Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-23

been impossible to select for observ-
ance any other civic holiday having as
broad and fitting significance as this.
It memories the birth Of one whose
glorious deeds are transcende
above all others recorded in our ma
tional annals; and in memorizing the
birth Of Washington it commentaries
the incarnation Of all the virtues and
all the ideals that made our national
ity possible and gave it promise Of
growth. and strength. It is a holiday
that belongs exclusively to the Ameri-s
can people. All that Washington did
was bound up in our national destiny.
The battles he fought were fought for
American liberty, and the victories he.
won gave us national independence.
His example of unselfish conservation
and lofty patriotism made manifest as
in an open book that those virtues
We're conditions not more vital to our
nations beginning than to Its develop
ment and durability. His faith In God,
and the foItitude Of his faith, taught
those for whom he wrought, that the
surest strength of nations comes from
the support Of Gods almight arm. His
universal and unaffected sympathy
with those in every sphere Of Ameri-
can life, his thorough knowledge Of
existing American cond itions and his
wonderful foresight Of those vet to be,
coupled with his powerful influence in
the counse1s Of those who were to
make or mar the fate Of an infant ma
ton, made him tremendous factor
in the construction and adoption Of
the constitutional chart by which the
course Of the newly launched republic
could be safely sailed. And it was he
who first took the helm and demon
strated for the guidance Of all who
might succeed him, how, and in what
spirit and intent, the responsibilities
Of our chief magistracy should be dis
charged.
Il your observance of this day were
intended to make more secure the inn
mortal fame Of Washington, or to add
ito the strength and beauty Of his i'm
perishable monument built upon ma
TONS ctionate remembrance, your
purpose would be useless. Washing
ton has no need Of you But in every
moment from the time he drew his
sword in the cause Of American indie
pendence to this hour, living or dead,
the American people have needed him.
It is not important now, nor viii 1t be
in all the coming years, to remind our
countrymen that Washington has lived
and that his achievements in his coun-
try's service are above all praise. But
It IS important and more important
now than ever before that. they
should clearly apprehend and ade-
quately value the virtues and ideals Of
which he was the embodiment, and
should realize how essential to our
safety and perpetu,ty. are the conse.
Grafton and patriotism which he exem-
plified. The American people need to.
day the example and teachings Of
Washington no less than those who
fashioned our nation needed his labors
and guidance.
Three months before his inaugura-
ton as first president Of the republic,
which heShad done so much to create,
Washington wrote letter to Lafay-
I'ette. his warm friend and revolution.
larry ally, il which be expressed his IN.
Temitting desire to establish q general
system Of policy which If pursued
would ENSURE permanent fecilitS Is
the commonwealth. and he added
these words:
s think I see . path as clear and