Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-22
BIRTHDAY.

washington = btTtnuAN. FtH. 800 ""
= deeper significance to tho people
of Utah this year. than usual. h
action of the United states Senate IN
bravely protecting the constitutional
rights the citizens Of this Republic
have received as a precious legacy
IRON tho fathers Of the country,
among whom George Washington VIII
always occupy the first place. VIII be
an inspiration to all concerned to con-
tlnuod loyalty. The Latter-day Saints
have always loved and revored tho
government and Institutions for the
foundation and preaervation Of which
the God of nations raised up His
mighty men on this continent and en-
dowed them with wisdom and power
OF intellect In greater abundance than
possessed by common mortals. Even
when government officials closed their
ears To the cry of distress from the
victims of oppression, with the melan-
cholv remark: Your cause is Just
hut we can do nothing for you.' the
Saints knew that the fault was not
with the institutions OF the country.
whatever resentment they may have
felt in the past toward individual In
cumbents of offices, they have nevor
ceased to DO loyal patriots. willing to
give their all upon the altar Of the
country. And this sentiment receives
new strength with the recent demon
strHtion OF tho great truth that the
principles for which Washington and
lis devoted contemporaries lived, SUI
fered and died, are still held sacred
and worth defending against assaults
George Washington, like the Pro-
phet Joseph. was one Of the men OF
which human history records but few.
He was specially endowed for the mis-
sion that was his on earth. He was a
soldier, ~outranking In service and eH-
perience every other officer In the
army. He was extraordinarily indus
trIous and a a keen eye for every
detail of the work before him. He
was long-sufering md patient. and
knew how to govern himself. Ne bore
personal Sights with dignity. and his
rugged m%anliness inspired confidence
and respect. He had power, but not
for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, only for
the building up OF his country. Every
other man Of the Revolution could
have been replaced. III not Washing
ton. He WAS the leading spirit. h
beacon light. the greatest American of
his generation. II IL Significant that
calumny should dare to strew with
thorns tho path OF this unselfsh pa
triot. After the year 1872 he was
abused by tho press. and even Jeffer-
o criticized him with unnecessary
severity, Some time during this period
he yehemeutly declared at a cabinet
meeting that he constantly regretted
that he had not exchanged his office
as president for life on the farm. The
trouble was that some narrow-mind-
cd souls accused him of having as
pirations to become king.
The fundamental tone in Wash
ington's Farewell address OF Septem-
Der II. 1875. Is AN %adnonitlon 10
union And 10 preserve this union It
WIS necessary. he thought. To keep out
OF permanent alliances with any por-
ton of the foreign world This adj
monttion to preserve union is timely
always. and not least so at the pres
ent time. 1t IS true that the inter-
csts Of every community, every state,
ms well az tho entire Republic. are de-
pendent npon the harmony and unity
with which the citizens work together
for the common good. Breeders of dis
sension are public enemies, blessed
are the p~caco-makers." This Is a
truth no lcss applicable to the ar-
fairs OF the state than to the Church.
Unfortunately, after W|ashington's
retirement party strife grew more vio-
ent The unity Tor which he had
pleaded was by and by destroyed by
champions Of sectional interests. and
had TO be restored by the sword. That
calamity might have been avoided.
had the people given heed 20 the ad-
vice of n master statesman and turn
I'd away from the pettS s~trife-breed-
crs. May the lessons OF history not be
lost upon our time.