The Washington herald., 1909-02-23
DEFENDS The COURTS
Gov. Hughes, in an Address,
Quotes Washington.
THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY IS SAFE
Declares Due Administration of jus
tice Is Firmest Pillar OF Good Gov
ernment-ResPect for Courts Is Es-
seutiaI Safeguard of Public and
Private Rights, He Declares.

Gov. Charles Evans Hughes. Of New
York. at the winter convocation - the
George Washington University yesterday
chose as his subject Progress and the
ideals OF George Washington
The address was largely devoted 90 a
defense OF the Judiciary OF the country
and the governor termed the Supreme
Court the most venerable and august
body Of men in TIE United States"
/ Gov. Hughes did not hesitate to po.n;
out the defects Of the present judicial
methods. however, nor did he fail to deal
trenchantiy with many administrative
/ problems nov before the public.
Cause OF Liberty Safe.
Gov. Hughes said. in part:
''The cause Of liberty IS safe with those
who sincerely revere the characters of
Washington and Lincoln. The sisnif-
eance OF the notable tributes Of a grateful
/ people IS that they are not paid merely
TO talent or TO triumph. These alone
could not command them. They have
been won because distinguished talent
was consecrated 10 the nOblest purposes,
and because the triumph was secured and
made a blessing To mankind by the vir-
tues Of patience. perseverance. Unselfsh-
ness. and devotion 20 duty
In the noblest struggle ever waged for
human rights Washington exhibited the
finest qualities Of manhood He neither
coveted power nor misused f. He was
uucorrupted by ambition and unaffected
by appeals to vanity. The supreme sense
OF duty and OF the obligations Of honor
controlled his tnperious nature The first
soldier Of the colonies, he entered the
struggle not 10 obtain military glory. but
TO execute a sacred trust committed 10
his care His stout heart never yielded
to despair He was unterrifed By periis
and undlsmayed by defeat With un-
rivaled patience and resOurcefulness. he
kept his little army in the field, inspiring
il with his own devotion
throughout the long struggle. from its
beginning, when he refused compensation
for his services. until The time when.
crowned with success. he eagerly sought
retirement. there was not a suggestion
Of selfish motive The idea that he should
turn his military power or public oppor-
tunity TO private advantage never cast a
Growth Of Sentiment.
Washington ardently desired the growth
Of national sentiment. He had suffered
from the lack OF Capitalization Of power
during the struggle for independence; he
was keenly aware OF the 5ealousles and
mutual distrust which had characterized
the period that succeeded the war; he
knew the different points OF view which
Il had been sought 10 reconcile in the
Constitution.
Washington feared the growth OF sec
tIonaiisn. and in the historic sentence Re
urged that the name OF American. which
belongs 10 you in your national capacity.
must always exalt the just D-ide Of
patriotism more than any appelEtiOn de-
rived from local Determinations
We no longer need TO fear decadenCe
OF national sentiment We seem 20 have
passed the period when sectional rivalries
can be sufficiently intense or sectional DIFF
ferenceS OF policy sufficiently acute 70
endanger the existence Of the Union We
have paid a terrible price for the preseT-
walton OF the unity which Washington de-
sired. But IL IS now secure
THE closer relations and more Intimate
intercourse Of our people tend 10 bring
about greater harmony IN State legislation
and administration. Similar needs viii
suggest the importance Of similar rene
dies and interchange Of opinions viii
have important influence in shaping com
mon policies. The diminutiOn OF sectional
ieaIOusies and the transfer Of the rivaIries
Of the States to the field Of efficient gov
eminent viii greatly promote a suitable
cooperation. The recent conference Of
governors called by President Roosevelt
70 emphasize the Importance Of COnserv-
ing our national resources viii stimulate
this tendency. and without change in our
constitutional system States viii more
generally take counsel Of each other and
viii aim % perfect their administration
along similar lines,
"On the other hand. the powerful influ-
ences. sentimental and unsentimental.
which promote national unity make easier
the work Of the national administration.
while its activities expand
so that despite our growth we may still
hope with Washington that the expert
ment Of a common government over so
large a sphere will have q happy issue
and our experience since his day may
Justly make Us more confident Of the fu-
ture
Warned His COuntrymeu.
Washington warned his cOuntrymen
against the insidious wiles Of foreign in
fuence' and against entangling our peace
l.,