The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-22
CLEVELAND MAKES ADDRESS.
tcontInued Irom page ID

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and earned the applause of those
whose love OF country is, stin I'M
clouded by the work 1t has done for
the deliverance of washingtonss
birthday from neglect of indolent
remembrance.
Praise for Washington.
In furtherance Of the high en-
deavor of your organization. it
would have been impossible to select
for observance any other civic hoIi-
day having as broad and fitting a
significance as this. it memories
the birth of one of whose glorious
deeds are transcendently above all
others recorded in our national an
mails; and in memoriziug the birth
Of Washington it commentaries the
Incarnation of all the virtues and all
the ideals that made our nationality
possible and gave it promise Of
growth and strength. 1t is a holi.
day that belongs exclusively to the
American people. All that Wash
ington did was bound up in our ma
tional destiny. The battles he
fought were fought for American
liberty. and the victories he won
gave us national independence. His
example OF unselfsh conservation and
lofty patriotism made manifest as in
an open books that those virtues were
conditions not more vital to our ma
tons beginning than to it's develop
ment 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 al
mighty arm. His universal and un-
affected sympathy with those in
every sphere OF American life, his
thorough knowledge Of existing
American conditions and his won
derful foresight 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 tremendous fac
tor in the construction and adoption
Of the constitutional chart by which
the course OF the newly launched re-
public 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-
sponsibilities of our chief magistracy
should be discharged.
Value Washington's Virtues.
II 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 up
on nations afFectionate rememb.
rance, your purpose would be use
less. 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 nave needed him. It is NOT
important now, nor will 1t be in all
the coming years, to remind our
countrymen that Washington has .lty.
ed and that his achievements In his
country's service are above all praise
But 1t Is important-and more i'm.
portant now than ever before-tha.
they should clearly apprehend and
adequately value the virtues and
ideals of which he was the embodi.
ment, and should realize how essen,
tial to our safety and perpetuity, are
the conservation and patriotism
which he exemplifed. The Ameri.
can people need today the example
and teachings of Washington no les.
than those who fashioned our nation
needed his labors and guidance.
Three months before his Inaugural.
tion as first President of the Repub.
lie which he had done SO much tc
create, Washington wrote a letter tc
Lafayette, his warm friend and revo.
lutionary ally, in which ne express.
ed his unremitting desire to estab.
lish general system or policy which
IL pursued would ensure permanent
felicity to the Commonwealth" and
he added these words:
Letter to Lafayette.
81 think 1 see path as clear and
as direct as a ray Of light, which
leads to the attainment Of that OBJ.
ject. Nothing but harmony, homes
ty, industry and frugality, are neees.
sary to make mp great and happ,
people. Happily the present posture