Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-02-22

Chicago, FeD GE'-r -r1A-i
Grover Cleveland was the guest OF
honor at the Union League ciup.s
celebration in honor of Washington's
birthday here today. He delivered |
an address eulogizing Washington. |
There will be a great banquet tonight |
in the auditorium under the auspices
of the Union League club. Mr..
Cleveland said:
The American people are but little
given to the observance of public
holidays. This statement cannot De
disposed of by the allegation that our
national history is too brief to allow
the accumulation of days deserving
civic commemoration. Though II Is
true that our life as a people, ac-
cording to the standard measuring
the existence of nations, has been
short one, 1t has been filled with
glorious achievements; and though
it must be conceded that 1t is not
given to us to see in the magnifying
mirage of antiquity the exaggerated
forms of American heroes, yet IN the
bright and normal light shed upon
our beginning and growth, are seen
grand and heroic men who have won
imperishable honor ond our ever
lasting remembrance. we SoAiiiSH
therefore, excuse a lack of commem-
orative inclination and languid in
terest in recalling the notable incl
dents of our country's past under the
nlea of a lack of commemorative ma
terial; nor can we in this way eN-
plain our neglect adequately to OBJ
serve days which have actually been
set apart for the especial manifesto
10
the lives and the deeds of Americans,
who in crises of our birth and deVel-
opment have subllmely wrought and
nobly endured.
If we are inclined to look for other
excuses, one may occur to us which,
though by no means satisfying, may
appear to gain a somewhat fancltul
plausibility by reason of its reter-
ence to the law of heredity. 1t
rests upon the theory that those who
secured for American nationality its
first foothold, and watched over its
weak infancy, were so engrossed with
the persistent and unacceptable labors
that pressed upon them, and their
hopes and aspirations led them so
constantly to thoughts of the fu-
ture, that retrospection nearly be-
came with them an extinct faculty
and that thus 1t may have happened
that exclusive absorption in things
pertaining to the present and fu-
ture became so embedded in their
natures as to constitute trait OF
character descendible to their pos
terity even to the present generation.
There is another reason which
might be advanced in mitigation of
our lack of commemorative enthusi-
asm which is so related to our pride
of Americanism, that If we could be
certain of it's sufficiency We would
gladly accept it as conclusive. II
has to do with the underlying quail
ties and motives of our free institu-
tions. Those institutions had their
birth and nurture in unselfish pa
triotism and unreserved conservation
and by a decree of fate beyond re-
call or change, their perpetuity and
beneficence are conditioned on the
constant devotion and single-hearted
loyalty of those to whom their bless
ings are vouchsafed.
But after all, why should we at
tempt to delude ourselves? l an
confident that 1 voice your convic
tions when 1 say that no play of in
genuity and no amount of specia
pleading can frame an absolutel!
creditable excuse for our remissnes
in appropriate holiday observance.
The commemoration of the day oil
which American independence wa
porn has been allowed to lose mucl
of its significance as a reminder o.
Providential favor and the infiexibl,
patriotism of the fathers of the re
public, and has nearly degenerate'
to a revel of senseless noise and dan
gerous explosion, leaving in its trail
far more Of mishap and acciden
than lessons of good citizenship o
pride of country The observance o
Thanksgiving day is kept aliv
through its annual designation o
federal and state authority. But
is worth our while to inquire whethe
its original meaning, as a day o
united praise and gratitude to Co
for the blessings bestowed upon u
as a people and as individuals, is no
smothered in feasting and social in
diligence We in common wit
Christian nations everywhere, cele
brate Christmas, but how much les
as a day of commemorating the brit
Of the Redeemer Of mankind than a
a day Of hilarity and the interchang
Of gifts.
I viii not without decided protes
be accused OF antagonlzing or de
precating light-hearted mirth an
jollity. On the contrary, l am a
earnest advocate of every kind @
sane, decent social enjoyment an
all sorts of recreation. But, never
theless. 1 feel that the allowance o