The Washington herald., 1908-02-22
REMEMBERING WASHINGTON
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN
By FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.

By FREDERIC
To-day the people of all the States and
OF the world round dominion of the
Republic he did most TO build, turn in
proud and reverent remembrance to the
name and character OF George Washing
ton. The language Of eulogy still en-
shrineS him above all human chieftains
OF all times. When he had Just passed
from the scenes in which he had been
the foremost actor. and It was declared
of him that he was first in war, first
in peace and first In the hearts of his
countrymen. the grand, weIl-ftted
phrases thrilled the hearts Of the young
Republic. and never since that time have
their utterance failed to find a proud,
responsive vibration in American bosoms.
In all the trials Of the Republic, when It
has struggled with itself and with exter-
nal difficulties. the example and senti-
ments of Washington have illuminated
FOR our people the safe and honorable
paths Of peace and progress.
The best and wisest of the great cap
tains of humanity of all lands who have
lived since his day. have accorded 10 him
height of moral grandeur exceeding
that which they have awarded their
own kind and kin. II has been because
while he was the Americans Washing
ton. he was the worlds Washington So |
much of universal praise has been given |
him. so exalted has been his place among
human kind, that sometimes we have al |
most wondered whether he were human, |
and we are sure had he lived in those |
olden days when men of pure and heroic !
worth were defiled. he would know his |
name as that of a god. But there is a
universal self-satisfaction in the thought /
that Washington was a human being with |
human traits. Weakness as well as |
power was his, but his self-mastery in |
troublous and passionate Tines. when he |
was beset the most Of all about him by |
temptations and provocations. has be- |
come the greatest heritage OF his char
acter
Accredited to the English race because
he was born Of that lineage, he was lib
erty's champion of all races. His words
translated in the language Of any people !
may lift and help them to forward
achievement What Washington said in
his farewell address was not merely for
his loved and loving countrymen. but for
all the world and for ali time His trans
cendant qualities OF virtue and wisdom
thus expressed made him first among
men Of his time and in history the most
matchless Of the heads Of all nations.
John Marshall. thirty-four years Chief |
Justice OF the United States. when his |
own great intellect was in it's primal |
vigor, knew George Washington as an |
intimate friend and neighbor Familiar |
with his every public act. as well as
acquainted accurately with his private !
life. the great jurist handed down this
opinion: No truth can be uttered to give |
more confidence than that his ends were
always upright and his means always
sure He EXHIBITS the rare example OF the |
politician 10 whom wiles were absolutely |
unknown, and whose professions to for
elgn governments and to his own country
men were always sincere. In him was |
fully eXeinpllfed the real distinction which /
forever exists between wisdom and cum |
ning. and the Importance as we'll as the |
truth OF the maxim honesty is the best |
policy"
The brilliant French historian, Quiet, |
in his summary Of Washlngtons virtues. |
said: IN the world God has no higher !
favor to bestow." Mr.. James Bryce. now
Ambassador from Great Britain to the
United States. said in his American
Commonwealth" Washington stands
alone and unspproachable, like snow
peak, rising above his fellows into the
clear air of morning with a dignity, |
constancy. and purity which have made
him an ideal type Of civic virtue to
succeeding generations"
In all the paeans OF praise for Wash |
ington that have gone round and round |
the world, no note ever lauded him as
a genius. But in his calm and consumate |
ability TO make or avail the clear and |
righteous intents of those who fought |
and worked by his side in his battle for |
independence and in his building for all !
time the republic we enjoy, all have
ranked him first among men, even among /
the brightest OF constructive statesmen |
The success that crowned his life is as
surance Of victory while the nation heeds
the noble counsel of his farewell address. /
This that he said therein one hundred |
and twelve years ago, applies as aptly |
10 this day as though he had indeed |
been endowed with more than mortal !
presctence- Tt is Indispensable 70 the |
happiness OF the individual State that |
there should be lodged somewhere a su- |
preme power to regulate and govern |
the general concerns OF the confederate |
republic. without which the Union cannot |
be Of long duration. and everything must !
rapidly tend 10 anarchy and confusion /
10 is only in our united character that we 1
are known as an empire. that our in /
dependence is acknowledged. that our 1
power can be regarded or our credit sup
ported among foreign nations.
With Hamilton and Madison. Wash l
ington worked. and they counseIed to- 1
Sether earnestly as to what was wisest /
to say for the guidance Of the people OF |
the republic through all their future. /
The literary grace and power Of both /
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
have been discerned in the text of the
address, but the Wisdom OF Washington
enhances its beauty and gives it vitality
to-day. 1t is as though he stood even
now upon the threshold OF our national
life. when one notes the words Of his
address in which he said: Toward the
preservation Of your government, and the
permanency Of your present happy STATE.
il is requisite. not only that YOU steadily
discOuntenance irregular opposition to the
acknowledged authority, but also that
YOU resist with care the spirit OF the in
novation upon It's principles however
specious the pretexts. One method OF |
assault may be to effect in the forms OF
fan lon, III.