The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-22

with those ia every sphere of Ameri-
existing American conditions and his
wonderful foresight fthose yet to
be, coupled with his powerful inffu-
ence in the counsels of those who
were to make or mar the fate of al
| infant nation, made him a tremendous
factor in the construction and adop-
tion of the constitutional chart by
which the course of the newly launch
ed 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 intent, the re-
sponsibihties of our chief magistracy
should be discharged.
If your observance of this day were
| intended to make more secure the i'm
mortal fame of Washington, or to add
to the strength and beauty of his i'm
perishable monument built upon
| nations affectionate remembrance,
your purpose would be useless Wash
ington has no need of you. But in ev-
cry moment from the time he drew
his sword in the cause of American
independence to this hour, living or
dead, the American people have need
ed him. 1t is not important now, nor
will it be in all the coming year, to re
mind our Countrymen that Washing
ton has lived and that his achieve
ments in his Country's service are
above all praise. But it is important
and more important now than ev
er before-that they should clearly
apprehend and adequately value the
virtues and ideals of which he was
the embodiment, and should realize
how essential to our safety and per
petuity, are the conservation and pa
triotism which he exemplified. The
American people need today the eX
| ample and teachings of Washington
40 less than those who fashioned our
nation needed his labor and guild
ance.
Three months before his inaugu-
| ration as first president of the Repub-
| lie which he had done so much 20
create, Washington wrote a letter to
Lafayette, his warm friend and revo-
! lutionary ally, in which he expressed
! his unremiting desire to establish a
| general system of policy to the Com
mo1wealth;' and he added these
words:
81 think I see path as clear and
as direct as ray of light, which
leads to the attainment of that OBJ
| ject. Nothing but harmony, honesty
| industry and frugality, are necessary
| to make us a great and happy people
Happily the present posture of af-
| fairs and the prevailing disposition
of my countrymen, promise to coop
crate in establishing these four great
and essential pillars of public felici-
ty'
Such considerations as these Sug-
gest the thought that this is a 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
pulses and our minds freed from per
verting pride, can be sure that today
the posture of affairs, and the prevail
ing. disposition of our Countrymen,
cooperate in the establishment and
promotion of harmony, honesty, indus
try and frugality?"
The self examination invited by
this days commemoration will be il
complete and superficial if we are
not thereby forced to the confession
that there are signs of THE times
which indicate a weakness and relaxa
tion of our hold upon these saving
virtues. When thus forewarled, it
is the height of recreancy for us OBJ
stinately to close our eyes to the
needs of the situation, aid refuse ad
mission to the thought that evil can
overtake us. If we are to deserve Sc
curity,, we will carefully and llutiful-
ly take our bearings and discover il
we can how far wind and tide have
| carried us away from safe waters.
If we find that the wickedness OF
destructive agitators and the selfish
| depravity of demagogues have stir
red up discomfort and strife waere
there should be peace and harmony
| and have arrayed against each other
| interests which should dwell together
| in hearty cooperation; if we find that
/ the old standards of sturdy uncompro
missing American honesty have be-
! come so corroded and weakened by a
sordid atmosphere that our people are
| hardly startled by crimes il high
places and shameful betrayals of trust
everywhere; If we find a sadly preva-
le1t disposition among us to turn from
/ the highway of honorable industry
/ into shoDter cross roads leading to
/ irresponsible and worthless ease: if
we find that wide spread wasteful-
ness and extravaganza have discred-
| tied the wholesome frugality which
was once the pride of Americanism,