Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22

dates for degrees sat upon the platform.
the academic cap and gown giving the
scene an appropriately scholastic air. The
Marine Band. under leadership of Lieut..
w. H. Santelmann, played at intervals
during the program.
Following the invocation by Rev. DIR.
Richard d. Harlan, the executive OF the
Empire state was introduced. Declaring
that the one enemy of the republic to be
guarded against is not a revolutionary
sentiment among the people, but malad-
miniStration Of public officers, he urged
optimism in looking to the future of the
nation. He was frequently interrupted by
applause. When he expressed approval
Of the establishment of great national
university in the National capital the en-
thusiasm of the audience was displayed
for several minutes.
Gov. Hughes Address.
Gov. Hughes said in part:
The cause Of liberty is safe with
those who sincerely revere the char
acters of Washington and Lincoln. The
significance 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 to the noblcst
purposes and because the triumph was
secured and made d blessing to mankind
Dy the virtues OF pdlleHce, perseverance,,
unselfishness and devotion to duty.
I'm the noblest struggle ever Waged
| for human rights, Washington exhibited
| the finest qualities of manhood He
| neither coveted power nor misused 1t.
| He was uncorrupted by ambition and un-
affected by appeals to vanity. The Su-
preme sense of duty and of the obliga-
tions of honor controlled his fmperious
nature. The first soldier of the colonies,
he entered the struggle not to obtain
mill a
trust committed to his care. His stout
heart never yielded to despair. He was
unterrified by perils and undismayed by
defeat With unrivaled patience and re-
sourcefulness he kept his little army in
| the field, inspiring IL with his own de-
votion The Vaccinations Of cabals
proved powerless against his poise and
| firmness. and with confidence in the ver-
dict of history he prosecuted his cam
paigns until he obtained the fnal VIC
tory which was pre-eminently due to his
sagacity and Valor.
Never q Selfish Motive.
Throughout the long struggle, from
its beginning when he refused compen-
sation for his services, until the time
when crowned with success, he eagerly
sought retirement. there was not a sug-
gestion Of selfish motive. The idea that
he should turn his military power or
public opportunity to private advantage
never cast a shadow over his noble SOUL
His fame as victorious soldier gave
place to that of the constructive states
man when under novel conditions were
laid the foundations of the constitutional
government of free people. The work
of that formative period, to which so
many able minds contributed, had the in
estimable advantage of being associated
with the character and pure aims OF
Washington. AS the first President of
the new republic he represented to his
fellow citizens their highest aspirations
and loftieSt patriotism.
Washington was solicitous for the well
fare of his country. We may test our
progress by the touchstone of his hopes.
Washington ardently desired the
growth of national sentiment. He had
suffered from the lack of Capitalization
of power during the struggle for inde-
pendence; he was keenly aware of the
jealousies and mutual distrust which had
characterized the period that succeeded
the war; he knew the different points OF
view which II had been sought to recon-
cile in the Constitution.
Feared the Growth of Sectionalism.
washington feared the growth of Sec
tionalism and in the historic sentence he
urged that the name of American. which
belongs to you in your national capacity.
must always exalt the just pride of pa
triotism more than any appelation de-
rived from local determinations
1--WE no longer need to fear decadence
of national sentiment. We seem to have
passed the period when sectional rivalries
can be sufficiently intense or sectional diff
ferences of policy sufficiently acute to en-
have paid a terrible price for the preser-
walton OF tho unity which Washington de-
sired. But it is now secure. The na-
tional sentiment has become predominant