The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-23

tn.
days Is evidence of certain condi-
ton. and Is symtomatic of popular
tendency which are by no means re-
assuring.
On this day, the Union League club
of Chicago should especially rejoice
In the consciousness of patriotic ac-
compartment; and on this day. of all
others, every one of It's members
should regard his membership as a
badge of honor. Whatever else the or
gaMzatiOn may have done, it has JUS
titled its existence and earned the ap-
plause of those whose love of country
Is still unclouded by the work it has
done for the deliveranc eof Washing
tons birthday from neglect or in
dOlent remembrance.
In furtherance of the high endeav-
or of your organization, it would
have been impossible to select for OBJ
servance any other civic holiday hav-
ing as broad and fitting a significance
as this. 1t memories the birth of one
whose glorious deeds are transcend
emily above all others recorded in our
national annals; and in memorizing
the birth of Washington it commem-
crates the incarnation of all the Writ
ues and all the ideals that made our
nationality possible and gave it prom
Use of growth and strength. 1t is a
holiday that belongs exclusively to
the American people. All that WASH
ington did was bound up in our nation
al destiny. The battles he fought
were fought for American liberty, and
the victories he won gave us national
independence. His example of I'M
selfish conservation and lofty patriot
ism made manifest as in an open book
that those virtues were conditions not
more vital to our nations beginning
than to its development and durability.
His faith in God, and the fortitude of
his faith, taught those for whom he
wrought, that the surest strength OF
nations comes from the support of
Gods almighty arm. His universal
and unaffected sympathy with those in
every sphere of American life, his
thorough knowledge of existing Ameri-
can conditions and his wonderful fore
sight of those yet to be, coupled with
his powerful influence in the counsels
of those who were to make or mar the
fate of an infant nation, made him
a tremendous factor in the construc-
ton and adoption of the constitutional
chart by which the courts of the newly
launched republic could be safely
sailed. And it was he who first took
the helm and demonstrated for the
guidance of all who might succeed
him, how, and in what spirit and in
tent, the responsibilities of our chief
magistracy should be discharged.
If your observance of this day were
intended to make more secure the
immortal fame of Washington, or to
add to the strength and beauty of his
imperishable monument built upon a
nations affectiOnate remembrance,
your purpose would be useless. Wash
ington has no need of you. But in
every moment from the time he drew
his sword in the cause of American
independence to this hour, living or
dead the American people need him. 1t
Is not important now, nor will it be in
all the coming years, to remind our
countrymen that Washington has liv-
ed and that his achievements in his
country's service are above all praise.
But it is important-and more import
ant now than ever before-that they
should clearly apprehend and ade-
quately value the virtues and ideals
of which he was the embodiment, and
should realize how essential to our
safety and perpetuity, are the conse-
Grafton and patriotism which he ex.
emplified. The American people need
today the example and teachings Of
Washington no less than those who
fashioned our nation needed his la
bors and guidance.
Three months before his Inaugural
tion as first president of the Republic
which he had done SO much to create,
Washington wrote letter to Lafay-
cite, his warm friend and revolution
airy ally, in which he expressed his I'M
renting desire to establish gen.
eral system Of policy which inpur-
sued would ensure permanent felicity
to the commonwealth" and he added
these words:
II think see a path as clear and
as direct as ray of light, which leads
to the attainment of that object Moth
ing but harmony, honesty, industry
and frugality, are necessary to make
us a great and happy people. Happily
the present posture of affairs and the
prevailing disposition of my country
men, promise to cooperate in estab-
fishing these four great and essential
pillars of public felicity"
Such considerations as these sug-
gest the thought that this is time
for honest self-examination. The
question pressed upon us with a de-
mand for reply that will not be de-
MED: who among us all, if our
hearts are purged of misleading i'm
pulse and our minds freed from per-
verting pride, can be sure that today
the posture of affairs, and the pre-
vailing disposition of our countrymen,
cooperate in the establishment and
promotion of harmony, honesty, in
dustry, and frugality?"
The self-examination invited by this
days's commemoration will be incom-
Meta and snnerf1ciaJ n wa oro MT