The Washington herald., 1909-02-22
Washington and His Critics.

Senator Lodge. in his Lincoln centenary
address, made some observations on the
criticism Of public men which are peril
nent to the Washington anniversary, as
well as 10 the closing days OF an ad-
ministration whose chief figure has been
sbundantly found fault with. for every
reason and for no reason. Our historic
memories are notoriOusly short nova
days, and a good many excellent people
seem 10 have forgotten that no President
worth his salt has ever gone out OF Office
without a song Of gladness from some
source
Those who are now counting with IN
feigned joy the Iessenlng number Of days
between now and March had their
counterparts in washington's time, as in
Jackson's and Cleveland's What journal
istic critic Of Roosevelt to-day is likely
10 surpass in virulence and downright
fooiishness the comment Of that oppOsi-
ton newspaper which on March 6. 1871.
printed this psalm Of rejoicing on the re-
tiremeut Of George Washington from the
Presidency?
III ever there was pericd fos rejoicing this is
the moment Every heart II union with the free
dom and happiness Ok the people oCght to beat
high with exulrztion that the name Of Washington
ceases from this day 20 give currency 10 political
insults and 70 Iegalized corruption. A new era i
now opening upon rs. an GA which premises much
to the people for pubic measures must nov stand
upon their 0wn merits and uefsrious projects can
DO longer he supported by name. When retro
spec1 hss been taken of Tire Washington adninist=a-
ton fer eight years II is slbicc OF the greatest
astcnisbmeut that q single individual should have
cznke7ed the u-incipies q reTEbicznizm IN an en-
llghtened pe0ple 5lS1 emerging from Jhe gulf q
despotisn. and should have carried bis designs
against the public liberty 50 far as - have rat n
jeopardy its very existence. such hoEeTer srs the
facts and with these staring rs in the face. TIE
day ought 70 b. yubilee II the United States.
AS Senator Lodge says. all this seems
strange and unreal almost incredIble
The narrow-visioned fault-Ander OF those
days IS forgotten, while the noble Fare
well Address is annually read and ad-
mired for its serene and lofty patriotism.
It's broad and far-seeing craftsmanship,
It's sound political sentiment, What we
remember, and all that we care 70 re-
member. Of Washington. or his public
side. is his immeasurable service to the
republic in its critical period. when none
but ne could establish IL upon a firm
foundation. The verdict Of posterity upon
the deeds Of the great often proves the
contemporary critic 10 have occupied pre-
carious ground For one thing. he almost
invariably lacks. as Senator Lodge points
out. fullness Of knowledge concerning the
motives and the acts Of public men. The
men charged with great public duties
may have a knowledge Of conditions and
possess sources Of information which are
not known to the world. or even to those
who criticise.~ Doubtless this IS less
true to-day than It was in CUR earlier
history. for publicity is one Of the strong
points Of modernity. but the motives OF
men stHI lie deep in their own breasts.
and their reasons for action are not al
WAYS those paraded before the eyes OF
the multitude.
As there were men who failed 10 COM
prehend Washington's patriotism. who
could not recognize Lineoln's genius. so
there are to-day men who think MI
Roosevelt is going out Of Office with naught
10 his credit He has been -'rebuked. 80
and would have been censured had Con
gress dared, as Jackson was censUred.
Is Lincoln was censured by indirection,
as Cleveland was censured. Would It not
be Just as well TO recount the important
service he has rendered the country dur
ing these last seven years? That viii be
recalled when the rest OF the story has
gone into oblivion