Evening journal., 1915-02-22
MONDAY FEB. 22, 1915
GEORGE wAsHINGTON-A WORLD BENEFACTOR.


1NHs day is set apart that Americans and all other
lovers Of constitutional liberty may do honor TO
the memory OF George Washington. The festival which
commentaries his birth is being observed in all the
States, territories and insuar possessions the great
nation which he created and also by Americans in
alien lands, no matter where they may be situated
1t is singular circumstance that George Washing
ton the founder of this great Union of States and
Abraham Lincoln, its defender and preseryer,
both born in the month of February and the
braon Of the anniversaries their birth falls only
few days apart, although in the inverse order
No American has possessed to such a complete de-
gree has Washington the love and esteem Of his
feow-countrymen II also may be said that tho
softening effect of time has long-deferred admira
tion for him from the descendants those agains,
whom he so valoreasly and so VIGOROUSLY contended
in the trying days Of the Revolutionary War
Principles for which Washington stood, and for the
support Of which he denounced a rebel. since
then have found acceptance by millions OF men in
countries which in his day were staggering beneath
the weight Of depotsm. His fight for human liberty
the broad lines laid down in the Declaration of
independence, stirred the hearts and minds OF the
people OF other lands with impulse that has
lost its force It is destined to progress until
cracy is thing of the past and the whole world has
become. in a broad sense, great democracy.
The leaven of the American Revolution and of the
things for which It stood has worked better
than II is doing today Autocracy has dis
N North and South America vestges OF limited
monarchy in the British Dutch and Danish possessions.
such possessions enjoy however. such large
self-governmont that the tics that bind them TO
the mother countries those affection rather than
Of force.
There is nation in Europe in which the potential
principle Of representative government find
recognition; although it must be admitted that in
Russia and Turkey the principle has not yet approx
imated the strength Il is destined to possess In Asia
China has changed almost overnight from an auto
cracy to republic Japan, only few decades ago a
closed empire under despotic rule, Is limited
monarchy in the administration Of which a parliament
IS exercising a constantly -enarging influence The
Philippines under liberal American laws India
IS being administered by Great Britain under British
which George Washington stood is making itself felt
among the native population Had it not been for the
benign rule the Brtons and the respect they have
shown for the religions and OF natives the
spirit Of absolute independence would have famed out
long ago with intensity that would have dwarfed
tho tragic events Of the sepoy Rebellion
Representative government is to be found in many
parts In the southern part Of that conti-
in which autocracy alone formerly held sway,
the great selfgovcrnng colonies OF Great Britain
In Oceanica Australia and New Zealand stand as mag
nihcent monuments to the political principles which
tho American patriots formulated in i776; which
Thomas jefferson reduced to writing. and which George
Washington put in effect by tho use Of his sword.
II viii be seen therefore that merely the United
States. but tho entire world TO George Washing
debt Of gratitude for the great work he did as
military and civil leader and that when he was
lighting 10 uphold the cause OF the American colon
lists he also fighting TO uphold the cause of all
mankind