The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-07

urc, second only to their own idolized am
idealized Napoleon.
| Other nations paid their tribute to TIL
greatness of Washington Even Grca
| Britain, 1t Is said, ordered the flags n
| halG-niast on their channel fleet. But, b
| this as 1t may. | can safely say tina
Washington's place in history is fixed
as u star in the heavens Is fixed. as
| towering rock in mid-ocean, as the noun
| tains upon their foundations. | know o
| nothing | can refer to which is more EN-
blemntic OF the regard OF the nations o
| the world for Washington than Washing
| tons S monument.
The peoples of the earth. with very few
| exceptions, have contributed something [,
the building of the monument. Grea
| Britain. Germany and Austria: France
| Italy ard Portugal. the Russias Chnt
| amp Japan; yea. Tcuton. Celt, Latin, SlaN
| and Asiatic-all have helped to build. no
| only the material structure known Il!
Washington's monument. but the impcr
ishablc fame which rightly belongs TO the
Father of his Country
Moro than all the time that has beer
allotted to me could easily be taken ii
reviewing Washington's history as sol
f'icr and statesman and in dclincating the
lines of his character as q man; but such
all academic effort would poorly answer
\
compsh a more useful purpose. and Inn
perfectly to answer the question:: What
can we learn from Washington's history
that will improve the American citizen
ship of today?
The Lessons of Washington's Life.
The poet has well said that
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And lpOnltinn. lea Vn behind us
Footprints on the sands of time
The past is fer our instruction, cditicn-
ton. warning and encouragement. Wash
inGton's life might as we'll be Il romance,
unless we profit by its lessons. And [
know of no period in American history
when the American citizen needs the in
spiration of Washington's character more
than at present. ! shall refer briefly to
some matters that have occurred to me.
l, Sanity of View. or Judgment. in
Dealing with Men and Public Affairs.-'
This Is one of the strongest lines in
Washngton's character apparent in his
public life as general and statesman.
1t dominated his intellectual makeup
He was sane in his views of all things
He was not hystercal. There was an
even tenor to his life; it was broad and
deep like mighty river dignifled ana
calm like a marble statue. and strong like
the towering oak There is no quality
needed in the affairs of public life today
more than that of cquipoise, calm iudS-
ment sanity of view. America is passing
through an age or period OF hysteria.
Men in public life, Legislative bodies.
many writer's on political. economical and
social questions are becoming. as it We're,
wld-eyed, nervous and hysterical. All
kinds of panaceas are offered for the
cure of widespread evils affecting the body
polite. \ man WHO never saw the coal
fields of Pennsylvania comes here for Il
few days visit and is prepared to solve
the whole industrial question with a
stroke of the pen. Another man with no
experience as a jurist or lawyer. pre- epares
a crude piece of legislation which he
thinks will clear the situation forever.
The problems which many leaders of la
Dor and of capital are spending their
whole life in solving, are like the multiple
cation table to some men, who invade the
public press with their nostrums.
journalism is becoming hysterical to Il
great extent. In many instances 1t lacks
poise and the strength that comes with
calmness. ! could easily amplily this
thought. But to all leaders of men, to
the press. to the pulpit and to legislative
bodies, yea. to every American citizen,
the spirit of Washington speaks and says:
BE calm ard sane in your views of pub
lie matters; be accurate in your facts
and promises, 50 as TO secure correctness
IF judgment.
Was Farsighted.
.. ar-Siehtetlness. Some men can only
see for a short distance; others have the
ar-sightedness of "A seer. Washington
Was one of the latter. Here is an illus