Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-22
THE MIGHTY WASHINGTON.

It is the belief Of the people who first
settled this region and who laid the
foundation Of this state, that national
as well as individual destinles are In the
control Of the Ruler Of the Universe
Not that human freedom and the agen-
cy of the creature are interfered with
by Divine power, but that the results
OF the actions OF men and nations are
oyenuled by Providence, for the accom-
pllshment of grand designs and the ul-
Innate welfare and elevation Of the hui
man race.
Also. that In order to effect the OBJ
jects In view at given periods predes-
tInated persons are raised up" who are
ADAPTED to great emergencies or spe-
clal purposes. and that they figure In
mundane affairs in the places and on
the lines required, TO bring about
events foreseen and necessary to effect
Divine plans.
These prominent actors In the drama
OF life. chosen before they were born IN
70 this world for particular works, We're
and are not necessarily movers In re-
llglous circles. Some Of them have
been prophets, and seers, and sages
poets, philosophers and literary lights
inspired for their special spheres OF In
luence, but others have been states
men. warriors. monarchs, leaders in va
rlous activities for the Advancement Of
mankind, who, while free as to their
own volltion, have yet been influenced
by divine impulses as well as by their
environments, and so have become a
power in the world, each In his particu-
lar but natural vocation.
one of these mighty spirits selected
for a special work, was the great
American, George Washington, In
whose honor his country has set apart
this day as national holiday. on
February %, 1882 he was ushered into
this mortal sphere. and his history Is
familiar to every schoolboy in the civil
lied world, His achievements on the
battlefield, as the hero Of the san
culinary conflict that gave this nation
her liberty and freed an oppressed PEG.
pie from British bondage are no more
renowned than his services to the re-
deemed nation as its President and
sagacious counselor Both In war and
in peace he figured as the first AmerI'
can
Other brilliant spirits We're also
raised up by the Almighty at that
suspicious Juncture, to join with their
chief In the formation Of the govern
ment now known. respected, and by
.yrants feared rs the United states Of
America, Each one played his part on
the stage Of national affairs, and
through them the eternal principles Of
truth and liberty, destined to prevail
on earth, were grouped and formulated
into the glorious Constitution that Is
the supreme law Of this favored land,
But George Washington stands pre-
eminent In the midst Of that group of
great souls, and therefore he is honored
by posterity above them all. 1t Ia right
that his birthday should be celebrated
by his countrymen, and that his virtues
should be extoled and held up for gem
great as he was, but we can EACH ac-
cordlng to our opportunities emulate
his honorable, manly and valorous
course In ylgor and hrmness for the
right, as we are able 10 see Il.
OF his weaknesses we need not speak.
lie was but human, and his falings
were magnlhed enough by his enemies.
But his name has become synonym