Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
COUNTRY IS DRIFTING
Former President Cleveland
Sounds Warning Note.
WASHINGT0N'S ADM0NlTION
Signs Of Relaxation Of Hold on Saw.
ing Virtues.
SELF.EXAMINATI0N TIMELY
Union League Club Of Chicago Hears
Address on Patriotic Duty-Politi-
cal Parties Discussed.
TIMELY

cal Parties Discussed.
CHICAGO, February 22.-"The American
people are but little given to the observance
of public holidays" according to former
President Grover Cleveland, who addressed
the Union League Club here today. Mr..
Cleveland said that this might be due to
an inherited lack Of retrospection'' or that
patriotism was SO much q matter Of course
that special observance of it was need
less.
Mr.. Cleveland praised the club for its
steadfast observance of Washington's birth
day and its "deliverance from neglect or
indolent remembrance" He then said:
Three months before his Inauguration as
first President of the republic which he had
done so much to create Washington wrote
letter to Lafayette, his warm friend and
revolutionary ally, in which he expressed
his unremitting desire to establish general
system of policy, which, If pursued, would
insure permanent felicity to the common
wealth. and he added these words
~ think l see path as clear and as
direct as ray of light which leads to the
attainment of that object. Nothing but
harmony, honesty, industry and fruganty
are necessary to make us great and
happy people. Happily the present posture
of affairs and the prevailing disposition or
my countrymen promise to cooperate In es-
tabliShing those four great and eSSentlal
pillars OF public felicity
1T is impossible for us to be in accord
with the spirit which should pervade this
occasion If we fail to realize the momen-
tous import of this declaration, and II we
doubt it's conclusiveness or it's application
to any stage of our national life we are
not in sympathy with proper and I'm.
proving observance OF the pirtnoay Oh
George Washington.
Time for Serious Thought.
"Such considerations as these suggest the
thought that this is time for honest self
examination. The question presses upon
us with a demand for reply 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 today the posture of affairs and
the prevailing disposition of our country
men cooperate in the establishment and
promotion of harmony, honesty, Industry
and frugality?'
when Washington wrote that nothing
but these were necessary to make US a
great and happy people he had In MIND
the harmony OIL American brotherhood and
unenvious good will, the honesty that in
sures against the betrayal OF public trust
and hates devious ways and conscienceiess
practices, the industry that recognizes In
faithful work and intelligent endeavor
abundant promise of well-earned compe-
tence and provident accumulation and the
frugality which outlaws waste and extraVa-
giant display as plunderers of thrift and pro-
meters of covetous discomfort.
THE determination invited by this
days commemoration will be incomplete
and superficial If we are not thereby forced
to the confession that there are signs of
the times which indicate a weakness and
relaxation of our hold upon these saving
virtues. When thus forewarned it is the
Gov hcf In QtnI tn
close our eyes to the needs of the situation
and refuse admission to the thought that
evil can overtake us. If we are to deserve
security and make good our claim to sensi-
fully and dutifully take our bearings and
discover if we can how far wind and tide
have carried us away from safe waters.
Recall Washington's Warning.
eff we find that the wickedness of de-
structive agitators and the selfish deprav-
ity of demagogues have stirred up discon-
tent and strife where there should be peace
and harmony and have arrayed against
each other interests which should dwell to-
gether in hearty cooperation; If we find
that the old standards of sturdy, uncom-
promising American honesty have become
SO corroded and weakened by a sordid
atmosphere that our people are hardly
startled by crimes in high places and
shameful betrayals of trust everywhere; If
we find sadly prevalent disposition among
us to turn from the highway of honorable
industry into shorter crossroads leading to
irresponsible and worthless ease; If we find
that widespread wastefulness and eXtrava-
gance have discredited the wholesome fru-
gality which was once the pride of Ameri-
canism we should recall WashingtOns adj
monition that harmony industry and fru-
gality are essential pillars of public felic-
ity' and forthwith endeavor to change our
course.
ITO neglect this Is not only to neglect the
admonition Of Washington, but to miss
neglect the conditions which our self-ex-
animation has made plain to US. These
conditions demand something more from us
than warmth and zest in the tribute We pay
to Washington, and something more even
than an acceptance of his teachings-how-
ever reverent our acceptance may be.
1.-The sooner we reach a state Of mind
which keeps constantly before us as a liv-
ing, active, impelling force, the truth that
our people, good or bad, harmonious or with
daggers drawn, honest or INSCRIPTIONS, in
dustrious or idle, constitute the source of
our nations temperament and health, and
that the traits and faults Of our people
must necessarily give quality and color to
our national behavior, the sooner we shall
appreciate the importance of protecting
this source from unwholesome contamina-
ton. And the sooner all of us honestly
acknowledge this to be an individual duty
that cannot be shifted or evaded, and the
more thoroughly we purge ourselves from
influences that hinder it's conscientious per-
Torrance the sooner will our country be re-
generated and made secure by the saving
power of good citizenship.
Political Discussion.
1T is our habit to affiliate with political
parties. Happily the strength and solidity
Of our institutions can safely Withstand the
utmost freedom and activity Of political
discussion so far as it involves the adop-
ton of governmental policies or the en-
forcernent Of good administration. But they
cannot Withstand the frenzy of hate which
seeks under the guise of political earnest
ness to blot out American brotherhood and
to cunningly persuade our people that a
crusade of envy and malice is no more
than a Jealous insistence upon their man
hood rights.
Political parties are exceedingly human
and they easier fall before temptation than
individuals, by SO much as partisan success
Is the law of their life and because their
responsibility is impersonal 1t is easily re-
called that political organizations have been
quite willing to utilize gusts OF popular
prejudice and resentment, and I believe
they have been known as a matter of
ox.,d ono ant 70