Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22
Gov. Hughes the Washington
Birthday Orator.
OVER IN CHICAGO TODAY
MAGNIFICENT Tribute to the Genius
of Our Country.
j. COMPARES CONDITIONS
Interests Of Industry Not the In
terests of a Class-Common Wei
fare the Supreme Law.

|
terests of a Class-Common Wei
fare the Supreme Law.
CHICAGO. February 22.-The principal
feature of the Washington birthday cele-
bration In Chicago was an address by the
chief orator of the day. Gov. Charles T.
Hughes of New York, who spoke at 1910
O'Clock. The auditorium was filled to over
| flowing and the speaker was frequently
interrupted by enthusiastic applause. He
spoke. in part. as follows:
| We venerate Washington because in
supreme tests he vindicated manhood
| The standards of liberty were unsullied
| ships of long and discOuraging campaigns
| or in the hours of triumph, whether as
burden bearer or idol of the people. he
invariably exhibited the same purity Of
Against all that is sordid and mean.
| against all that is petty and unworthy,
| against the ignOble contrivances and
| manipulations Of the cunning and the art
the Screenings of sel1shness. against
every effort to make power and office
contribute to personal gain. against all
| that is or has been hateful and harmful
| in our political life. stands in majestic
contrast the charac ter of Washington
| an example and benediction, treasury
| of memory and a security of hope-a
| character the revelation of which en-
nobled humanity and enriched the world.
| The lesson Of his life may be wholly
missed by those who call with pride the
| battle-roll of the revolution or who re-
count his distinctions and offices. 1t
| may make but slight impression upon
| those who in the conventional manner
| nvS,I in Il q
must all take to heart if we are to real
| Ice American ideals. 1t is the lesson OF
| the supremacy of duty. 1t is the lesson
of honor-of fidelity to trust 1t must
legislative halls. in courts of justice, in
newspaper ofnces. in banks. in trust and
insurance companies, In professional and
commercial life, in the marts of trade.
| in the counting room, and in the shop,
by employer and employed.
No Legislative Road to Character.
'There is no legislative road to charac-
ter. If the spirit of Washington could
permeate our public and private life we
should neither need nor seek govern
mental panacea. And it Is only in so far
as in fact this spirit inbues administra-
ton that the government OF a free people
can perform it's function. We shall large
~ lose the value of the celebrations OF
this day IL we give our thoughts exclu-
sively to questions of governmental pol
Icy and omit to emphasize the moral
sources from which a just government
must derive Its strength.
washington did not seek power or pre-
ferment. The sense of responsibility out
weighed the appreciation of distinction.
When he was appointed to the nd
of the Continental forces he wrote to the
! President Of the Congress-: Though ! am
truly sensible of the high honor done me
In this appointment. yet I feel great dis
tress from a consciousness that my abili-
ties and military experience may not he
equal to the extensive and important
trust However. as the Congress desire
and exert every power I possess In the
service and for support OF the glorious
cause. As to pay. sir. l beg leave
to assure the Congress that as no pc
me to accept this arduous employment at
the expense of my domestic ease and hap
piness / do not wish to make any profit
from it. will keep an exact account of
my expenses. Those doubt not they will
discharge. and that is all desire
A Comparison Of Conditions.
'Intelligent comparison of the conditions
of this day with those in times past can
not fail to cause qualification and to beget
confidence. The evils which we lament
should not blind us to the progress which
has been made and is being made.
I'm the throes Of the revolutionary
struggle, when II would be supposed that
the supreme cause of liberty and the valor
and sacrifices of great leaders would in
flame all hearts with patriotic ardor,
Washington in an Outburst of indigna ton
at the indifference and venality which in
fact were exhibited, THUS described the
times in a letter to Benjamin. Harrison in
December, ITS: If I was to be called upon
to draw q picture OF the times and of
and In part know. l should In one word
say that idleness. dissipation & extrava-
Gance seems to have laid fast hold of
most Of them. That peculation-pecula-
seems to have got the better Of every
other consideration and almost of every
order Of Men, And about a year later
| ne exclaimed: But. alas. virtue and pa
! triotism are almost kicked out! Stock
| jobbing. speculation. engrossing, etc, etc.
| seems to be the great business Of the day
| & OF the multitude. whilst virtuous few
struggle. lament & suffer in silence, tho
| hope not in vain.
County Morally Sound.
They did not suffer in vain; and
| through their labors and under the benefi-
cent working of the institutions which
| they founded each generation has attain
| cd higher levels in character and achieve
| ment. The cordial, habitual and i'm
movable attachment for the Union has
come to be cherished as Washington de-
! sired The name Of American az he
ardently wished does 'exalt the just pride
| Of patriotism more than any appe3lation
| derived from local Determinations" A
vast development. an Interviewing Of
| interests. and a facility Of communica-
ton of which he could not even dream
| have given rise to q national sentiment
which is intense and dominating in every
part of the Union.
| 1.-THE country is morally sound. Its
standards Of business were never higher.
| In this land Of industry with unexampIed
| opportunities for production and hx-
| change. with an area and a population
| enjoying advantages Of distribution free
from artificial barriers of intercourse
such as the world has never seen. the
| men of business inevitably represent the
| intelligence and moral sentiment of the
people. They do not constitute a caste.
They come from every walk in life; from
the farm. the college. the counting room.
and the shop They represent every
foreign born, of every degree Of ad-
| vantage and disadvantage in origin and
environment. Every stimulus to ambi-
ton. every precept of morality, every
counsel of experience, every success and
every disaster, every lesson Of the past
| and the multiform warnings Of a world
| where truth and justice alone win last
| ing victories, have helped to shape their
| standards and to determine their aims
And making all allowance for the ex-
| tremes OF avarice and artifice. for the I'm