The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-23
Mr.. CLEVELAND
ON WASHINGTON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE IL

organization 1t would have been i'm
BILE to select for Observance any other
holiday having as broad and fitting
:. gniflcance as this. 1t memories the
BIRTH of one whose glorious deeds are
transcendently above all others recorded
in our national annals; and In memorizing
the birth of Washington 1t commentaries
the incarnation of all the virtues and all
the ideals that made our nationality pos
sible and gave 1t promise OF growth and
strength 1t Is holiday that belongs
exclusively to the American people. All
that Washington did was bound up in
our national liberty, and the victories he
won gave us national independence. His
example of unselflsh conservation and
lofty patriotism made manifest as in an
open book that those virtues were con-
ditions not more vital to our nations be-
ginning than to its development and dura-
bility His faith in God, and the forti-
tude 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 American condl-
tons and his wonderful foresight of those
vet to be. coupled with his powerful in
fuence in the counsels of those who We're
To make or mare the fate of an infant
nation, made him tremendous factor in
the construction and adoption of the con-
stitutional chart by which the course of
the newly launched republic could be
safely sailed.
First Took the Helm.
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 responsibilities of
our chief magistracy should be discharged
IF your observance of this day were
Ia f1,A i'm,
mortal fame OF Washington. or to add
to the strength and beauty of his imper
ishable monument built upon a nations
affectionate remembrance, your purpose
would he useless. Washington 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 have
needed him. 1t Is not important now. nor
will 1t be in all the coming years, to
remind our countrymen that Washington
has lived and that his achievements in
his country's service are above all praise
But ii is important--and more important
now than ever 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 perpetuity. are
the conservation and patriotism which he
exemplified The American people need
TODAY the example and teachings of
washington no less than those who fash
toned our nation NEEDED his labors and
guidance.
''Thre 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 revolutionary ally, In which
| he expressed his unremitting desire to
| establish a general system of policy
which if pursued would ensure permanent
| felicity to the commemorative and he
| added these words:
Washington to Lafayette.
81 think l see path as clear and
as direct as a ray of light, which leads
ITO the attainment of that object. Moth
ing but harmony honesty, industry and
flugality are necessary to make us a
great and happy people Happily the pres
ent posture OF affairs and the prevailing
disposition of my countrymen. promise
to cooperate i'll establishing these four
great and essential pillars of public
felicity
"Such considerations these suggest
the thought that this Is a time for hon
est determination. The ques ton pressed
upon us with a demand for reply that will
not be denied: Who among us ALL if our
hearts are urged of misleading impulses
and our minds freed from perverting
pride. can be sure that today the posture
of affairs. and the prevailing disposition
OF our countrymen, cooperate in the es-
tablishment and promotion of harmony
honesty, industry and frugality?
THE sef-examinat ton invited by this
DAYS commemoration will be Incomplete
and superficial If We are not thereby
forced to -therconfessionSthatt there ara