything. however
sacred, is subordlnated to what Is eu-
enthusiastically called the business in
terests." The Individual is a mere
atom in our political economy. and
nothing less than a Corporation is
deemed worthy to enter the judicial
forums or the halls of legislation.
1t goes without saying that he is an
unworthy citizen. who does not desire
the prosperity of his country on lines
of honest and upright endeavor. Yet
mere riches Is not the sole, nor the
highest, aspiration Of genuine patriot
ism. Much to be desired, no doubt, yet
stale, fiat and even Improbable when
compared with those "unalienable
rights" of all men, enumerated In the
glowing words of the Declaration as
Life. liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness!''
ITO secure these rights, governments
are Instituted among men, deriving their
Just powers from the consent of the
governed"
Shall this lofty ideal of government
under which we have lived for more
than a hundred years. perish from the
earth? Shall "Jeffersonian simplicity
become n byword and mcckery in all
the land. and our glorious charter OF
liberty be laughed down the wind in
order that the Porto Ricans may pay
duties to the Trusts. and the Fillpinos
sweat out their purchase money?
Then, instead of Jefferson's birthday
let us. too. celebrate the day he died
that Fourth of July on which he and
John Adams and James Monroe gave
up the shost-that natal day of the ma
ton on which the Declaration was first
proclaimed, and the Liberty Bell in In
dependence Hall rang out the glad It'd
ings to the waiting world
The Government may. indeed. live on