New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-23
I'VE NEED WASHINGTON"
WR. CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
Says Holidays Are Degenerating
Into SenSeLeSS Celebrations.

! achievements of Washington than upon the sound
ness OF his political faiJn and the accuracy of his
economic wisdom. The prosperity and glory of the
country, according to the speaker, will be un-
bounded and mperishabe f the precepts of Wash
ington actively recalled and in general closely
followed. Americans a rule, Mr.. Cleveland
declared too prone to lose sight of the significance
! OF the proper observance Of public holidays
The public still has. he said, imperative need OF
Washington, and his example and teachings are as
important TO the present generation as his laboTs
and guidance were necessary in his own time
The address Of NJ. Cleveland follows;
{ The American people are but little given to the
/ obsei vance of public holidays. ms statement
national history is too brief to allow the accumu-
lauop of days deserving civic commemoration Al
though It is true thar our life as people accord
ing to the standard measuring the existence OF ma
IGns mas been short one II is lied with gi9rt2us t
acHleNcnentS' Ihu though II must pe conceded tndt
/ II Is not given 20 Us in the masnfying
American heroes Yet In the bright ana normal light
shed upon our beginning ana growth are seen seen
honor and everlasting remembrance. We can
/ not, therefore, excuse a lack of commemorative
inclination and a laneuid interest in recalling the
mHlabie hcldeaiS ot our country 5 past un1eI tht
s we IN this way explain our neglect adeauatey to
Tor the especial manifestation OF our loving appre-
/ caton of the lives and the deeds of A1ners cans
sublimely wrought and nobly endured.
II we are inclined TO look for other excuses one
/ flying. may appear to gain somewhat fanciful
Of heredfy It rests 16on NJ the theory that those
who secured for American nationality its first foot
engrossed with the persistent and unacceptable
and aspirations led them so constantly to thoughts
of the future that retrospection nearly became with
tanning 70 the I,rasanr and TI,tI,r bes,rnn 9, ar
bedded in tber 9ati1rcs as ~ consttta q tratt nf
character desce9iibe 10 their posterity TO the
There is another reason which might be ad
Nanced IN mitigation OF our lack ot Commemora-
tive enthusiasm which is SO related 10 our pride
OF AmeriCanism that il could be certain Of it's
# has = do wiJR 6 ndervns II as o1aiies and
Fa6 5sir p' btb 3IT sf @ m arTe
ana unreseTved consecI4tion and by decree OF
/ benehcenca are conditioned on the constant davo-
non and s!nale-aear.ed loyalty Of those whom
their blessings are vouchsafed.
Bat after M m WHY sEGgd We qttem2 tempt 70 delade
victions when l say that no pIav Of ingenuity and
/ no amount Of sreoial pleading can frame abso-
proprate holiday Observance
MEANING OF THE DAY LOST SIGHT OF.
I The soamsmoration Of the day on which Ameri
can lndeRendenEe "as born has been allowed 10
Provdential favor and the inncxIble patriotism OF
Grated to a revei Of scnseicss noise and dangerous
explosion leaving IN ITS train far more of mishap
pride Of country. The observance OF Thanksgiving
BY federal and state agthoriis bu' j. woTtR 6ap
while 20 Inquire whether It's original meaning as
q day of united praise and gratitude God for
individuals is nor sm6thered in feaStipg and spciaI
indulgence. We. i'm common with Christian ma
tions everywhere. celebrate Christmas but how
RAuc1 A less ms lay Of commemoratinR the birth of
the RedeeTner oi mankind than as day Of hilarity
I will not without decided protes, be accused OF
ahtagonlz'ng or deprecalng light hearted mirtH
vocate Of every kind - sane decent social enioy-
m@nti ana II sorts oi recreation Bu, nevertheless
sion by them Of our commemorative davs is evidence
popular tendency which is by no means rp,sstirng.
on this day the Union League club OF Chicago
patriotic accompaniment. and on this dav OF All
membership as bad9e Of honor Wha,cIar Sd' else ie
ne "rganizalon may have done II has justified its
has done for the dellveranca Of WashnRron's Br,l,
day from neglect or ndolent remembrance.
In turtheraHce or the high cnd"avor II your
gfnIzau"H, II would haVr been impossible 10 select
for Observance any other civic holiday having n
rizes the birth Of one Whose Gori"ns deeds 5'S eTe
. jransc"ndeutaLE above all others recorded in our
Washington IL commemoratcs the incarnation OF an
ii"naIt rossle t " and gave oy mrds aar our o ma
ana strength II is q holiday that belongs eYclu-
ton dtd was bound bound up in our national destiny. TIE
battles ne fought ~@rG f@uEht for Amerirsn In
. dependence His Example of unseIdsh conservation
r ,T -, ,,'|r ,,, beginriT ,ba -. iI % 3
forumde of his faith. taught those for whom n"
wrought that the surest strength OF nations comes
from thc support or Gods almighty arm. His uni
versal ard unaffected sympathy with those iu every
sphere OF American Iie. ms thorough fno"l"dgc of
/ existing American conditions ard his wonderful
eTfui iniu4nce in the counses Of those Who We're
70 make mar the fate OF an infant nation, made
adoption OF the constitutional chart hX which The
feIy sailed And was he who first took the
. holm and demonstrated. for the guidance of al
VINO might succeed him, how and in what spirit
and intent the responsibilities Of our Chief Magis-,
trac. should he discharged
. CANNOT ADD TO FAME CT WASHINGTON.
If your observance Of this day intended to
make more secure the immortal fame of Washing
ton or 10 add TO The strength and beauty of his
imperishable monument built upon a nations afec-
tionate remembrance. your purpose would he use
every moment from the time he drew his sword in
the caGs" or hHtilc. llu ptIll'il 70 lS lo4'
him II is not important now, nor VIII II he in all
Washington has lived. and that his achievements
iu his cOuntry's service above all praise. But
il Is important-aud more important now than
ieforc-that they should clearly apprehend and
adequately value the virtues and ideals which
essential to our safety and perpetuty the con
. secratOn and patriotism which ne eNemPlihed
teachings Of Washington no less than those who
fashioned our nation needed his labors and guild
Three months before MS TRANSFORMATION as first
iIS!o'' ol We i1SPuoins m'C,. ,.rd' M ' t,r 80
Lafayette his warm friend and Revolutionary ally,
in which he expressed his unremtting desire to
establish general system of policy which, II pur-
sued. would Insure permanent felicity TO the com
Il think | see a path clear ana direct as
ray light, which leads to the attainment of that
ana frugality necessary 10 make us great
ana happy people. Happily. the present posture Of
affairs and the prevailing disposition of my cOun-
tYymcn promise to cooperate In establishing these
-four great and essential pillars OF public felicity.
that this is Il time for honest -eXamina tton.
Tani baf I not he denied Who among us all
If our hearts pnrsed of mis- eleadng impulses
sure to-day the posture Of affairs and the pre-
I'm the establishment and promotion OF harmony,