The Irish standard., 1910-02-26

powerful interests 10 CoiHpos "'
ciliate. The traditions of Europe were
still fresh in the minds OF the Co!onlsts'
| 1t was difficult to induce all to think
alike. Washington and the patrlots
who stood with him were obliged to
take the course which seemed reason
able and best and the result was our
present system of government I'M
perfect in some respects, but admir-
able in the main, with the privilege OF
Improvement vested in the people. In
this republic the citizen is sovereign.
and il the watch tower of liberty Is
deserted and the ballot-box fails to do
it's duty, the people are to blame. The
voters of the country have the power
to bury our recreant legislators under
an avalanche of ballots. The coming
congressional election will determine
whether the people shall rise in their
might and hurl from power the VOL
ators of solemn promises made in poll
teal platforms.
Washington was a statesman whose
memory will live long after the Can
mons and Aldrichs of our day and
the apologist in the White House
shall be forgotten. The sneering poll
teal boss may have his day, but as
swallows him his memory goes down
with him. Washington knew nothing
of political trickery. He strove for
his country's veal. He called the most
trusted patriots to his council cham
Der. He wanted men who would do
things regardless of politics. How diff
ferent it is today. Now every utter
ance and every act of the president of
the United States is timed for political
effect. Washington was broad minded,
unselflsh and patriotic. and his crown
Ing act of patriotism was his declining
the presidency for third term. Three
terms would have been a dangerous
precedent and Washington's act of
elf-abnegation became the unwritten
law of the land and no president has
since dared to run for three successive
terms. George Washington we'll de-
served the title: First in war, first
in peace and first in the hearts of his
countrymen." At this distance we
cannot help exclaiming: Oh! mag
unanimous patriot, who relinguished the
highest civil ONCE on earth that the am
billions of future presidents might be
curbed. His character shines in our
countrys sky with brilliancy time
cannot dim. He triumphed in war, in
peace he was equally successful AS
soldier and statesman he had no
superior. Alexander and Napoleon
were great in fighting unnecessary bat
ties and delighted in shedding human
blood. Washington deplored the neces-
sity of war. He was man Of peaceabie
instincts, only responding to wars de-
mands as the life of his country re-
Quired his services. BY his skill, Arm
ness and perseverance he gave liberty,
peace and a name among nations to his
country. Every age has had its hero:
but as perfect example of pure, dis
interested patriotism, Washington re-
mains without parallel in the annals
of the world. To call him great would
be to class him with the victorious
tyrants of Europe; he is therefore more
justly and affectionately designated
1.-THE father of his country"
Washington was man of upright
and pure life. During the revolution
airy struggle he had made particular
efforts to defend and protect the wom-
en- of that period from insult and in
jury and when he was on his way
from Alexandria to New York, to be
inaugurated president, the mothers
and daughters of Trenton met him
with baskets of flowers which were
strewn before the General while they
sang in chorus:
Welcome to this grateful shore!
Now no mercenary foe
Aims again the fatal blow,
Aims at thee the fatal blow.
Virgins fair and matrons grave.
Those thy conquering arms did save,
Build for thee triumphal bowers,
Strew, We fair, his way with flowers,
Strew your hero's way with flowers
WASHINGTON admonished his coun-
trymen to be true to the constitution,
and the principles of liberty contained
therein. He warned them against
forming alliances with foreign ma
tons. He wanted his country to be in
dependent Of all others. He wanted
to see the United States stand distinct
and alone as the country Of liberty and
equality-to be always in a position