The Washington times., 1902-04-19

most often its own inconsistencies OF
itself. Toiling in the most matter-of-fact
fashion: meeting daily duty-discharging
daily esponsibility-darfng and doing. be-
cause daring and doing are the outcome
of the sovereign I ought-there are the
elements that mold into the herOic-that
shape the greatness that is immortal.
inspired by the highest and serenest
devotion to those great principles that
laid in the foundation of our national life.
the character of George Washington gains
its halo from its supreme and exalted un-
selfshness, its entire devotion to the gen.
eral good. Other men have been as great
in their leadership in the strife that gave
birth to nations. few, IL any. as great In
the self-abnegation that followed success.
Other men have stood in the throes of rev.
olution as inspiring as he in their appeals
to mems loyalty and heroism; few, II any.
have been content to lay down the sword,
content only In the results that have made
for the general good.
"Other republics have felt their life
blood thrill with the inspiration of liberty
won in hard fought conflicts, only to be
curbed and bitted by the mastery of per-
sonal ambition. He was content to waive
away the crown that read adulation pur-
posed tor his brow and to seek in the
gratitude OF his countrymen and in the
judgment OF posterity the recompense of
his fortitude and self-sacrifce.
Compared With Other Patriots.
He does net shine pre- eminent in many
of those attributes that men then and
now esteem the marks of transcendapt
genius.
Il doubt II In statecraft and diplomacy
he was the equal of Thomas Jefferson;
Samuel Adams probably exceIled him in
power of organization and leadership; in
depth Of erudition and general culture. he
was scarcely the peer Of Alexander Ham.
ilton; Benjamin Franklin was incompar-
able in his unique type Of genius-but
among them. and above them. and around
them rose supreme the life and character
of George Washington, exuding the in
frangible cement of his own supreme I'M
selfshness, binding together men of di-
verse temperaments and ambitions, hold
ing them steadfast to common purpose,
swaying and controlling them. because he.
inspired by that spirit whose dominancy
places him among the royal few of the
worlds immortals, lived not to be min
istered unto but to minister because he
loved himself last, and losing what men
aspired and fought for. he found "a fame
whittier than It Is brilliant
Beside his resting place. whom We re-
we're as the heroic general. the patriotic
statesman, and the virtuous sage we are
come today. my brethren, to recall the
valor Of our fathers.
The One Unconquered Flag.
But now it has suddenly awakened to
! new consciousness. With a jar that
has shaken many cherished conventionali-
ties. some mighty power has reused this
nation from its contented lethargy, and
rubbing its eyes and stretching out its
mighty limbs ard breathing in the air of
this twentieth century with its mighty
lungs. 1t has come to suddenly realize
that that flag is absolutely, among all the
nations of the earth, the one unconQuered
| flag: to realize that by power it could
not resist it has been forced into the
arena Of the worlds great concerns. and
that every ear is opened and every voice
II stilled to hear what this nation has
to say. 1t has realized, as II stretches
out its brawny arm, that II is the resist
less dynamic Of the twentieth century,
and 1t knows it-and the world knows it
and wherever that flag is unfurled to the
smile of heaven this nation knows and
the world knows there is no hand strong
enough and no heart stout enough to dare
to take 1t down.
THE nation did not seek that con-
seriousness. No dreamer dreamed, no con-
triver fashioned, no ambition devised the
happenings OF these later days. Resistless
as the march of the silent stars came the
tremendous dynamics of destiny. Quiet in
her contented peace. the nation lay.
basking in her own prosperity, magnify