The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-08

1t is a great privilege for an Ameri'
can citizen to possess this work. be
cause it is the reservoir of historical
knowledge. and it will inspire patriot.
ism to greater degree In any one who
reads it or occasionally refers to it.
1t is a matter of pride to Americans
to know that Uncle Sam sits at the
head Of the diplomatic table of the
world.
Part Of the creed of an American is
and should be to believe that he is citi
zen of 1.-The greatest country on earth"
1t is one thing to believe and loudly
voice this belief. but it Is nobler citi-
zenship to have knowledge of it based
on facts. When you have read or used
extensively for reference the Mes
sages and Papers of the Presidents" a
record that shows Uncle Sam at work.
you will wonder at the great progress
made and at the wonderful opportuni
ty the government itself affords to its
citizens. and you will realize why the
greatest individual blessings come to
those who live under the protection of
the stars and stripes. The messages
and Papers Of the Presidents" is big
vital work, trimming over with infor'
nation of vast Importance and intense
interest to every American citizen. 1t
Is made more interesting by its picto-
rial establishment. It is fairly ablaze
with Illuminating historical pictures.
The language employed is at the
same time simple and exalted. Each
president has called to his service his
own best ability, together with that Of
his cabinet members and his scholarly
friends. to make each message a mas
terpiece of its time, knowing that it
would be translated into every known
language and read in every civilized
court Of the world. an JUNCTION which
has never been vouchsafed to any 9th
er set Of authors on earth.
In opening volume l we find, as in
each volume, the end sheet and lining
paper of a special design, giving a
birdseye view Of map or plan Of
Washington and a splash Of all the
principal public buildings in Washing
ton pictorially displayed. The fronts
piece is splendid portrait of the Hon.
James D. Richardson, who, under au-
thority of an act of the Fifty-second
congress while chairman Of the com
mittee of printing Of the house, com
piled and edited the work. Then comes
a picture Of the capitol. followed by a
picture of the White House. both in
color. In the preliminary note the ed
itor says:
The messages Of the several presidents
of the United States-annual, veto and
special-are among the most interesting.
instructive and valuable contributions to
i the public literature OF our republic. They
discuss from the loftiest standpoint near
ly all the great questions of national pol
Icy and many subjects of minor interest
which have engaged the attention Of the
public from the beginning of our history.
Then comes a faithful color repro
duction of Trumbulls famous painting
''The Declaration of Independence
followed by a reprint Of the Declare
ton of Independence, the articles OF
confederation and the constitution,
these being given as the preliminary
documents in the foundation work OF
building the nation. The various other
illustrations need not be alluded to in
detail
But, in general, it Is to be noted that
a faithful reproduction Of the official
steel portrait Of each president is in
serted at the beginning of the respec'
tive administrations, fronted with q
tissue upon which is q suitable charac'
teristic illus1ation-as, for instance,
"Home, on Potomac, of the parents OF
George Washington"
Preceding each administration is a
concise, interesting biography of the
president
Among the interesting papers of
George Washington Is the first Thanks
giving proclamation issued in this
country, dated Oct. 8, 1889. the au-
tograph copy Of which is reproduced
in facsimile by photo-engraving: In
Washington's first annual address he
emphasizes the Importance Of the oc-
casion and particularly Of knowledge
of governmental affairs. saying in part
Knowledge is in every country the
surest basis of public happiness-'"
In the third annual address reference
is made to faith and confidence in the
government, as illustrated by the fact
that the subscriptions to the stock of
the Bank Of the United States were
completed in single day. This mes
sage is important as bringing out the
fact that the central banking idea talk