The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-22
WHOLE WORLD PROUD
 IF GEO, WASHINGTON
Still Enshined Above All Human
 ChieftainS
JOHN MARSHAlpS TRIBUTE
With All His Virtues Washington Was Faultiy Human, and This Fact Has Brought Him More Intimately
 To Fellow countrymen.
BY FREDERIC J. HAsklN.


 1 Today the people of all the states and of the world-round dominion of the re- public he did most to build, turn in proud ] and reyerent remembrance 10 the name and character of George Washington. The language of eulogy still enshrlnes 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 ill the hearts of his countrymen,' the grand, well-fitted phrases thrilled the hearts of the young republic, and never since that time have their utterance failed to find proud responsive vibration in American bosoms In all the trials of the republic, when 1t has struggled with itself and with external difficulties, the example and sentiments of Washington have illumined for our people the safe and honorable ths 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 to him height of moral grandeur exceeding that which they have awarded their own kind and kin. It has been because while he was the Americans Washington, he was the worlds Washington. So much of unt- versal praise has been given him, so ex- alted has been his place among human kind, that sometimes we have almost wondered whether he were human, and we are sure had he lived in those olden days when men of pure and heroic worth were deifed, we would know his name as that of a god. But there Is a universal self-satsfaction in the thought that Washington was a human being with nu- man traits. Weakness as well as power was his, but his self-mastery in troublous and passionate times, when he was beset the most of all about him by temptations ha r. est heritage of his character.
 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 all 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, 34 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 accu- rately with his private life, the great jur- ist 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 to whom wiles were absolutely unknown, and whose professions to foreign govern ments and to his own countrymen were always sincere. In him was fully exem- plifled the real distinction which forever exists between wisdom and cunning, and the importance as well as the truth of +l., a--f.. fe 4I, nI icy"
 The brilliant French historian Guizot, in his summary of Washingtons virtues, said: Tn the world God has no higher favor to bestow" MT. James Bryce, now ambassador from Great Britain to the United States, said in his American Com monwealth": washington stands alone and unapproachable, like a 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 genera tions."
 In all the peans of praise for Washing ton that have gone round and round the world, no note ever lauded him as a genius. But in his calm and consum- mate ability to make of 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 needs the noble counsel of his farewell ad- dress.
 This that he said therein 112 years ago applies as aptly to this day as though he had indeed been endowed with more than mortal prescience: Tt is indispensable to the happiness of the individual states that there should be lodged somewhere a su- preme power to regulate and govern the general concerns of the confederated re- public, without which the union cannot be of long duration, and everything must rapidly tend to anarchy and confusion. It is only in our united character that we are known as an empire, that our in- dependence is acknowledged, that our power can be regarded or our credit sup ported among foreign nations"
 With Hamilton and Madison. Wash ington worked, and they counselled to- gether earnestly as to what was wlsest to say for the guidance of the people of the republic through all their future. The literary grace and power of both Alex