The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-28
CLEVELAND ON HOLIDAYS.
EX-PRESIBENT IN ADDRESS AT
 UNION LEAGUE CLUB

Tendencies-words and Example of
 Washington Need Recalling at This
 e-SeIf-Examination Invited by
 the Days Commemoratfon.
 Ex-President Grover Cleveland deliv- cred an address at the Union League club of Chicago, in which, after ob- serving that the American people are but little given to the observance of public holidays and discussing some of the reasons, he said:
 But after all, why should we attempt to delude ourselves? I am confident that voice your convictions when say that no play of ingenuity and no amount of special pleading can frame an absolutely creuitable excuse for our remissness in appropriate holiday ob- servance.
 The commemoration of the day on which American independence was born has been allowed to lose much of it's significance as a reminder of Providen- tial favor and the inflexible patriotism of the fathers Of the republic, and has nearly degenerated to revel of sense- less noise and dangerous explosion, leaving in it's train far more of mishap and accident than lessons of good citi- zenship or pride of country. The ob servance of Thanksgiving day is kept alive through its annual designation by Federal and State authority. But 1t is worth our while to inquire whether its original meaning, as a day of united praise and gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed upon us as a people and as individuals. is not smoIhered in feasting and social indulgence, We. in common with Christian nations every where, celebrate Christmas-but how much less as a day of commemorating the birth of the Redeemer of Mankind, than as a day of hilarity and the inter- change of gifts!
 On this day, the Union League club of Chicago shouli especially rejoice in the consciousness of patriotic accom- paniment; and on this day of all others, every one of its members shiuld regard his membership as badge of honor. In furtherance of the high endeav- or of your organization, 1t would have been impossible to select for observ- ance any other civic holiday having as broad and fitting a significance as this. It memorizes the birth of one whose glorious deeds are transcendently above all others recorded in our nation al annals; and fin memorlzing the birth of Washington 1t commentaries the incarnation of all the virtues and all the ideals that made our nationality possible and gave it promise of growth and strength. It Is a holiday that be- longs exclusively to the American peo- pie. All that Washington did was pound up In our national destiny. The battles he fought were fought for American liberty, and the victories he won gave us national independence. His example of unselfish conservation and lofty patriotism made manifest as in an open book that those virtues were conditions not more vital to our nations beginning than to its develop ment and durability.
 If your observance of this day were intended to make more secure the im- mortal fame of Washington or to add to the strength and beauty of his im- perishable monument built upon a na- tons affectionate remembrance, your purpose would be useless. Washington has no need of you. But in every mo- ment, from the time he drew his sword in the cause of American independence to this hour, living or dead, the Ameri- can people have needed him. It is not important now, nor will it be in all the coming years, to remind our country men that Washington has lived and that his achievements in his country's service are above all praise. But 1t is important-and more important now than ever before-that they should clearly apprehend and adequately 1 value the virtues and ideals of which he was the embodiment, and should re- alize how essential to our safety and perpetuity are the consecration and pa triotism which he examplihed, The American people need to-day the exam pie and teashings of Washington no less than those who fashioned our na- 1 ton needed his laboras and guidance.
 Three months before his inauguration as first president of the republic which he had done so much to create, Wash ington wrote a letter to Lafayette, his warm friend anI Revolutionary ally, in which he expressed his unremitting de- sire to establish a general system of policy which, if pursued, would Insure permanent felicity to the common ] wealth." and he added these words:
 T think see a path as clear and as direct as ray of light, which leads to the attainment of the object. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugallty are necessary to make us a great and happy people. Happily, the present posture of affairs and the pre- vailing disposition of my countrymen promise to cooperate in establishing these four great and essential pillars of public felicity"
 Such considerations as these suggest the thought that this Is time for hon. est self examination. The question presses upon us with demand for re- ply that will not be denied: "Who among us all, if our hearts are purged of misleading impulses and our minds freed from perverting pride, can be sure that to-day the posture of affairs and the prevailing disposition of our eountrymen cooperate in the estab- lshment and promotion of harmony, industry and frugality2"
 The self-examination invited by this